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From: regard@ttidcc.UUCP (Adrienne Regard)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.abortion
Subject: Gosh, I hope this doesn't bury me
Message-ID: <221@ttidcc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Feb-85 16:29:42 EST
Article-I.D.: ttidcc.221
Posted: Thu Feb  7 16:29:42 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 06:18:44 EST
Organization: TTI, Santa Monica, CA.
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Xref: watmath net.women:4437 net.abortion:1239


Well, now I'm gonna say something that is bound to be unpopular with a
number of the readers.  Please be sure that I mean no personal slam, and
that I am speaking from my own opinion, etc.

Abortion is a very unsettled issue, and there are many points of
disagreement.  We will ultimately need to decide, as a democratic society,
on a solution.  However, since the laws of this country do not require the
equal responsibility for childbearing (and I mean equal in ALL senses of
emotional, financial, societal, etc. responsibility) by men, and since
medical science does not definitively identify the male parent of the
fetus, nor is a man capable to carry a fetus, I think this is an issue for
women.

Certainly men may have opinions, and notably do, across the spectrum.
However, they cannot have the ultimate responsibility because their bodies,
futures, careers, livelihood are not impacted by this issue EXCEPT by their
voluntary consent. (PLEASE NOTE:  I do, I really do, understand that both
partners in a sex act are presumed in most cases to be consenting.  I'm
speaking now of consent to conception - women do not have absolute control
over that.  Note the word absolute).

Frankly, I consider lack of birth control use to be nearly criminal
(assuming, of course, that one does not wish to conceive).  I am one of
those odd people who consider lack of education and forethought in most
actions of a human to be nearly criminal.  However, I can't see the
condemnation of so many women who haven't the smarts/education/strength of
self/street-savvy/luck/WHATEVER, and I particularly have a hard time
listening to men condemn them.  A man never faces this particular choice,
and never can.  He is, sheer physical fact, one step removed.  While I can
respect the viewpoints of many men, and at least respect the others' RIGHTS
to their viewpoints, I just wish men would hold to themselves, quietly for
a moment, the realization that the issue is uncharted land to them, and a
place that they cannot be.

I include this in net.women in respect for the many men who contribute.
I would welcome your responses in addition to the women.