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Letters ener p »yagitew sis : . ae 5et . ee Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, November 28, 1984, page 5 Alternatives This is in response to the letter by Ms. Vivian Ludington published in the Terrace Bay Schrei- ber News on November 14, 1984. The issue of abortion is an extremely contro- versial and emotional one. Like many number of people, I tend to be- + come very emotional when I read an article that supports abortion -- and praises a_ self- righteous murderer such as Dr. Henry Morgen- taler. I certainly do not view his recent acquit- tal as "a victory for women everywhere", to paraphrase "the good doctor's"' post-trial statement. I was as thoroughly disgusted and outraged by Ms. Ludington's op- inion concerning the abortion issue and her approval of Dr. Morgen- taler. In each example that this woman cites, she suggests abortion as the only viable solu- tion to the situation. However, I believe that there are very real, very workable alternatives to outright murder. The education of chil- 'dren, teenagers, and adults is probably one of the major choices. It is not only young rape vic- tims, teenage girls, or women who are Cafry- ing deformed or re- tarded children, who seek abortion. Young women in their late teens or early twenties and _career-orientated women in their thirties, who face an unwanted pregnancy, also view abortion as their only answer. Educating chil- dren, teens, and adults with regard to the sev- eral excellent and ef- fective methods of birth control is a less traum- atic: answer than the final one of abortion. The prevention of an unwanted pregnancy seems more desirable than the murder of an unborn child. If an un- wanted pregnancy does occur as a result of a rape or for another rea- son, there are excel- lent pregnancy counsel- ling centres. These cen- tres provide much need- ed emotional support, encouragement, under- 'standing, and compas- sion. Every pregnant wo- man,. but especially a womar carrying a baby she does not want, needs the love and sup- port of parents, family, close friends, and spe- cially-trained © profes- sional people who truly -- care for her. Aborting the unborn child of a young rape victim would certainly not end "the violent and emotionally upsetting experience." If anything, I think an abortion would com- pound the experience, double the anguish. Abortion would _ not erase the memory of the rape. Even a twelve year old child can have a definite opinion about an issue as current as abortion. If such a young girl has strong feelings against taking the life of an unborn baby, then an a > VS further. Her guilt might be unbearable. Adoption is also a very real and desirable alternative to abortion, especially in this day and age when so many young girls choose to keep their children. Maybe the girl would spend the rest of her life wondering where her child might have been if he had been allowed to be born. Pregnancies are not only terminated in the first couple of weeks. In some cases, a2 woman will carry a baby nearly to term and, then for either very selfish rea- sons or because of sud- den tragedy (ie. the death of the husband), will choose to abort the child - and it is done! In one recorded case his- tory, a woman had her child aborted at between six and seven months but, because of the method used, the child was still alive. And yes, the doctor and nurses present did hear this aborted baby's cry. She was brought to neo-natal intensive care and two years later, she cele- brated her second birth- day with the family who adopted her. This particular story was discussed in a pro- life film shown in St. Martin's church base- ment a few years ago. I wish I could recall the name of the film but, unfortunately, I ' can- not. This film also showed pictures of gar- bage cans full of aborted babies, pictures that have appeared in anti- abortion articles in mag- azines and papers. How- ever, I have seen no pictures of smiling twelve year olds or thirty year old career women following their abor- tions. As the expres- sion goes; "A picture is worth a words."' I am not sure that I would be able to handle a baby that is retarded or deformed in some way but I would certain- ly examine my choices as opposed to the one choice of abortion. There are special people who willingly adopt these "special" chil- dren. There are several types of community pro- grams to aid the parents of a retarded or handi- capped child. There are infant stimulation pro- grams and infant de- velopment programs to help these children pro- gress to a certain stage of independence and to keep them out of insti- tutions. As a more final thousand alternative, there are in- - stitutions that provide care for the handicapped child. Abortion is def- initely not the sole an- swer. Peoples' opinions and ideas cannot be altered overnight - ie. the "macho'"' husband who -refuses to have a vasec- tomy for fear he will be less of a man or the man who refuses to allow his wife to undergo a tubal ligation - but educating these people is a better answer than abortion. Change, particularly a change for the better- ment of mankind will take time but, in the end, it will be worth the wait. Something must be done to protect the lives of our unborn chil- dren and it must be done now. It has to be ac- complished before we find Dr. Morgentaler's future abortion clinic on Restaurant Row, squeezed in between the golden arches of Mc- Donalds and Colonel Saunders Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sincerely, Helen Pelto. "Hooray for Dr. Is there such a lack of heroes these days that we applaud this man? Dr. Morgentaler needs. prayers, guid- ance, a change of heart and attitude. He does not need praise. Let's stop thinking of abortion as some fast, easy, uncomplicated so- lution to unwanted preg- nancies. Abortion is a crime not a right. It has be- come one of the most horrible, | devastating wrong doings of our so- ciety. It destroys one of our most basic, sacred rights, the right to live. Life is not an accident. It is a gift from God to be respected and cher- ished. No one can as- sume the right to ar- bitrarily end that life, for any reason. Anyone considering an abortion should first be sure they have as many of the available facts as possible. Find out about preg- nancy. Look seriously into the process of adop- tion. Then take a very close look at abortion. What happens to the fetus? What will happen to you physically and mentally immediately following the abortion and afterwards? Sit through a slide or film presentation deal- ing with abortion clinics such as those run by Dr. Morgentaler. Morgentaler??" councillors, and ther- apists that exist to help continued on page 6 Besides information, there are available ex- cellent support groups, Schreiber Progressive - Conservative Party is holding a meeting at the Chimo Club at Schreiber on November 29th at 7:30 p.m. Welcome Extended to all PRusiness Director 38 a : GREYHOUNDS WE GIVE A CARE GOING . . . across Canada! FURNITURE & APPLIANCES TWIN SPOT RESTAURANT South Court St. at Fort William Road BIRCH MOTORS LTD. 345-2307 = Thunder Bay, Ont. 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