Letters to the Editor

Pro-choice yet nonpartisan

To the Editor:

In his letter ("Pro-choice and Republican," The Daily Pennsylvanian, 04/13/04), Scott Robinson misses the point. Last week's NARAL ad asks not which political party should handle the abortion issue, but who should control women's bodies and reproductive choices: government or women themselves? Regardless of party, no politician should be able to deny a woman her right to choose.

NARAL's ad was not partisan. Rather, it displayed clearly the fact that a small group of white men are making decisions that should be left to private individuals in conversations with their doctors. This is what Roe v. Wade ultimately decided, and though President Bush may believe that the country isn't ready for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, he is working hard to get it ready. Several years ago, he publicly stated, "I will do everything in my power to restrict abortions," and he has followed through on this promise.

He has roadblocked FDA approval of over-the-counter status for emergency contraception, allowed the Department of Justice to subpoena private medical records of women who have had certain abortions and ignored congressional rejection of judicial nominees in order to get his virulently anti-choice appointments into the federal circuit. And, as shown in the NARAL ad, he signed into law the so-called "partial-birth abortion" ban, a piece of legislation that has nothing to do with birth and everything to do with endangering women's lives.

Yes, there are pro-choice Republicans (and there are anti-choice Democrats). The ad was not commenting on party affiliation. It shows only that this small, unrepresentative group was insisting on controlling women's very personal and private decisions. What I found wrong with the picture was that such a small group of people who will never need an abortion were signing into law a bill that not only limits medical options for women, but also, by curtailing reproductive rights, restricts everyone's freedom. And while they were doing that, they were smiling. Wipe that smirk off their faces; on April 25, march with us in D.C.

Niva Kramek

College '06

Penn for Choice

Pro-life laws also pro-woman

To the Editor:

I found some assertions made by Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan in her recent column on abortion legislation ("Defending besieged abortion rights," DP, 04/13/04) to be very implausible. Firstly, her assumption that "every restriction on abortion represents a profound lack of respect for women" is a blatant generalization. Recent legislation regarding abortion or abortion-related issues (such as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act) upholds the dignity of the life in utero while also honoring the life-bearing capacity that is unique to women.

Educational programs and waiting periods advocated by recent legislation empower pregnant women by offering them the opportunity to understand the full import of their actions before undergoing an irreversible (and potentially regrettable) abortion. Such legislation fulfills the feminist principles of justice, nonviolence and nondiscrimination. Patricia Heaton, the honorary chairwoman of the national organization Feminists for Life, echoes this belief, "Women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy also deserve unplanned joy."

Secondly, Kwak-Hefferan's use of the phrase "collection of cells in your uterus" to refer to the unborn human life in utero minimizes the organic distinctiveness and integrity of the developing life. The embryo is not a collection of cells similar to tissue found in internal organs, which are incapable of producing new life; on the contrary, an embryo develops into an entirely new organism.

Finally, her example of a hypothetical pregnancy scenario to elicit sympathy for the pro-choice perspective from her readers produced in me the opposite effect. Rather than feeling that abortion would be the natural solution in such a situation, I realized how important it is that we as a society do everything possible to build up the support system for our nation's pregnant women and stamp out the various stigmas surrounding pregnancy.

Penn students will have the opportunity to learn more about the pro-life perspective by participating in Respect Life Week, taking place on campus next week starting on Monday.

Nina Mirarchi

Nursing '06

Penn For Life

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