Letters

Tuesday, March 4, 1997

Incorrect facts plague article

In regards to Malik Francis’ Feb. 25 Viewpoint, "Expanding
African-American History, I was surprised to read: "A short time
after the Civil War, (John) Brown led a group of slaves to Harper’s
Ferry, New York to revolt."

Firstly, the raid happened in October, 1859. The Civil War began
in 1861.

Secondly, Harper’s Ferry is in Virginia, not New York.

Where did you get your information?

Gordon Henderson

Marching Band Director

Pro-life writer’s attack misguided

Yes, this is another letter concerning the Jan. 29 article on
the possible "gay gene." Such a topic seems to bring out the
intense emotions of supposed "pro-lifers," like Andrew Abdul-Ahab’s
simplistic and ignorant claims in his Feb. 25 letter to
Viewpoint.

Employing the common rhetoric of the right wing, Abdul-Ahab
comes to the conclusion "that women are having abortions for
whimsical reasons of convenience."

To quote the statistics he gave, 66 percent of women who had
abortions did so due to a lack of financial stability, and 50
percent said that fear of being a single mother was a major
factor.

Is the inability to provide for your child "whimsical," Andrew?
Will you support the children born into poverty? Abdul-Ahab
obviously agrees with the sexist stance of many anti-abortionists,
claiming that these statistics reveal "(women’s) irresponsibility
as they refuse to face the consequences of their actions." He is
perfectly willing to place blame on the women who choose abortion,
ignoring the role of fathers in the situation.

The fact that half the women polled cited avoidance of
single-parenthood should tell Abdul-Ahab that it is the men who are
irresponsibly avoiding the consequences of their actions, leaving
the woman to deal with the situation alone.

And to top it all off, Abdul-Ahab smugly states that abortion is
"a quick and easy solution!" Andrew, do us all a favor: Go talk to
someone who has had an abortion. Did she think it was quick? Did
she think it was easy? No, she’ll likely tell you it was the
hardest decision of her life, one that continues to effect her
emotionally and physically. Your sensationalist claims, Andrew,
serve only to further misconceptions and ignorance about abortion
and its causes.

Brian Neil Rudiger

First Year

History