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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 1983)
I Funding the choice Cutting federal aid for abortions would be like slashing financial aid to students — only worse. Many poor students, without the government’s aid, would not be able to attend a university and get the educa tion they want. Many poor women would have to suffer through medically unsafe abortions if Medicaid abortions for the poor are eliminated. The lives of many University students would be drastically changed, usually for the worse, if they could not attend school. But unsafe abortions don’t just mean women’s lives would be changed — they could easily be ruined by the hazards that go with back-alley abortions. Last week marked the 10th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court case legalizing abor tion and allowing women the freedom to choose the destiny ot their own bodies. Last week, Reagan, with his actor’s sense of timing, endorsed a bill, introduced by Rep. Henry Hyde, R.-lll., which would prohibit Medicaid funds from being used for abortions. Whether it was his intention or not, what Reagan and other anti-abortionists intend to do is deny poor women control over their own bodies and consequently their lives. Women have safely been terminating unwanted pregnancies for 10 years. It is not a decision lightly made, and is not an easy one to live with afterwards, but women must retain their right to control their bodies. If the laws change, the situation will only worsen. The days of the back-alley abortion, complete with coathanger and kitchen table, will return. Women will not stop having abortions — they will just suffer more in the Drocess. They will have lost access to a necessary medical procedure. It seems that after 10 years of living with the Roe decision, the general public is satisfied with the current law. A recent Associated Press-NBC News poll showed 77 percent of the population believe the matter is one bet ween a woman and her doctor. Medical science can’t determine the moment when human life begins, neither can the president nor the Moral Majority. However, it is very easy to tell the moment a freedom is curtailed. opinion I Ml ,. .So you see,the intire future of tub international financial system hinges cn Yt)UR CAPACITY Tor quick recovery and vast economic growth .' letters Intolerable It’s getting to be too much. Women are living in fear and this is intolerable. A few nights ago I was runn ing out at Alton Baker Park. It was about 6 p.m. — almost dark. It occured to me that a woman would no doubt hesitate before she ran out there alone, even in daylight. I rounded a bushy curve and saw another figure ahead — undoubtedly another jogger. When I was a few paces away from the person, she turned around. Her hand went toward her throat, I saw her eyes frozen open in the partial light. She screamed. “NOOOoooo!” I slowed slight ly and said, “I’m alright. No need to worry." And then pass ed her. I wanted to stop and talk with her, tell her that her paranoia was unfounded. Say something to put her at ease I checked myself. Telling her that it’s alright would be the worst thing I could do. There was a reason behind her ac tions: survival. I padded softly on the bark mulch. Ram spattered my face, dribbling into my beard. Unfair. joan nyland suitable for comment Lei not the arms first motion be one of self-defense —Adrienne Rich People are slaves to many things. In modern America we are captured by crime and violence. And, we are not free and not very brave. Last week the Junction City School Board started a finger printing program for their children. This is not some ex perimental FBI plot to finger print everyone by the age of 10; the program is motivated by parental fear of kidnapping It includes a workshop for the children on identifying a "Danger Stranger.” I am astounded that small town America — Junction City — has such a kidnapping pro blem or fear of one. Then again. Friday, Meier and Frank call ed me to inform me that I’m liable for the first $50 of mer chandise should my credit card be stolen. And this is true for all my credit cards. Would I join, for $1 per month, their stolen credit card "hotline?” In other words, would I pay $12 a year to ease my fear of credit card theft. Maybe, these are just two isolated incidents and I am overreacting Maybe these are undercover workings of in surance agencies Perhaps since victims have so little recourse following the crime they must do all they can before hand. As a country we have a serious problem with domestic violence and crime. We isolate ourselves from the problem rather than deal with it We create insurance plans for plane travel and hur ricane's and mailing cookies across country. When the crime rate goes up in the neighborhood we Oregon daily _ emerald The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday except during exam week and vacations, by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co at the University of Oregon Eugene OB 97403 The Emerald operates independently of the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press New* and Editorial SSS-SS11 Display Advertising and Business MS-3712 Classified Advertising MS 4343 Production SSS-4 3t 1 Circulation SSS SS11 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Assistant News Editor Editorial Page Editor Photo Editor Sports Editor Associate Sports Editor Entertainment Editor Night Editor Associate E ditor* Higher Education Departments and Schools Student Government Features Politics Politics Education Reporter General Staff Advertising Manager Classified Advertising Production Manager Controller Harry Esteve John Mealy Marian Green Cort Fern a id Joan Nyland Boh Raker Mike Miplinger Paul Dan/er Jonathan Siegle Cort Fernald Sandy Johnstone i rank Shaw Richard Bu»r Sean Meyer* Michele Mat***a Aieta /ak paHene Gore Sally OiJA' Victoria Koch Jean Ownbey move to the suburbs. When we don't like the fighting next door we put up a fence When theft is high we hire a guard for the apartment complex. Anything, but face fear. As a student, I walk past campus call boxes daily. I am glad they are there, but I dislike the truth that the boxes represent: The University — to reassure both of us — has deemed the probablity of crime warrants students be able to call campus security every 500 paces. In the state park near my parent's house In Portland there are marvelous running and biking paths Each en trance is marked with a large "Beware of rape" sign asking women not to enter the park alone I am not opposed to these precautions: caution signs, call boxes, security guards and awareness programs But I am angry that they are beginning to define my ex istence here — and I'm talking about Eugene — not the Bronx The best description of an American may well be a poten tial victim of crime It is unfair that men and women must suffer from the thoughtless acts of violence perpetuated by a few. It will continue, this fear, as well it should. We have betrayed the good nature of our fellow humans. We have taught each other to fear the night. Taylor-Henry rhetoric and communication Failure Two years have now elapsed since Pres. Reagan came into office on a ticket of returning America to the good old days: strengthening our national security and renewing our hope of achieving the American dream. Has he suc ceeded? Let’s look at the facts. Unemployment has reached its highest point in more than 40 years. Nearly one-third of America's production lines stand Idle. Our economic growth rate just took its big gest dive in 36 years and business confidence is at its lowest point In decades In the meantime, theft and robbery continue to sky rocket Violence against minorities is increasing at an alarming rate and America's malnourished and homeless are reaching their highest pro portions since the Great Depression Are these trends conducive to “renewed hope"? As an added tough, the CIA has been given sweeping new powers to infiltrate domestic political organizations and spy on American citizens while the annual percentage increase of our nation's prison population just took its highest leap in 56 years Is this Reagan's idea of acheiving “national security”? It is my belief that Ronald Reagan has not only failed in fulfilling his campaign pro mises, but failed miserably. Will we remember these facts, or will the coy gee-whiz cowboy grin of this actor con tinue to fool us? The choice is ours. Chriatian Gunther senior, sociology
