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