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About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1984)
Monologue Pro-choice critics Report disputes democracy still out to overturn By Marco Procaccini 1973 court ruling Copy Editor By Doug Vaughan Editor in Chief Sunday was the eleventh anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion. Along with the anniver sary came heated words and debate. From our state capitol to Washington, D.C., both sides marched in protest and in honor. Yet the opposers are claim ing that lawmakers are “out of sync with the public.” But does the public oppose abortion? On second thought, even if a majority of it does, should that be enough cause to take away the rights of the individual? Isn’t America the land of the free? Like in freedom of choice. Right-to-life supporters need to wake up. If more of their information came from scientific studies rather than their own literature, maybe they would realize their basis of reasoning is nothing but a fallacy. We have all heard the scare tactics used by anti-abortion supporters. These emotional ones like how the victim’s face is grossly contorted from the fatal violations on its body from the abortion. The only problem with that statement is that it’s wrong. Most therapeutic abortions take place within the twelfth week of pregnancy. The fetus is the size of a marble at. that stage, and there isn’t much of what could be considered a “face.” Be responsible, right anti-abortionists? Sorry again. We all know there is not a 100 percent effective birth control method. So what is responsible about having an unwanted baby? Choosing to have an abortion is taking responsibility. Abortions are expensive, painful, shameful and physiologically detrimental, no matter what the individual’s moral beliefs are. It is not something that someone is proud of, but a decision that an individual needs to make. Without abortions the world would be filled with un wanted babies. What would we do with them. Adoption sounds good, but the black market has made it a joke. Why not make a few bucks instead of give the baby up, right? Now, how moral is that? Nevertheless, it is a definite possibility of what can happen if abortions are outlawed. With laws the way they stand today we can feel good about the safety of the individual. Neither the removal of public funding nor the outlawing of abortion will stop abortions, but only change the quality of them. With a president determined to end women’s ability to make responsible choices about child-bearing and child- rearing, the threat of anti-abortion laws should be on everyone’s mind. Sharon Mischler of the National Organization for Women stressed that the re-election of President Reagan might result in the reconsideration of Roe vs. Wade, the rul ing that legalized abortion eleven years ago. Reagan would need only to appoint two more justices to reverse the decision, and five of the pro-choice justices now serving are 73 years old. There is a need for abortions. People who do not believe this are ignoring the facts. The decision should lie with the mother and her doctor, not a person in a three-piece suit smoking a cigar. THE PRINT, a member of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association, aims to be a fair and impartial journalistic medium covering the campus com munity as thoroughly as possible. Opinions expressed in THE PRINT do not necessarily reflect those of the College administration, faculty, Associated Student Government or other members of THE PRINT. THE PRINT is a weekly publication distributed each Wednesday except for finals week. Clackamas Community College, 19600 S. Molalla Avenue, Oregon City, Oregon 97045. Page 2 The word “democracy” took on yet another inaccurate and contradictory meaning Saturday when the Kissinger Report on Central America was released and broadcast on CNN (Cable News Network). The report recommends the U.S. provide $8 billion to El Salvador in A: Business invest ment to increase influence of that country’s markets to, as Reagan put it, “stabilize its economic structure” and B: Military aid to defend the “democratic development” of the “elected government” there. This government received its hollow title in the so-called “free election” in El Salvador in 1982 when the left-wing coalition party, FDR (Federa tion for a Democratic Republic) was not allowed to participate. The result was less than 50 percent voter turnout. Of those that voted, 40 percent went to the liberal Christian Democratic Party (CDP) giv ing it a minority government over various rightist parties which represent national and foreign business interests and the military. The rightists then Yet the Reagan Ad ousted the CDP by a non confidence vote, thus return ministration condemns the Sandinistas because their ing the old junta to power. This is supposedly the “elected demands for collectivization of private- and state-owned in government.” dustry are supposedly hurting Since then, “democratic development” in the country U.S. business interests. So has taken the form of political what? My heart weeps. Perhaps the U.S. puppet purges, increased taxes, block Somoza regime was good for ing trade unions and more military spending. One asks, business, but certainly not for “Why guerrillas?” By now .it people, which is what counts. This shows what the should be obvious. Reagan Administration, its The report also calls for Wall Street backers and con more U.S. support for servatives generally feel Somocista forces destabilizing democracy is—the right of the Nicaraguan Sandinista business to rape, steal and ex government. A Republican ploit freely and be protected congressman was quoted in a by bullheaded insensitive CNN report as saying the San governments. Human rights dinistas are “menacing the are acceptable only if they surrounding democracies.” I don’t jeopardize the power suppose Guatemala, like the and privilege of those who Philippines or South Africa, is reap where they don’t sow, democratic. Amnesty Interna right? Reagan and Kissinger tional reports such brutal seem to think so. It shows in repression in these countries their domestic policies as well. they make Eastern Europe The Kissinger Report look like Paradise. The Sandinistas, although gives Latin American people far from perfect, have pro and liberation movements the moted a democratic industrial choice of either unconditional management program where surrender or forced entrance the factories and farmland are into the Soviet/Cuban camp, a controlled by the workers. place where they clearly state They also announced Saturday they don’t want to be. Such is that general elections would the full-flowered “democ take place some time this year. racy” of the right. Aristotle turns over in his If that’s not democratic, what grave one more time. is? Dialogue______ Letter draws explanation To the Editor: In response to Richard Weiss’ letter Jan. 11, 1984, and as a member of the Clackamas County Park Ad visory Board, I wish to clarify the reason for the sale of the Deep Creek property. Due to lack of County funds, no funding was provid ed for County parks for fiscal year 1983-84. To maintain and continue operations of these parks, namely Barton, Eagle Fern, Metzler, Feyrer, Hebb, Hoodland, Carver and Risley, the Clackamas County Park Advisory Board recommended to the County Commissioners the sale of the undeveloped Deep Creek property after considerable study of financ ing problems during the last year. Deep Creek property is a steep, hilly area that would be expensive to develop and would be limited in use. Other park areas that have been set aside and not developed, (Wilhoit, Wagon Wheel, Ed Latourette, Barlow Trail, Willamette at the foot of Courtney Street) could more easily and less expensively be developed,- if- funds were available. The park advisory board, made up of 10 members from various parts of the County, recommended that the funds from the sale of Deep Creek property be placed in trust and only the interest be used for, operations. The Coupty Commis sioners agreed with our recom mendation and placed the pro ceeds in a trust account with only the interest used for operation and maintenance. G. R. “Gib” Bloomquist Clackamas Community College
