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