Conference turris::womannotes-v3

Hello All,

On Tuesday, May 1 there is a giant rally and Lobby Day for Reproductive 
Choice, at the State House in Boston.  Men & women will gather from 9 a.m
to 1 p.m. at Doric Hall in the State House to register, lobby legislators, and 
make our presence known.  At around noon, a rally will be held on the State
House steps.

I'm going and was wondering if anyone else from DEC might be attending.

Look forward to your response.

Sandy

	I don't remember if this was in v2.


	Freedom Caravan for Women's Lives

	Pro-Choice Rally	Sunday, May 6th 3 PM
	City Hall Plaza, Lowell, MA.

	In case of rain, the rally will be held at the Smith Baker Center,
		across from City Hall Plaza.

	Speakers:

		Molly Yard - President, NOW
		Lt. Gov Evelyn Murphy
		and other state and local leaders.

	The 1990 Massachusetts election will be critical to abortion rights
	and other women's issues.  Come and be a vice for choice!

	Directions:  From Rte 495 or Rte 3 follow the brown signs to
	"Lowell National and State Parks".  These will lead you to
	Dutton Street.  Follow Dutton to the second light (Dutton
	"dead ends" here).  Turn left, City Hall Plaza is in front of you.
	For parking, turn right at the nest light and follow Arcand
	Street to the Lowell Public Garage.

	For more information: Call GREATER LOWELL N.O.W. at 
		(508)256-9075

    

    Just got the notice yesterday:
    
    Freedom Caravan for Women's Lives
    Molly Yard, speaking
    
    Wednesday, May 9 at 7:00 pm.
    
    Clark University
    950 Main Street, Worcester
    Alden Hall, Room 320 (same place as Cinema 320)
    
    Call Mass. NOW for more info: (508) 799-5801

    
    This material was boiled down from topic 208 and moved here after the
    note had enabled the author to give away 2 copies of the book...
    
    -Jody
    
           <<< RANGER::$2$DUA8:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WOMANNOTES-V3.NOTE;1 >>>
                        -< Topics of Interest to Women >-
================================================================================
Note 208.0                       Books for free                        4 replies
SCARGO::CONNELL "Trepanation, I need it like a hole" 25 lines  18-JUN-1990 12:18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I recently purchased ....  a book called "Choices: A pro-choice
    benefit comic." This book is filled with drawings and cartoons making
    all the arguments for abortion rights. I found it to be amusing,
    enlightening, very scary in some cases as to what some governments and
    some pro-life people are willing to do to control women's bodies and
    decisions on whether to have children and when, frank, and most of all
    an important work done during a time when it is needed. 
    
    The book is sponsored by NOW and the proceeds did go to them. Whether
    they will use the money to continue to support Roe vs Wade and oppose
    the Webster Decision is not made clear, although it is implied.
    
(  .....it is available at the Comics Store  in Simineau Plaza in Nashua)
    
(balance of the note removed with the author's permission)
        
    

    I have a friend who would like to get involved in the choice movement.
    She doesn't know very much about the history of the movement from the
    '73 Roe v Wade decision. Does anyone know how to obtain this info? Are
    there any books or really comprehensive magazine articles that I may 
    refer her to?
    
    Kate

    Boy, this note really stirred me up.  I am a mostly read only member of
    this conference, but this is toooooooo much for me to take.  When you
    think of all the problems associated with overpopulation, to hear
    statements made like the ones reprinted here just makes my skin crawl.
    
    Several years ago, I volunteered at a Planned Parenthood clinic.  My
    job was to escort the clients through the crowd of "Pro-lifers" (I hate
    that phrase - I am pro-choice not anti-life).  It was sad to watch the
    young women, some of them with their mothers, who had made an extremely
    difficult decision already have to put up with the harrassment in order
    to get the services they needed.
    
    The volunteers were harrassed on entering the clinic, but I was able to
    ignore it as I didn't have to make a gut-wrenching decision prior to
    coming that day.
    
    Anyway, I am flaming and trying to be calm enough to answer.
    
    Thanks, D! for entering this.  The statements are so absurd, it may
    just sway someone who is undecided on this issue.
    
    Bernice
    

From a Planned Parenthood leaflet:

"Sex education classes in our public schools are promoting incest."
                    --Rev. Jimmy Swaggart
 
"Resist, expose, or stop immediately every public school or group sex
education program, no matter what it is called, or how it is diffused into
the curriculum."   and  "Meanwhile, let it be clear what we do: we fight
contraception-sterilization-abortion on six continents..."
                    --Fr. Paul Marx, President Human Life International
 
"For those who say I can't impose my morality on others, I say just watch me."
"For instance, several years ago we tracked down a twelve-year-old girl who was
going to have an abortion, so that we could talk he out of it.  Talking a woman
out of having an abortion is not news.  But tracking her down by using a
private detective is."
               --Joseph Scheildler, Executive Director, Pro-Life Action League
 
"I don't think Christians should use birth control.  You consummate your
marriage as often as you like -- and if you have babies, you have babies ..."
              --Randall Terry, Executive Director, Operation Rescue
 
"We are totally opposed to abortion under any circumstances.  We are also
opposed to abortifacient drugs and chemicals like the Pill and the IUD, and
we are also opposed to all forms of birth control with the exception of
natural family planning."
             --Judie Brown, President, American Life League
 
"Incest is a voluntary act on the woman's part; otherwise it would be rape."
         --Prof. Charles Rice, Anti-abortion educator, University of Notre Dame
 
"It's very healthy for a young girl to be deterred from promiscuity by a fear
of contracting a painful, incurable disease, or cervical cancer, or sterility,
or the likelihood of giving birth to a dead, blind, or brain-damaged baby (even
ten years later when she may be happily married.)"
         --Phyllis Schlafly, President, Eagle Forum

    I oppose abortion, on principle; I just wish it was never necessary.
    Unfortunately it is sometimes.
    
    I wish every child was as wanted and cherished and provided for as mine
    are.
    
    	"The world will go as it will, not as you or I would have it."
    						-MZB

    Thank you, D, for putting in those quotes. It makes it so much easier
    for me to support prochoice. Some of these people sound like they are
    extremely dangerous and would go to any extremes to force their
    morality on us. This isn't just the person who stated that, but others
    also. Several just sounded like idiots. I had to sadly laugh at their
    statements. If people take them seriously, and I'm sure they do, then
    these are dangerous also. It really is a sad commentary on humanity
    when this kind of thought takes root in a portion of the race. I'm
    ashamed to be called a member of the same species as these folks.
    
    Phil

    re: .8
    
    Since you've acknowledged that abortion is necessary, what is the
    principle on which you oppose it?  Are you saying that you support the
    right to choice, but would not choose it for yourself?
    
    Nancy

    I am not a bumper sticker person, but I would like the one that says
    "PRO CHOICE"
    "KEEP IT SAFE AND LEGAL"
    Does anyone know where I can get one?
    
    +pat+

    Pat,
    
    Call the Pro-Choice committee in your area....they are sure to have
    one....I keep a button on everything I wear that says the following:
    I'm Pro-Choice, and PROUD OF IT....
    
    I'll see if I can turn something up for you from NY...let me know your
    mail address and if I can get my hands on something, I'll send it
    interoffice mail~!
    
    Jill
    
    

    in .8 I said I oppose abortion on principle, but that it is sometimes
    necessary.
    
    .10 asked for clarification:"...that you (I) support...choice, but
    would not choose it for yourself?"
    
    I'll try to say this right.  Ideally (unattainable, unfortunately) no
    woman would ever be pregnant except by choice.  This would include the
    choice to let pregnancy come when it will, or by divine will, or
    however you might care to characterize it.  If this could ever actually
    be the way of the world, then I would oppose all abortion except to
    save the life, literally, of the mother.
    
    So is any abortion killing a human life?  Well it's not mineral or
    vegetable!  It's not an animal, no matter how much a human fetus might
    resemble one.
    
    I'm not even going to try to figure out when a fetus becomes
    whatever-it-is-one-thinks-has-rights: ensoulled? conscious? viable?
    with-or-without-medical-life-support? *?  To me, these issues merely
    cloud the real issue about abortion: is it ever justifiable to
    deliberately end life?  This question has been, and is still being,
    debated in this notesfile (why do men go to war? do women support
    war? do animals have rights? and so on) and elsewhere.
    
    I myself could never abort a child conceived in love between my husband
    and me.  It would be killing our child.  I know that I loved our
    daughter as soon as I knew she was there.  I loved our son no less.
    
    I get angry when I think that women, and men, might conceive a child by
    carelessness or thoughtlessness, and abort to avoid the responsibility
    for their error.  Still, I cannot avoid seeing the consequence of so
    much carelessness; and cannot avoid seeing the consequence of so many
    children raised by parent(s) who should not have had kids.
    
    And so I must try to find a way between what I wish for, and reality. 
    In reality, women get pregnant through rape, incest, ignorance,
    carelessness, luck, choice, and long effort.  Not all of them want to
    be, or should be, mothers.  Many of them should not have children, or
    have them while they are children.  Our society cannot or will not, it
    amounts to the same thing effectively, provide for kids when parents
    cannot.  Maybe govt shouldn't do it all -- I don't want the govt telling
    me how I must raise my children to a govt standard.
    
    As I believe that sometimes war is necessary, though never desirable,
    so do I believe about abortion. I believe in freedom of choice, and
    responsibility, of and for all people.  Women must have the freedom to
    choose, and the responsibility of choice, and I would not see it taken
    away from us.
                       

    
    re .13, if no woman could ever be pregnant except by choice:
    
>    If this could ever actually
>    be the way of the world, then I would oppose all abortion except to
>    save the life, literally, of the mother.
    
    I always bristle when I hear this.  No one ever remembers that
    there are a number of cases where technology can detect severe or
    significant deformities in a developing baby.  If I were pregnant
    and discovered this, I'd darn sure want to be able to have an
    abortion!
    

>    there are a number of cases where technology can detect severe or
>    significant deformities in a developing baby.
    
    I agree that this is a legitimate reason to choose abortion, but in
    my way of thinking this belongs in the same area of choice as that which
    justifies abortions in general. The docs can't even always tell in
    advance that there are twins, let alone health problems with a child.
    Since we cannot really characterize this risk even as well as we can
    other reasons that we would allow choice, I did not mention it seperately.
    

    Maybe this is not the right place to express this but
    has anyone mentioned all the parents who would graciously
    adopt these unwanted, mistakes, etc babies?  I believe
    that a woman should seek all alternatives before she 
    agrees to an abortion/killing of the fetus.  There are 
    so many women who can not concieve a child.  Sorry, if
    this has been already discussed before.
    Betty
    

    Have you ever read the stories in the paper about women who
    are willing to take in children who are terminal ill, etc?
    There are people out there like this!  
    I agree it would be very difficult to carry a baby knowing
    that it was retarded or had a severe illness but that child
    can still bring love to someone who is caring for it.  
    I guess by now you know that I do not believe in abortion in
    any instance.  I don't mean to offend anyone but this is my
    opinion.
    Betty
    

    Please discuss abortion and its ramifications in the abortion 
    topic...which is topic 49, and follow the guidelines for the discussion
    in 49.0.
    
    -Jody
    

    Yes, please take your issues to 49; so I can do a next unseen when
    I get to it.
    
    

    The following item was extracted from a recent article in
    misc.activism.progressive:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America 
810 Seventh Avenue 
P.O. Box 4447                 Phone: (212) 541-7800 
New York, NY  10164-0359 

This group calls for:

* Keeping the right to a safe and legal abortion

* Enacting mandated sexuality education programs at the state level to
educate teenagers about the risks of unintended pregnancy and the
spread of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS

* Beginning a major offensive to increase funding for new
contraceptive research ("Something that is both needed and that will
force ["pro-lifers"] to reveal their true position on contraception")

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Their mailing included the following quotes from "pro-lifers":

"I don't think Christians should use birth control. You consummate
your marriage as often as you like and if you have babies, you have
babies." --Randall Terry, one of the men behind the current campaign
to blockade health clinics and publicly harass and humiliate women.

"I think contraception is disgusting -- people using each other for
pleasure." --Joseph Scheidler, Director, Pro-Life Action League

"We are...opposed to all forms of birth control with the exception of
natural family planning [the rhythm method]" -Judie Brown, President,
American Life Lobby

"It's very healthy for a young girl to be deterred from promiscuity by
fear of contracting a painful, incurable disease, or cervical cancer,
or sterility, or the likelihood of giving birth to a dead, blind, or
brain-damage baby even ten years later when she may be happily
married." Phyllis Schafly, President, Eagle Forum

"I listen to feminists and all these radical gals -- most of them are
failures. They've blown it. Some of them have been married, but they
married some Casper Milquetoast who asked permission to go to the
bathroom. These women just need a man in the house. That's all they
need. Most of these feminists need  a man to tell them what time of
day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all
men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men -- that's their
problem." -- Rev. Jerry Falwell

    
    	I'm not a real heavy into it feminist.....but this issue of
    pro-life vs pro-choice gets to me.  I have been confronted by a man
    telling me how abortion is terrible....etc.  It seems to be (at least
    in my hot button perception) that there are an awful lot of men out
    there on the pro-life side of this argument.
    
    	Now, if men could get pregnant, give birth, and be deserted by the
    other party......maybe, just maybe, I might be a little more willing to
    give credence to their opinions.
    
    	I am personally pro-choice.  This does not mean that I am in favor
    or actively support abortion.  Simply means that it is my body and I
    want to have the right to choose what *I* want.
    
    Faith
    

    
    Please ensure that when you reply to this note, you are sticking to the
    topic, "taking action for choice".  Please take discussion of abortion,
    and attitudes on abortion, to the Abortion Topic, topic 49, and follow
    the guidelines in the basenote there.
    
    -Jody
    

> "I don't think Christians should use birth control. You consummate
> your marriage as often as you like and if you have babies, you have
> babies." --Randall Terry, one of the men behind the current campaign
> to blockade health clinics and publicly harass and humiliate women.

  I'm *SURE* that's exactly how Randall Terry feels about it, too.
  He consumates his marriage as often as he wants and if *HE*
  becomes pregnant and has a baby, hey, he can accept that, it's
  God's will!

                                   Atlant

                                Pro-Choice Rally
                               Wednesday, June 26
                             from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
                            Concord Green, Concord MA
    
                   Sponsored by Lowell, Acton, and Lexington 
                                Chapters of NOW
     
    Stand and be counted on the green, (intersection of Rte 62 and Main
    Street in Concord Center).  Bring a friend, a sign, wear buttons.
    
    For more information, call Linda Brown, president of Lexington Area Now
    at 508-371-7060. (Who requested that her number be here and is aware of
    the large readership of this conference).
    
      Margaret Gonzalez   
        Program Coordinator of Lexington Area NOW
    
    PS: If you cannot attend on Wednesday, mark your calendar for July 29.
        I will publish the details later.

      
    
               EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN FOR WOMEN'S LIVES
                        March and Rally
    
                        New York City
                  Saturday, July 6, 1991
                        Noon to 2 p.m.
    
    Assemble at the New York Hilton, Avenue of the Americas, between
    53rd and 55th Streets.
    
    NOW delegations should gather at the Burlington Building Plaza, 6th
    Ave. between 54th and 55th.  Other delegations should form at Coopers
    and Lybrand Plaza, 6th Ave. between 52nd and 53rd.
    
            RALLY at Columbus Circle, 59th Street and 8th Ave.
    
    For more information call National NOW at 202-331-0066 or New York City
    NOW at 212-807-0721.
    
    Participants are encouraged to wear white.

The following news is probably of general interest to the readership
here in =wn=, but I caution everybody to please be aware that the actions
outlined in this article are applicable to a bill pending in the California
State legislature.  If you aren't in California, it probably won't make do
much good to take these actions.  But you might pass on the information to
people you know in California who might be interested.

DougO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the SJ Mercury News, Friday 8/16/91, p4B

California News

High-tech lobbying launched for French abortion pill
by David Ansley, Mercury News staff writer

The controversial and number-laden French abortion pill- RU486- now has even
more numbers in California.  A 900 telephone number.

A coalition of medical and abortion rights groups wanting California to be
the pill's U.S. port of entry Thursday launched a high-tech lobbying campaign.

For $5.95, people who dial (900) 73-RU486 will automatically have four letters
sent- in their name- to Sacramento.  The letters will urge specific legislators
to vote for a resolution supporting the drug's importation and study.

"It sends the Legislature a message that these people are willing to put their
money where their mouth is," said Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, D-South San Fran-
cisco, who sponsored the resolution.

Widely used in France, RU-486 is a "morning after" pill that induces abortion
within the first seven weeks of pregnancy.  It has also shown signs of effect-
iveness against various cancers, diabetes, and endometriosis.

But pressure from abortion opponents, various governments and the pill's own
manufacturer have limited its use outside France.  In this country, the Food
and Drug Administration has barred its importation.  Speier's resolution calls
on the government to allow importation and encourages the drug's manufacturers
to test it in California.

This is the first time, she believes, that a 900 number has been used for 
lobbying purposes in the state.

"It's not as effective as people sitting down and writing a thoughtful
personal letter," said Norma Clevenger, executive director of Planned
Parenthood Affiliates of California, which supports the telephone campaign.

"But for busy people, it is a way to get the message out."

    On Sunday, August 25, Maine NOW and other pro-choice groups are holding
    a rally and march in Kennebunkport.  
    
    The rally will start at 10:30 at the Public Green.  The silent march
    will begin at 11:00.  
    
    Please bring gags and signs.
    
    judy

    
    NYC NOW is asking all NOW members to take a moment to call the Justice
    Department Citizen's Complaint Line and voice your distress at the
    current situation in Kansas, Bush's response to it, etc.  
    
    The phone number is 202-724-7579.
    
    This is not a toll free number so make your calls from home, please.
    
    

                Monday, August 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm
    
                     Lexington (MA) Battle Green 
         (intersection of Massachusetts Ave and Bedford Street)
    
    Sponsored by the Acton, Greater Lowell, and Lexington Area NOW chapters
    
                    Speaker: Evelyn Murphy and others
    
    
    Support Choice and voice your opposition to the nomination of Clarence
    Thomas to the Supreme Court.  Bring signs and bring friends.
    
    For more information, call Linda Brown at 508-371-7060.
    Linda is president of Lexington NOW and has asked that her name and
    number be published here as a contact person.
    
    Directions to Lexington Battle Green:
    
    From Route 128 take the exit for 4/225 East (exit 31). Head East to
    Lexington. This is Bedford Street.  Follow Bedford Street approximately
    2 miles to the Green. 

    Last night in Wordsworth Bookstore in Harvard Sq. I saw a book of
    post-cards put out my, I believe, NARAL (National Abortion Rights
    Action League).  It had a bunch of pull-out post cards, pre-addressed
    to various important people in government (the president, the surgeon
    general, etc, etc) as well as local senators and representatives (with
    blank spots for the name of whoever yours is.)  The post cards had a
    short paragraph is support of abortion rights (something like "I am
    pro-choice and I vote.  As a member of your constituency I urge you to
    work to help women retain control over their bodies..." etc) as well a
    some blank space to write in personal comments.
    
    All ya gotta do is stick a stamp on it, and fill in the blanks.  It
    cost less than $5 I believe. (I didn't buy one, because I didn't want
    to lug it around with me dancing, but I will get one next time I'm in
    town.)
    
    D!

    Re: -.1
    
    Not too many bookstores carry this book, but Barnes and Noble does.
    And there is a new Barnes and Noble about to open on Spit Brook Road
    in Nashua.
    
    No other local bookstore carries the book.
    
    judy

    Think that just maybe Clarence Thomas is not a pro-choice nominee for
    Supreme Court Justice?  Live in Massachusetts?
    
    Sen. Ted Kennedy is on the Judiciary Committee, the senatorial
    committee responsible for questioning Thomas.  All other Senators
    listen to the questions and answers and vote.  Sen Kerry will therefore
    be voting.
    
    Call your state senators and let them know:
    
    Call Sen. Ted Kennedy at his Boston office:  617-565-3170
    
    Call Sen. John Kerry at his Boston office:  617-565-8519
    
    Don't live in Massachusetts?  You local phone book has listings
    for your Senators in their local offices.
    
        Margaret  (I called both numbers, they work just fine, friendly
                   folks on the other end.)

    Ted Kennedy judging Thomas is a bad joke.....
    
    REK
    
    PS I not pro Thomas....