Letter to the Editor

[jackola]

I got printed in the Daily News again today!

LETTER: 'Biased wording, slanted reporting' used in article

January 20, 2005

It's a matter of freedom of choice, not abortion.

I'm ashamed that the Daily News printed "Groups honor, protest at vigil" with such biased wording and slanted reporting. The title itself implies that protesting is the opposite of honor. As a believer in the human right of choice, I find it quite honorable that those 17 people came out and spoke their voices, just as a believer in anti-choice might consider it honorable to pray for dead babies.

I urge readers of the Daily News to consider the implications of the wording of this article.

"A few yards away, pro-abortion protesters gathered on McKinley Avenue's sidewalk holding signs saying 'Honk for a woman's right to choose,' among other slogans."

I'm offended by the term "pro-abortion" in this article. As I stated in a past column in the Daily News, it IS possible to be both Pro-Life and Pro-Choice. The difference between the two sides is that one believes in a woman's right to choose what she does with her body, while the other side believes that she should have no choice.

If I were to ever have to make the decision to abort, I can honestly say I wouldn't. However, it's not my place to impose that on other people. It should not be my decision what someone does with her life or her body.

There are a few things people need to remember in this debate:

- History shows that if you take away the right to choose, people will have abortions anyway, even in dangerous ways.

- If men could have babies, this wouldn't be a debate at all. There would be abortion clinics in strip malls.

- If your mom had aborted you, you wouldn't be here to wonder about it anyway.

- Pro-Choice is not Pro-Abortion. Pro-Life is not exclusive to Anti-Choice. Anti-Choice is oppression.

- If you don't believe in abortions, don't have one.

If you truly believe that your opinions should oppress those who believe otherwise, perhaps a democracy isn't for you.

Jack Shepler
Junior Telecommunications Major

And now for pics of the rally!

Comments

[spastik.livejournal.com]

Awesome letter and awesome pictures Jack...you get an A+ for the week.

[falsemirror.livejournal.com]

go you.

XawesomeXcoreX.

[mikomb.livejournal.com]

Well done.

[idunn.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I'm rather impressed by your eloquence. I'm glad we have people like you fighting for a good cause.

[batmoon.livejournal.com]

Wow, good for you [and all of them].

[rainbow-of-doom.livejournal.com]

<3

I did something similar when I lived in bloomington. *wrote a letter to the newspaper and stuff*

You get three hearts because...you do. <3 <3 <3

[whats-hisname.livejournal.com]

How long ago did you live in Bloomington? (Pro-choice Bloomington here)

[rainbow-of-doom.livejournal.com]

oooh.. about 7 months ago. and previous to that I had lived there all my life.

[stupidhero.livejournal.com]

Thank you for speaking up.

[typecastforlife.livejournal.com]

Congrats on being published and on what you guys did - I admire your standing up for what you believe in.

[kylecool.livejournal.com]

awwwww such cute pics :)

[gen-kun.livejournal.com]

way cool!

[gifa.livejournal.com]

Someone I know once put it to me this way...

"My mom chose to have me... she wasn't forced by a law to give me life...she chose to...she chose me. There's something to be said about KNOWING the reason you are alive today is because somebody wanted you in their life from the time they found out about you."


I find that to be the most beautiful pro-choice statement...ever.

[dancingdrew.livejournal.com]

It'll never happen, but I wish pro-choice and pro-life or whatever would just switch both terms to pro- and anti-abortion rights. It's direct, implies no value judgment on either group, and ends stupid debates over the death penalty or gun ownership related to abortion just because someone picked a hot-button word.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

Are you serious? Did you read my letter?

Pro-Abortion suggests that I'm for having abortions, and I'm not.

Maybe Pro-Choice and Anti-Choice?

[dancingdrew.livejournal.com]

No, pro-abortion RIGHTS. It's a whole phrase. You don't support abortion, you support abortion rights.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

I hate it how everything in our country has to be lessened down to a single statement. Even our TV news skips all the important details and just tell the bumper sticker version of what happened. Le sigh to that.

[dancingdrew.livejournal.com]

I think it's just a way to easily summarize one's views on the subject. I mean, it's much easier to say "I'm pro-choice" or "I'm pro-life" or whatever adjective than to explain your personal view in detail, which (if you're intelligent at ALL) is undoubtedly more nuanced than either of those buzzwords.

[sisyphus238.livejournal.com]

I would only quibble with the sign that says Christianity has been taking away rights since 1 AD. It is factually incorrect. The Church didn't become the oppressive instrument it is today until much later. Unless he was talking about Paul who, I suspect, was a major asshole.

[sisyphus238.livejournal.com]

On another note: who do you have to pay to be a cute as you are?
My god!! I am so amazed at the various ways genes compile in order to create such beauty. It blows me away constantly and not just in your case. Anyway, thanks for posting that letter. There are so many good hearts out here. It won't be long before they take over.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

O:-). Not sure how that worked out... believe it or not, I come from a very, very conservative family tree. Most of them were people with the $$$ to come to America on nice big boats. My Great Grandma came to the U.S. from England on the largest ship that left just before the Titanic.... :-o

[starliner.livejournal.com]

Well said. I am pro life and pro choice at the same time.

I liked the line about Christanity taking away your rights, but think that signs like "Fuck Oppression" don't help anyone's goals...just a little too in your face and everyone knows I'm an in your face kind of person.

[sisyphus238.livejournal.com]

I just read the article that prompted your letter. I thought it was quite poetic that they couldn't get their candles to light.

[skybythelight.livejournal.com]

- Pro-Choice is not Pro-Abortion. Pro-Life is not exclusive to Anti-Choice. Anti-Choice is oppression.

The sad thing is, I have yet to run into a person who claims to be pro-life who is anything but anti-choice. :( If they were REALLY pro-life, then they should consider the life of the woman and HER choice in the matter.

[hammersforteeth.livejournal.com]

where were these taken at?
at inauguration, there were people with signs that said, "why SHOULD god bless america?" with pictures of aborted fetuses on the back. we pretty much had it out with them, and it made for interesting debate. if this was in dc, did you see them? good job, regaurdless. and thanks.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

Nope, this was at Ball State University a few nights ago.

[jackola.livejournal.com]

OH, and thanks :-)

wow

[http://users.livejournal.com/-sarasvati-/]

You don't know me but, I found your LJ through thedailyshow community and I just have to say I think you are an incredibley cool person. I really respect you for your views and your courage to stand up to some pure journalistic garbage. Your response was great - eloquent and a strong message for our side. Not only are you gorgeous, its nice to find out about someone else who thinks that is should be more of the difference between pro-choice and anti-choice. all in all - you win. :)

Re: wow

[jackola.livejournal.com]

heh, wow, thanks :-).