‘Strident’ Voices Won’t Stop Teen Pregnancies

In response to “A Freedom Fighter Packs for Washington,” (surgeon-general designate) Dr. M. Jocelyn Elders is to be praised for vowing to “make sure that every child born in America is a planned, wanted child.” This is a goal that all Americans can agree upon. Let us examine Dr. Elders’ supporting arguments to see if they hold water.

First, she states that unintended pregnancy is the root of nearly every social problem. What about ignorance, poverty, racism and disease? Does she also miss the crucial distinction between unintended pregnancy and teen-age pregnancy? According to a recent article in The Times, teen-age pregnancy is often voluntary and birth control pills are available to teen-agers.

Elders also claims that we do the “sorriest job in the world providing family planning.” Does every country in the world have a better family planning organization than Planned Parenthood?

Next, she claims the poor don’t have family planning because “we don’t care about the poor.” Family planning is available to the poor through many programs including Planned Parenthood, and has anyone ever proven that Americans don’t care about the poor?

By taking such a strident position, she will never be able to be as successful as she could be in solving the problem of teen-age pregnancies. Instead of pulling against so many of her fellow Americans, Dr. Elders should try to get us all to come over to the same side. . . .

JIM SADLER

South Laguna