Bakersfield Fire Hides a Free Speech Issue

As appalled as I am that someone would burn down the Bakersfield Family Planning Associates Clinic (“After the Fire--A Chill,” Oct. 11), I find the continuing tactics used by the anti-abortion forces in harassing and attacking doctors, nurses, clinics and clients even more appalling.

All these actions undermine the very foundation of our country. What is the difference between citizens of a communist country or dictatorship being afraid to state their views and our own doctors and clinics (even those who don’t perform abortions) being afraid to be mentioned in an article that uses the word?

Anti-abortion terrorists are not only denying individuals their rights, they are coercing and holding hostage our entire country and the tenets on which it was founded.

We must insist that the right to choose be a real choice, not the “choice” remaining to the 16-year-old in Bakersfield who is determined not to continue her unwanted pregnancy and will try to perform an abortion on herself.

Should this young girl or others like her die in the attempt, as many before them have done? Who would be the murderer then?

TOBY BERNSTEIN

Los Angeles

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This is the same Bakersfield whose former mayor, Mary Kay Shell, wrote repeatedly (and pathetically) to Johnny Carson in a futile attempt to lure him to Bakersfield for a visit. She was convinced that if he stayed for a weekend, he’d be so impressed that he’d forsake his Bakersfield jokes.

Since the torching of the clinic, Bakersfield has now surpassed its prior reputation. Because of its high-profile, anti-choice zealots who perform terrorist acts to further political goals, the town is now seen as a repugnant joke that has lost any humor it once had.

JENNIFER MERK

San Diego

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Maybe the teen-agers of Bakersfield will be motivated to keep their knickers buttoned now that the local abortion mill is kaput, thereby avoiding a whole host of related ills. And maybe the parents, school counselors and clergy will be encouraging them in that direction.

OLIVIA BAYER

San Diego