Norma McCorvey and Abortion
* Susan Carpenter McMillan (“No More Exploiting of Jane Roe,” Commentary, Aug. 16) outlines how the pro-life community must now gently deal with the changed Norma McCorvey and not exploit her as the “lesbian-run” women’s movement did. Then, in her next breath, she goes on to do her own exploiting by accusing pro-choicers of lying to this poor victim to encourage her to pursue her now famous case.
In truth, McCorvey is a nothing in this entire scenario; most people, until a few days ago, did not even know her real name. Had it not been McCorvey, someone else would have emerged as Roe, and the Supreme Court decision would have been the same. McCorvey is hardly a victim. She did what she did willingly, and she certainly has the right to change her mind. So what!
McMillan, on the other hand, tries to pass herself off as a God-loving person but expresses hatred against liberals, gays and pro-choicers, mentioning Barney Frank and Ethel Kennedy, who have absolutely nothing to do with this case. In doing this, she violates the true tenets of Christianity.
STUART LUBIN
Los Angeles
* How ironic to have a story about a woman in Fullerton abandoning her newborn infant and leaving his body in the trunk of her car, and then to have McMillan’s unbalanced diatribe about the evils of the pro-choice movement on the Commentary page that same day.
I find the contrast between the two pieces striking. Once again, a leader of the so-called “pro-life” movement has failed to articulate a comprehensive solution to the crisis of unwanted pregnancy in our local community. McMillan is clear about her opposition toward women having the right to self-determination, but has made no attempt to offer a positive alternative.
The tragedy of this situation should challenge us as a community to seek common ground and work for the day when all children are born into a family where they can be healthy, loved and wanted. Instead, McMillan continues to espouse divisive rhetoric while neglected and abused children languish in misery.
LAUREEN E. WOOD
Laguna Beach
* Marcela Howell’s “Norma McCorvey Makes Another Choice” (Commentary, Aug. 15) once again demonstrates the euphemistic doublespeak used by the media and the anti-life movement to advance their minority opinion. Tired terms like “radical right” will not mitigate the impact. They have been grabbing at the wind since this thing happened. A child could understand the impact on the anti-life movement. When are you going to get it?
GERARD BISIGNANO
Redondo Beach
* The pro-abortion movement is trying to put the best possible face on the conversion of McCorvey to the cause of Operation Rescue. McCorvey’s decision to oppose abortion is a “validation of the pro-choice movement”? No way!
Sorry, Ms. Howell, but “pro-choice” has never been anything but a way of saying “pro-abortion” without using the “A” word. The abortion lobby has never wanted women to choose to let their babies live--the money is in doing the abortions, especially if taxpayers can be forced to pay the bill. If the abortion lobby really wanted pregnant women to make an informed choice, they would not be so anxious to keep peaceful anti-abortion pickets like Operation Rescue from speaking to women in front of abortion clinics. And they would not oppose legislation requiring waiting periods, parental input and information on the unborn child for mothers considering abortion.
My congratulations to Ms. McCorvey and my admiration for her courage in repudiating the abortion lobby.
MLISSA SIMPSON
Huntington Beach