Citizens should know Roe facts
As a general rule, I U710 avoid
writing or getting into discus
sions about abortion. No one
is ever converted and everyone gets
angry. Conversion to one point of
view must be a more personal and
profound experience.
However, Jan. 22 is the 20th anni
versary of Roe vs. Wade. We will, in
the next few weeks, be bombarded
with all manner of irresponsible and
hysterical nonsense from both sides.
The old dogmas of “abortion is mur
der” versus “right to choose” will
obscure any mention of facts or at
tempts to discover the truth.
But before anyone weighs in with
an opinion on Roc, or goes to a candle
light vigil, read thcdecisionitself.ru
even tell you where to go— Volume
410 of the United States Reports, page
What Roe did and did not say arc
lost in the heat of the debate on abor
tion. It did establish the trimester ap
proach, with the decision on abortion
left to the woman and her physician in
the first three months of pregnancy. In
the second trimester, the state can
regulate the procedure in the name of
safety. In the third trimester, it can
outlaw it entirely, except when the
mother’s life is in danger.
Though Roc did not explicitly al
low abortion on demand, staling that
the decision to abort had to be weighed
against state interests in the protcc
tionof the potentiality of life, it painted
the means by which to trump state
interests with a broad brush.
A woman can override state inter
ests in protecting the fetus if there is,
and I quote from the decision, “men
tal and physical health [that] may be
taxed by child care.” Justice Harry
Blackmun concluded, “Maternity, or
additional offspring, may force upon
the woman a distressful life and fu
1
v. ...-...i
But before any
one weighs in
with an opinion
on Roe, or goes
to a candlelight
vigil, read the
decision itself.
ture.”
Abortion may also be legitimized
due to “the distress, for all concerned,
associated with the unwanted child,
and there is the problem of bringing
the child into a family already unable,
psychologically and otherwise, tocare
for it.”
Final ly, abortion can be performed
due to “the additional difficulties and
continuing stigma of unwed mothcr
hood.”Murphy Brown,beware! These
exceptions can be found on page 153.
But what do ordinary citizcnsknow
or think of Roc? A 1990 survey done
by the Conference of Catholic Bish
ops, the Family Research Council and
Americans United for Life — all ad
mittedly pro-life groups — raised
some questions about the legal lit
eracy of the public. The results were
summarized by James Davison Hunter
in the Junc-July 1992 issue of First
Things magazine.
Four out of 10 people didn’t even
know what the holding in Roc was.
Those most confident in their mis
taken beliefs about Roc were most
likely to be hostile to the pro-life
cause — not surprising, considering
the media blitz conducted by pro
choicers every time the Court rules on
the question.
As for the various modifications to
Roe, the survey found that 84 percent
supported health standards for clin
ics, 73 percent supported outlawing
third-trimester abortions, 70 percent
supported fines for illegal third-tri
mester abortions, 69 percent supported
parental-consent laws for teens, 65
percent supported viability tests after
the fifth month and 55 percent sup
ported spousal consent.
Sixty-nine percent of the respon
dents disapproved of abortion as a
birth control method—which is what
the exceptions to Roe outlined earlier
amount to. According to Planned
Parenthood’s Guttmachcr Institute,
more than 90 percent of abortions arc
performed for this reason.
However, the survey found a para
dox — that most Americans were
willing to allow such abortions. The
survey found that there is no neat
dividing line between pro-life and
pro-choice as depicted in the media;
some may subscribe to their beliefs
out of convenience and others are
hesitant about them. Again, it’s an
excellent piece and I recommend it.
But, again, before you do anything
else, read Roe, which, despite Su
preme Court decisions of the last 20
years, is still the law of the land. I
encourage everyone, regardless of
viewpoint, to participate in the de
bate. But do it responsibly and ratio
nally — two things which hjivc long
been sorely lacking of late.
Kepfidd is a graduate student in history,
an alumnus of the UNL College of Law and a
Daily Nebraskan columnist.
-1
* i
SIGN UP NOW!
COLLI
NOW FORMING
LEAGUE STARTING DATE & TIME// AA
HUSKER MONDAY, JAN. 25,6:00 P.M. V A
PIN POUNDERS MONDAY, JAN. 25, 8:00 P.M.
BIG 8 DOUBLES* TUESDAY, JAN. 19, 7:00 P.M.
NITE OWLS WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 8:00 P.M. :
COLLEGIATE THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 6:00 P.M.
NO TAP DOUBLES* THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 8:00 P.M.
DENTAL COLLEGE FRIDAY, JAN. 27, 6:00 P.M.
•two portori* p*r t*am tor tn*»* leagues V
Students, faculty, staff and friends are eligible.
Each league consists of 6 teams - 4 persons per
team except where noted. Teams and individuals
must preregister and pick up a copy of league
rules at the East Union Lanes N' Games customer
service area. For more information, contact Ray
at 472-1776, or the East Union Lanes N' Games
at 472-1751.
AT THE.
$/WjTa ST UNION
iiaimfl
It's always summer here!
Why wait for summer? Get
started on your tan today. As
members of the Suntanning
Association for Education, we
pledge to provide you with
personal care and stay in
formed so that we are able to
keep you informed. Call today
to set up a free consultation.
MternatweTfi M
■ m w ■ W
{ 48th & R, Centro Plaza
466-1202
1—-——J
1/14/93 - 2/14/93
GM Underwriters' Student Insurance policy for
Spring/Summer Semesters starts January 14. 1993.
Policy brochures are available by mail or at UHC Busi
ness Office. The insurance works in conjunction with
your Health Center fees, so it is important to make
sure you have paid these fees as well as your insur
ance premium.
Premiums are- Springs Summer
premiums are. _1/14/93 - 8/24/93
Student Only □ $238.00
Students Spouse □ $893.00
Student, Spouse, S Child □$1,182.00
Students Child □ $525.00
JEachAdditional^hilt^^^^^
This is the only option open at this time. Summer
session students may take advantage of a summer
policy starting 5/24/93. All policies will expire 8/24/
93. Premiums may be paid at the UHC Business 1
Office or mailed directly to the company. NO CASH 1
PAYMENTS PLEASE!
For further information on University Health Center |
services/fees7 please contact the UHC Business Office I
by calling 472-7435. |
I 56th & -0\ 1435 'Q\ 3500 Comhusker. 4300 S. 27th.. I
[ 48th & Normal, Gateway Mall 6100, ;0‘ St,)