Respect the right of people to believe in values different from your own
Lyndsey Bergen
sophomore
In one of my classes today, several girls reacted in horror and shock to articles in Friday's Observer because they agreed.
After reading, I realized that I don't agree. I have deliberated how to say this and although it may be hard to hear, I am a pro-choice supporter. I am not Catholic, or any religion, for that matter.
That doesn't mean I'm an immoral person. I was simply not raised in a church, but that's a different story altogether. I am not writing this letter to change anyone's opinion; it would be nearly impossible and unfair to sway such a controversial issue in a person most likely given one value or another a very long time ago.
When I think pro-choice I don't think murder, as it is often associated with. Murder is a deliberate crime based on hate. While abortion certainly isn't accidental, women who have abortions (or any pro-choice advocates for that matter) aren't hateful people.
In fact, two very close people in my immediate circle have had abortions, and they are two of the best people I've ever met. They made a mistake, and paid for it in a different way than many women.
Yes that's right, they paid; it is probably hard to believe. They have made a choice that will affect them for the rest of their life.
Yes, it was at the expense of another human life, which is wrong, and I am not trying to justify it.
However, there are many instances where choices have been made at the expense of other human lives that many pro-life supporters don't take a second glance at. For example, the choice to sentence someone to death or the choice to bomb an abortion clinic.
You may be thinking, yes, but abortion kills innocent people, but so do the aforementioned "choices." It has been proven in the former that many people who are sentenced to death are later found innocent. The latter, however, is an act based on hatred for people who are guilty of having a different set of morals.
We people who believe in a woman's right to choose aren't monstrous murderers. Not all of us have had abortions either. We simply believe that it is wrong to make it illegal to tell a woman what to do with her body.
As for Saint Mary's response to the two different trips to Washington, D.C.: Were both groups sponsored by the Center for Women's Intercultural Leadership or was it an individual act?
I don't know all of the facts on this. I can understand up to a point being upset with the support of those values different than those of Saint Mary's and, as I understand in turn, to those of the Catholic Church.
As I understand it, the pro-choice girls were sponsored by an organization here on campus dedicated to just such a cause (that is, diverse values). Were the pro-life girls sponsored by the same group, or were they doing this on their own resolve?
If it was by the same group, I can understand the outrage expressed in prior articles. If not, as a non-Catholic, I don't understand.
One of the greatest things here at St. Mary's is that I don't feel like I have to conform in religion or any other areas. I feel that as a student, and really, as a woman, they will support me through my four years and beyond, paying no attention to the fact that I'm not Catholic.
I'm sure that this letter will spark anger and I hope that's all. I'm actually surprised that for my first opinion article I decided to choose two controversial topics; pro-choice and St. Mary's "support" of it.
I just hope that, because I'm pro-choice, you won't glare or do anything else sparked by hate when we pass each other going to classes. Most of us are a gentle people, and haven't in fact had an abortion, so please treat us as you would any of your pro-life friends.
Lyndsey Bergen
sophomore
McCandless Hall
Jan. 31
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, February 3, 2003
