I am writing this letter in response to Daniel Zamzow’s letter, “Abortion is murder of convenience.” I would like to state some things, two that relate to Zamzow’s letter that I hope will cause you to pause and think. I have many opinions related to the topic of abortion — however, an opinion will not make you really think.

Legal or not, abortion as a mother’s choice cannot be taken away. What cannot be done in a sterile, safe environment with a competent doctor will be done at home with a coat hanger or on a long flight of stairs. If you do not believe this, research it — you might think abortion did not exist before it became legal, but you are wrong.

Also, Planned Parenthood, as some of you may not be aware, tries to impart on women and men the importance of sexual awareness and offers much more than abortions to pregnant mothers. They give assistance to people regardless of their race and religion, but most importantly they give assistance to people regardless of their financial situation.

It is financial status that keeps some people from getting adequate sexual health care from a regular physician. You would know this if you checked out the Planned Parenthood Web site and read their mission statement.

Now, in response to Zamzow’s letter. A fetus is a parasite. If you were not aware of this, please consult your dictionary. It seems Zamzow did not include this information in his letter, even though he is a scientist and should be familiar with the definition of a parasite.

Could it be that this information does not shed good light on the poor, parasitical fetus? A fetus feeds off of the mother — she gains nothing from this relationship.

Please do not argue a mother gains love from this union: I may love my tapeworm, but it will give me nothing in return for the use of my body. Also note that I said fetus.

Lastly, arguments about the health of the mother, rape and fetal health problems are not a separate issue. Zamzow’s definition of abortion being murder is the “wrongful termination of human life.” These issues cannot be separated, because who is to judge one woman’s rape or another woman’s malformed embryo is not a wrongful termination of human life?

Courtney Steely

Senior

Art and Design