George Meany Quotes
We heard from the abortionists and we heard from the people who looked like Jacks, acted like Jills and had the odors of Johns.
Meany, George. Address to the New York State AFL-CIO Convention. 6 Sept. 1972, Kiamesha Lake, NY.
Reactionary Southerners like Helms have always attributed any calls for change in their states to “outsiders” who were “invading.”
the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Sanger thought of as a radical feminist by many, was actually opposed to most abortions. This was not opposed on Biblical or religious grounds however. She saw most (non-medically indicated) abortions as necessitated by accidental, undesired pregnancies or pregnancies of women who could not economically afford a child. She felt the latter could and should be solved by progressive social and economic policies. And the former, could be prevented by contraceptives where were rarely used as the result of ignorance and the illegality of the sale of most devices.
Morris was the only member of the Indiana Legislature to refuse to sign a resolution celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America. This quotation gives three of his reasons for not doing so. This quotation is particularly interesting as it shows the incredible tolerance the American Political system has for outliers. Morris did not just make these statements to pander to the arch conservative Tea Party constituency as there were other Tea Party members of the legislature who had no trouble with the Girl Scouts and the resolution. He actually believed them, and despite the obvious absurdity of the statements to people without his paranoia, he was willing to state his extreme views publicly. He did apologize after his absurdities, but then still refused to sign the resolution of celebration for the Girl Scouts on the grounds that they taught sex education.
There is a very slight risk to the woman with a modern abortion procedure. There is a much greater risk to a woman who chooses to bring the fetus to term and give birth. The risk is small but it is 14 times more risk of maternal mortality (death to the mother) than with an abortion. There is also a much higher proportion of mental health problems (eg Post Partum Psychosis) for women who give birth. Most anti abortion advocates argue the issue on moral grounds and their view that we have a moral obligation not to take life. This has great legitimacy and there is a very large minority of Americans who agree with this position. However, anti-abortion advocates like Fortenberry who either are ignorant of the medical science and statistics or knows but lies about it, harm the cause they advocate for by coming across to many Americans as ignorant and/or untruthful, and they discredit the many fair and honest abortion foes.
William George Meany was an American labor union leader for 57 years. He was the key figure in the creation of the AFL-CIO and served as the AFL-CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979.
