Kate Michelman Quotes
We think abortion is a bad thing.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11 Dec. 1993.
This is a wonderful example of a good rhetorical technique. He focuses the attention on the unborn by observing that all his opponents on this point have already been born. Of course, he and all his supporters on the point—those who are against abortion—have already been born also. So what would the unborn say? Well that no one could know nor can any one know if the unborn have any thoughts must less thoughts on the subject of abortion.
Portugal, a traditional Roman Catholic nation where the Church has always had great influence, had laws banning abortion. However, in a national referendum the Portuguese people voted overwhelming to allow abortion despite the Church’s stand. The Parliament then overwhelmingly passed a law legalizing abortion on demand up to the 10 the week of pregnancy. The President, though opposed personally to abortion signed the bill. This quotation illustrates a common occurrence in industrial democracies whereby politicians will not impose their personal moral views on the laws of society but may well have contrary personal views.
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.
Kate Michelman is an American political activist. She is best known for her support for the pro-choice movement in the United States and her role as co-chair for activist campaign WomenVotePA.
