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Today's Poll: Should the state's constitution be amended to ensure abortion remains legal in New York?

By Howard B. Owens
Scott Birkby

According to statistics, about 1.5 percent of abortions are on account of rape or incest. The other 98.5 percent made their "choice" at the point of conception.

Jan 8, 2019, 12:46pm Permalink
Daniel Norstrand

My mother was an RN at St Jerome Hospital OB unit for about 30 years. From the 40's to the 70's. Back then there were no clinics etc. and so consequently she "saw it all" regarding miscarriages and early stage births. She was staunchly antiabortion and an active member of Right to Life. When abortion became legal, it devastated her in a number of ways. Including the loss of a "job" that she absolutely cherished. Many, many of the baby boomers born in Genesee County are members of what I'll call a "club" of "her babies." St Jerome Hospital being a Catholic entity, did not perform abortions and had a difficult time keeping OB Doctors on staff which eventually led to the OB Ward being aborted.
This of course was a hot topic in our house as I was entering my teens. I could never get past the view that someone who was the victim of rape wasn't allowed an abortion according to the Right to Life movement. The act of abortion seemed like a very heavy and sad situation for anyone facing such a life changing, life ending situation. Abortion is very ugly at best, heinous at worst. My mom witnessed the anguish that very early stage miscarriages were for fetuses who, though very tiny, were obviously feeling pain. With the available "day after" pill easily obtained over the counter, abortion should be virtually non existent.
A year or 2 ago I read a syndicated column in a local newspaper regarding abortion and the writers belittling of those who are antiabortion. This was my reply to her and metaphorically to those who don't give the subject a deep respect:
Connie the linguist speaks in tongues forked to feed us the agendas of those who bleed us. Would justice be served in the mind of the perv if she'd have been wrenched from the womb as a fetus?

Jan 8, 2019, 9:34pm Permalink
david spaulding

50/50 right now.., the topic being women's rights, and me being a male I would like to propose that women can NOT legally get tattoos. I don't like tattoos on women, never did, they damage the skin and they don't look good. Oh and the piercing thing, I have issues with that too, that jewelry sticking out all over their faces, not good. I don't like it, sorry.. So if the 50% who wish to control a woman's reproductive health can add anti-tattoo and anti-piercing to the legislation maybe I'll reconsider my current position that it is NONE of my business what a woman decides to do with her body.

Jan 9, 2019, 10:58am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

David. I had to laugh when I read your comment about "jewelry sticking out all over their faces".
Back in the early 2000's, I worked at a "clamp" distribution warehouse on Franklin St (Batavia). Their product line included wood clamps, metal clamps, "welding" clamps, etc.
Many of their welding clamps had REALLY strong magnets incorporated into their design.
One morning, a young guy (I'd guess, maybe 18-19 yrs. old) showed up for work as a temporary employee. He had more metal protruding from his face than a 58 Buick used for their front bumper. Some temp-to-hire agency had sent him. He asked for Scott (our warehouse manager).
I went and found Scott, and told him somebody was there to see him. I also told Scott that he might want to keep the guy away from the welding clamps.
Scott asked me what I was talking about, and I just said, "You'll see".
As Scott rounded the corner to where I'd left the guy standing, I heard Scott say, "You gotta be kidding me!".
Well, Scott put him to work, and, to the young guy's credit, he worked till lunchtime. I never did hear what happened to him. He just never showed up for the second half of the shift.

Jan 9, 2019, 11:52am Permalink

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