Dear Editor;
I am writing in response to Sue Gibson's letter in the June 1 paper opposing U.S. Senate Bill 1670, which would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks gestation except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother, and would permit termination of a pregnancy under such circumstances only in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive.
She argues that we should not try to save these babies because they are not yet viable and are "extremely sensitive" to the pain they experience from "feeding tube insertions, multiple stabbings with needles" etc. To help us further understand this concept, she asks us to "eat fruits and vegetables before they ripen and see how we like them." I find this line of reasoning disturbing at best, terrifying at worst and it demands a response.
First, to argue that these babies are not yet viable is simply not true. Thirty five years ago, my best friend was born in the fifth month, and not only survived but thrived and is now a wife and mother of two. She would tell you that she has no memory of the pain she experienced from countless stabbings with needles, surgeries, tubes etc, but rather, treasures a wealth of happy memories from 35 years of life lived to the full. Second, to argue that these beautiful children are like distasteful, unripe fruit is a stretch of the imagination and leads to the devaluation of all life.
Is a day-old baby fully "ripe" or grown yet, or a 5-year-old child, or a 10 year old? Shall we withhold life saving treatment from them too because they are not "ripe" yet and might be sensitive to needles and pain? A green banana is still a banana. An unborn baby is still a baby.
Furthermore, how can one admit that the unborn are, in fact, babies, who are "extremely sensitive" and can feel pain, and then turn around and advocate the legalized killing of those same babies via barbaric and painful abortion procedures?
And what of the old? Following this analogy, I suppose they would be like an over-ripe piece of fruit that might be considered equally distasteful and not worth treating and fighting for. Let's stand up for the rights and intrinsic value of every human life.