It’s tough being a ‘pro’

It’s tough being a ‘pro’

EDITOR:

I noticed that the “pro-life” folks were on the YSU campus spreading fear and disgust with their posters. And I loved it. They set up enormous posters featuring famous photos of genocide next to the hands of a fetus juxtaposed with a dime for scale. I really dig this issue, because it’s one that I can debate even though it doesn’t directly affect me.

When we talk about abortion, all of our arguments and conjecture and hate and fear mongering really come down to one issue.

Not life. Not death. Not even how tiny a baby’s hands are when it’s X-weeks old.

No, it all comes down to semantics.

Conservatives will say it’s a human rights issue, and the liberals will claim it’s a woman’s rights issue. It’s all about semantics. (Also, I’m quite aware that not all conservatives are pro-life and not all liberals are pro-choice. It’s a generalization)

People who are for abortion aren’t pro-abortion, according to the liberals, they’re pro-choice. Talk to a conservative who’s against abortion, and they aren’t anti-abortion, they’re pro-life. See? Semantics.

Another example: What is the big question in abortion these days? When does life begin. Again it’s semantics. To many liberals and doctors, it’s a fetus until it’s able to survive outside the womb. To conservatives, even the zygote is a baby.

I

’ve been on both sides of the issue, and I guess I just got tired of either one. But I suppose if I had to pick, I’d choose pro-choice.

If a person is pro-choice, the issue is abortion and the woman’s right to choose.

But if a person wants to be pro-life, they’d need to provide pre- and post-natal care to the mother and her baby, they’d need to ensure that the child has a good home and food. What about education and mental and physical health?

If a person isn’t ready to provide all of these services, then they can’t really call themselves pro-life; they’re just anti-choice.

Anyway, I wanted to thank the pro-life folks for coming to campus. If nothing else, maybe they’ve opened a few eyes to how tiny babies really are. Or maybe they just do what the vegans do every year, show a lot of disgusting pictures that make people want to not even think about the issue.

MATHEW SMITH

Poland

Better days in Craig Beach

EDITOR:

This letter is in response to the Sept. 26 letter titled “Wife of former police chief in Craig Beach sounds off.” Her final remark was to go ask who really matters: the residents of Craig Beach. We have lived here in Craig Beach Village for over 30 years and we agree with the author of that article completely.

Former Chief Rick Watson was visible when he patrolled the streets, making his presence known, as well as being cordial to the residents. We feel he was treated poorly by the mayor and council for all he did for the village. Nearly everyone in the village knew the former chief and felt safe knowing he cared about the village and its citizens. Even though he was a one man police force he did an excellent job with what he had to deal with. We miss Chief Watson, as do most of our family and friends.

Jason Brown has what seems to be little time or interest in being a visible officer in the village. The mayor and council could pass an ordinance for a 1 percent wage tax to provide the money to operate on, as well as to have a decent police department like we used to have, but they haven’t. The village is in worse shape now than it’s been in since the ’80s. We can only say that it proves the old adage, “you get what you pay for.”

We’d like to thank Chief Rick Watson for making us feel safe and being there whenever he was needed. He is sadly missed.

GEORGE and MICHELLE BARNES

Craig Beach