by Phyllis Wax ¦ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ¦ 2 August 2008

In the July 27 Crossroads, Susan Armacost, Wisconsin Right to Life spokeswoman, implied that if abortion were illegal, there would be no abortions. She knows this is not so. Women have been having abortions for centuries, whether they were legal or not. But when they were illegal, many died or were seriously damaged by them.

Since Roe vs. Wade, abortions have became safe because they are provided by medical doctors in sanitary conditions - no more back alley providers or hanger/knitting needle self-induced abortions. When abortions became legal, women stopped dying from them.

Wisconsin Right to Life claims society must be equally concerned with the welfare of mothers. If this is so, they should work to keep abortion safe. They should work for fewer unwanted pregnancies - promote widespread use of birth control, the way to really minimize abortion.

Armacost used the deliberately inflammatory term "pro-abortion" to characterize groups such as NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood. I have volunteered for both those organizations and have worked to help keep abortion clinics accessible. I have yet to meet anyone who was pro-abortion. We all would like to see the day when no one wants an abortion. I'd like to see Wisconsin Right to Life work toward that goal, too.