Not to toot my own horn, but my letter made it into paper!

[OHDEM]

I know supposedly nobody reads them anymore, but I do. At least Weds & Sunday I do. Anyway, I was irritated enough last Sunday to write about a letter saying that the Democrat's platform should be closer to the pro-life beliefs of early suffragists. http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1219480316114810.xml&coll=2

I'm reading a lot right now about early suffragists so I wrote back. Was in the paper & they put the Woodhull quote in large letters to the side. Sorry, I'm just excited because the letter is from a "Feminist for Life" & guess who else is?

My letter:

Democrats' stance on abortion in line with suffragists -- letter to the editor
Sunday, August 31, 2008
I must respectfully disagree with the assertion by Marilyn Kopp that early suffragists were pro-life ("Early suffragettes opposed abortion," Aug. 24). The Democratic platform is actually right in line with the views of early suffragists, if you look beyond a couple of quotes.

At that time in history, being against abortion meant being an advocate of women's reproductive freedom. This is in stark contrast to today's pro-life movement, which is against abortion while also being against education and access to birth control, which would prevent many abortions.

Victoria Woodhull's views were distorted by the quote used. She thought abortion was terrible, but her opinion was, "Abortion is only a symptom of a more deep-seated disorder of the social state. It cannot be put down by law."

This is an opinion shared by many in the pro-choice community. Elizabeth Cady Stanton was against abortion as well but was an advocate of birth control and education to combat it. "There must be a remedy even for such a crying evil as this," she wrote. "But where shall it be found, at least where begin, if not in the complete enfranchisement and elevation of women?"

Melissa M. Piccirilli

Gates Mills


http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/12200854965750.xml&coll=2

[w8liftinglady]

1. Great letter!Keep speaking out!

[calimary]

2. YOWZA! Congratulations and Welcome to DU!

Eloquent, clear, concise, straight to the point. And brief enough for the Short-Attention-Span set. And shorter is better because your LTTE is more likely to get published that way. NICELY done! Glad you're on OUR side!


:patriot: :yourock: :headbang: :applause:

[OHDEM]

3. Thanks for the praise & welcome!

Longtime reader, shorttime poster. I feel like we all have to take off the gloves at this point & tell the truth about & to the Republicans. I have many in my family. I love them, but can't figure out their thinking.

[DebJ]

4. Ok, let me toot it for you1 Toot! Toot! Good work.

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Congratulations! n/t

[JohnnyRingo]

6. I drove through Gates Mills and Moreland Hills last weekend

I was surprised by the number of Obama signs. (No McCain at all)
I ride up that way every August for the British car show at Shaker Square, and I remember the Bush signs from years past.

I don't know if there's finally a change in the upscale suburbs of Cleveland, but it looked hopeful.

At the car show itself, two youngsters walked through the crowd registering potential voters. They wore Obama buttons, but since most participants were middle age, not many signed up that I could see.

[OHDEM]

10. Lot's of car shows out here.

A house I pass has a McCain sign. Idiot also had a "Stand with the Troops and President Bush" which just irritates me! From my personal experience, the rich folks will vote their pocketbook regardless. Friends I've talked to are mainly concerned with their taxes. Makes me sick really because most of them are very well off, but don't want to pay for their own government.

We joke that we live in the slums of Gates Mills because we have a modest home-not a mansion. My husband built up equity & remodeled a house so we could put a lot down to get it. He's actually embarassed to say we live here at times like he doesn't want to be associated with the greed.

[Catherine Vincent]

7. That's okay!

Toot that horn, sister! :hi:

[emilyg]

8. Toot-Toot - good work.

[JaneQPublic]

9. Nice job! (nt)

[suede1]

11. Way to go!!