Darn, heru-ur. I have so enjoyed your letters up til now, even though I disagreed with your take on economics and other subjects. I enjoy reading different points of view, regardless of their bias, so long as they are fair, reasonably factual, and not malicious or insulting.

Thus, it was with some disappointment (kind of like after a first date when the first kiss is a dud) that I read your letter including this:

So, I say again: lefties are pro-abortion (yes, even most Roman Catholics), pro-war (must be started by the correct party), and generally against the death penalty.

I am probably as far-left as anyone in the midwest can be; that is, based on my education, experience, world-view. It's not very practical to be as pinko as I am, but my loved ones characterize me as a "wild eyed radical" or a "bloodless revolutionist."

I am Pro-Peace. I am not "anti" anything, because I choose to be idealistic and work toward something, not against it. I am pro-life in the sense that I am pro Woman. I have had four "unplanned" pregnancies (and let's face it, most of us were "unplanned!") and I have four live children. Until I take out that 8-yr old son....but I digress.

Me? I am against killing all the time on all questions. Murder is never the answer. A woman has the choice to use birth control or even to not engage in sex -- she has a lot of choice before the act that produces children --- and seems to surprise everyone. (need more education on that score)

We agree about being "against killing all the time on all questions." However, I would never force someone to have an unwanted baby. I guess we disagree on the idea that it's "murder" to destroy a fetus. We can agree to disagree about that. I think you are a man, therefore, you don't really know much about having babies. I don't think, based on all I know about babies (and I know a lot), that the fetus has any sensation or has a "soul" between mitosis and 12 weeks, but your mileage may vary.

The idea that if someone is raped or broke or if the father has flown the coop, or for whatever legitimate reason someone has to not choose to carry a child or give birth, that having a baby just to "choose life" is a bad idea. There are so many things wrong with that, let's just skip that part. I am for people choosing those things for themselves.

Additionally, I notice you don't mention the Male Element in your rather sanctimonious rant against the girl part of the equation - did you forget that there is a sperm involved? Or are women now parthenogenic?

To me it is beyond hypocrisy to defend unborn babies to the point of murdering doctors and blowing up clinics and creating hate-mongering political parties from this issue, and then turn around and neglect the already born children in this country or those of other countries we as a nation deliberately destroy.

As with all important issues, you might want to walk a mile in some woman's shoes one day to understand this.

I have a GPS and I can program it to have a British accent. I call it "Charles" when it's in Brit mode. In Brit mode, when you go off route, Charles very politely asks: "Would you like to recalculate?"

I would offer you that same chance. Would you like to recalculate this statement?

A woman has the choice to use birth control or even to not engage in sex -- she has a lot of choice before the act that produces children --- and seems to surprise everyone. (need more education on that score)

Firstly, birth control fails. I have defied three very good methods, myself; although, my ovaries should probably be inducted into the Ovarian Hall of Fame.

Secondly, there is a Y-chromosome involved.

Thirdly, I'll ask you this - if you had impregnated every woman you ever slept with, how many "unplanned" children would you have sired?

Perhaps you are one of the rare few who have only had one lover and it is their spouse. If so, imagine the vast majority of the rest of your male friends answering that question.

See how ridiculous that seems?

...repeated often enough, becomes so entrenched in the mind of the listener that he/she believes it to be true. And while we're on the subject of legislation, let's not forget Dennis Kuchinich and Robert Wexler, who have repeatedly introduced articles of impeachment for both Bush and Cheney. A one-seat majority in the Senate does not a majority make, especially when it's the traitor Lieberman. Bush/Cheney have made a complete mockery of our Constitution and the intended function of the three branches of our government. They have lied and cheated throughout their campaigns for office, stolen elections, gone to war on a whim, fired perfectly competent judges who rightfully called them on their partisan attacks, and diluted necessary oversight in every public and private regulatory agency, including the SEC. We must hold them accountable, and we must do so through IMPEACHMENT. Make them pay for the evil they've done while running our country as an oligarchy.

My best friend is pro-abortion. We disagree, but friendship is more than agreeing on a laundry list of policy positions.

We agree about being "against killing all the time on all questions." However, I would never force someone to have an unwanted baby. I guess we disagree on the idea that it's "murder" to destroy a fetus. We can agree to disagree about that. I think you are a man, therefore, you don't really know much about having babies. I don't think, based on all I know about babies (and I know a lot), that the fetus has any sensation or has a "soul" between mitosis and 12 weeks, but your mileage may vary.

The idea that if someone is raped or broke or if the father has flown the coop, or for whatever legitimate reason someone has to not choose to carry a child or give birth, that having a baby just to "choose life" is a bad idea. There are so many things wrong with that, let's just skip that part. I am for people choosing those things for themselves.

Additionally, I notice you don't mention the Male Element in your rather sanctimonious rant against the girl part of the equation - did you forget that there is a sperm involved? Or are women now parthenogenic?

To me it is beyond hypocrisy to defend unborn babies to the point of murdering doctors and blowing up clinics and creating hate-mongering political parties from this issue, and then turn around and neglect the already born children in this country or those of other countries we as a nation deliberately destroy.

As with all important issues, you might want to walk a mile in some woman's shoes one day to understand this.

-- Retzilian

In this country only the girl gets to decide if the baby lives or dies. Legally the boy has no say; so I did not mention him other than to point out that everyone seems surprised at where babies come from.

I never see anyone mention that the girl could take the baby to term and then turn it over for adoption to the many couples (and singles) that would love to take an American baby rather than have to go overseas for a child.

Anyone who kills a doctor or blows up a clinic is guilty of the most grievous of murder. I totally oppose the use of violence.

I have females in my own family who have faced this decision. I need not be female to understand as long as the babies being killed are male as well as female.

I remember in high school when a new thing called the pill came out. I thought that there would never be any more unwanted children in our country. Boy, was I wrong.

Hard cases make for bad law say the lawyers. The case of rape or incest is real hard. The child did not commit the rape; but he gets the death penalty! Damn! By the way, did I mention I am against the death penalty?

I think that adoption would be a better solution if the god damn government would stay out of it. I know several well-off women who would pay the girls expenses and take very good care of the baby; perhaps even pay her a profit. The government will send folks to jail that try that scheme.