Legal abortion an asset to women's well-being

In the Sept. 22 edition of the Wildcat, Abigail Winchester wrote, "The health risks women face after the abortion are much greater" than the risks imposed by restrictions on abortion access. What is curiously missing, however, is substantiating evidence. Contrary to her statements, post-abortion sequelae are no more dangerous to the health of women than carrying the pregnancy to term.

Although several small studies have suggested an increased risk of breast cancer associated with abortion, a comparable number of studies have concluded precisely the opposite. Most telling, however, are the findings of two of the largest, most robust studies to date. Melbye, et al. (1997, New Engl J Med) and Lindefors Harris, et al. (1989, Brit Med J) independently found no connection between abortion and future risk of breast cancer.

Psychiatric problems likewise are not increased post abortion. According to Major, et al. (2000, Arch Gen Psych), mental health does not decline post abortion. The rate of depression two years afterward is equivalent to the rate of depression among all women 15 to 35 years of age (20 percent). In the same age range, PTSD occurs at a rate of 1 percent post abortion, compared to 10.75 percent overall. Claims that suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and emotional and psychological problems increase are similarly unfounded. In fact, the most common emotional manifestation following abortion is positive: relief.

Ms. Winchester further goes on to suggest that abortions without waiting periods deny women informed consent. For no other procedure is a waiting period required to ensure patients are informed. To suggest a wait is warranted because abortion is so emotionally charged and with long-term sequelae begs the question of why another situation similarly charged has no waiting period: pregnancy. Women seeking abortions do not come to their decisions without information and deserve more credit than the anti-choice lobby gives them. Waiting periods do nothing to ensure informed consent; instead they create a dangerous impediment to a safe, legal and medically legitimate procedure. Moreover, such restrictions suggest that women are incapable of informing themselves about procedures they seek. As a future physician who will perform abortions as part of my practice, I feel they deserve more credit.

Michael Broyles
third-year medical student

Horrid football program worse than many suspect

Branden Lombardi gives the UA football program too much credit in his Monday column. An easy example is when he said that the UA only lost 159-30 over the last three games. That would be an understatement. Doing the math, with LSU 59-13, Oregon 48-10 and Purdue 59-7, the total actually turns out to be 166-30. And truly, those three games were really much worse than that. Now, I understand that it was just a mathematical error, but it is time to put this into perspective. During the 1992 season, Arizona allowed only 118 points to be scored on it the entire season. Now, 166 points in 3 games! Well, that's 48 points more. Take the Oregon blowout out of the mix, and Mackovic and the current incarnation of sissycats allowed Arizona to have the same amount of points scored on their team in two games as Dick Tomey and his Wildcats did in 12. Yes, the 1992 numbers were quite a phenomenon, but in 1993, Arizona allowed only 161 points the entire season, still five points fewer than Arizona in its last three games.

Now, for the year 2000 and a 5-6 season (the reason Dick Tomey was fired): That year Arizona lost to Oregon, which ended the season 10-2, and Washington and Oregon State, which each ended up winning their bowl games and having 11-1 records. Arizona did not bow out to any of these teams, losing extremely close matches 14-10 to Oregon and 35-32 to Washington. The only blowout was to Oregon State, 33-9, but that can no longer be considered a blowout in the new era. Worst of all, in 2000, Arizona allowed 237 points in its 11 games, and that number will most likely be equaled this Saturday when TCU will score at least 64 points on the football team formerly known as the Wildcats.

Tyler Mott
political science senior

Media and Palestinians alike victimize Israelis

It is unfortunate that the Wildcat is willing to let one side over another have more print and throws away journalistic objectivity and integrity by unabashedly allowing a blatant anti-Israel bias, however big or small, shine for all those alert enough to see it.

Yes, Kevin Weaver, let's talk about Menachem Begin and the Irgun, and how David Ben-Gurion had the Israel Defense Forces attack Irgun members and an Irgun ship, the Altalena, carrying much-needed supplies, to preserve the rule of one government, one law in Israel's infancy. Instead of working for peace, Yasser Arafat buys weapons from Iran and ships them by sea. Arafat amassed a fortune for himself while his people live in squalor that is not Israel's doing but his own. It's not rhetoric · it's fact.

For all those who, without any evidence at all, accuse Israel of atrocities, remember that Jordan, an Arab state, has killed more Palestinians than Israel has. As for hatred, one of the first words Israeli Jewish children learn is "shalom" ÷ "peace." Video broadcasts around the world on CNN, BBC and elsewhere have shown Palestinian children in kindergartens singing songs about killing Jews. I ask you, is this education for peace? As for the region, why is it that only Israel, a true democracy, ensures the freedom of religion of all its inhabitants, whether they are Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Bahai'i or others?

Name an Arab state that can claim such a thing! Now, then, you can think about their universities · and remember their kindergartens.

If the Palestinians want a state, truly want peace, then they should call on their "elected" officials ÷ elected seven years ago to bring peace but instead bringing only despair ÷ to not allow the suicide bombers to be their spokesmen for statehood.

Jeremy Slavin
political science senior