Sunday's letters: Abortion may be necessary for some women with health risks
Abortion safest choice for some women
Republicans are turning women into criminals for choosing life, health, privacy and future over the unborn.
Pregnancy can be dangerous, for some more than others. Politicians are talking about morality. Women face reality.
My mother had difficult pregnancies. She was prescribed Diethylstilbestrol, a drug given to women from 1940-1971 to prevent miscarriages and premature labor.
Later, the drug was discovered to cause birth defects in female offspring.
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At 13, I was told I had DES-caused uterine deformities. Chances were I could not get pregnant, and if I did, there was little chance of a healthy pregnancy.
DES daughters have a cumulative risk of 40% for cancer. They also have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications: 33% risk of infertility, 15% ectopic pregnancy, 16% miscarriage in second trimester, 26% preeclampsia, 53% premature delivery, 9% stillbirth and 8% neonatal death.
I have always known I would choose abortion over pregnancy. Luckily, I never got pregnant.
Childbirth is not without risk. Women without babies are not lesser citizens.
I have contributed as an Air Force officer, university professor, business owner, wife and caregiver to my parents. Yet, that is not enough for Gov. Ron DeSantis and his draconian laws.
Vote against Republicans. They have proven to know little about childbirth and the burden and lifelong pain it can cause.
J.L. Smith, Sarasota
Men free after arrest in big fentanyl bust
Wait, let me get this straight: As reported Oct. 24, three fellows were arrested for bringing more than 11 pounds of fentanyl into Bradenton and Polk County, enough to kill 2.7 million people, and two of these fine fellows were released on bail (“PCSO: Largest fentanyl bust in county history”)?
I can only guess that the drug problem in our country is not as important or overwhelming as the media reports.
I am glad some judge is not causing overcrowding of our jails with people who are obviously good citizens. I hope that judge is up for re-election and the local public is aware of his or her fine work protecting them.
Richard Greene, Sarasota
Nothing ‘spiritual’ about Flynn, his war
Convicted felon, inveterate liar and election denier Michael Flynn now claims to be waging a “spiritual war” to save the United States from cultural “wokeness” and spiritual weakness, both of which in his narrow political view threaten the very future of American life (“PBS’ ‘Frontline’ documentary highlights Michael Flynn’s involvement in Sarasota politics,” Oct. 19).
To buttress the basis of American life, Flynn has welcomed into his spiritual fold the violent extremist group the Proud Boys. People who disagree with him are called “Marxists” or perverts.
He opens his arms to violent insurrectionists like those who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 and who continue to uphold that type of violence as appropriate civic protest.
Is it not obvious that his activities and attitudes are totally incompatible with the teachings of Jesus, as well as unhealthy and unproductive for our society’s future stability?
Rev. Tony Wolfe, Venice
Safe water, voting rights, female autonomy
Would you like safe water to drink? Would like clean air to breathe?
Do you believe in oversight of financial institutions? Do you believe in strong alliances with our allies? Do you want Social Security to exist?
Do you think Medicare is necessary? Do you think there is a need for Medicaid?
Do you think large corporations should pay at least the same percentage in taxes as the middle class? Do you believe the middle class should pay a small percentage in taxes?
Should voting be made easier? Should women have the right to make their own decisions about their bodies?
Do feel climate change is an issue that must be dealt with?
There are 12 questions listed. If you would answer "yes" to six or more of these questions, you should be voting for Democrats, because they advocate for all of these issues.
Wayne Stellfox, Bradenton
Lack of access to election information
I wanted to listen to the one-hour Senate debate between John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania on Oct. 25. I tried every station and exhausted the internet searching for a streaming connection, to no avail.
As a citizen of the U.S. and a veteran of Vietnam, I believe it is our duty as citizens to be informed before voting.
While I am no longer a Donald Trump supporter, I find it ironic and sad that the House committee hearings on the Capitol attack can be seen and heard on many channels in their entirety, but we can’t manage to watch political debates live in Pennsylvania, New York or elsewhere.
Can you please focus on these debates and how our national midterm elections are progressing between now and Nov. 8?
John Huber, Sarasota
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Abortion may be safest choice for some; Michael Flynn won't save U.S.
