To the Editor:
I am a fellow Republican woman who always wanted to be married, but I wanted a career instead of children. Thankfully, when I headed off to college in 1974, I had access to birth control and thanks to Roe v. Wade I also had access to what could be a very excruciating choice. [Thankfully I never had to make that choice.] So it was time travel for me to hear Art Linares’ answer to this question at the debate held on October 8 at the Valley Regional High School: “Where do you stand on the SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision?” Linares only stated that “he was raised Catholic and isn’t up for appointment as a Supreme Court Justice.” In other words, he is againsta woman’s right to choose even birth control!
Haven’t we already dealt with this issue 40 years ago? This extremely right-wing view could have totally changed my life and taken my choice to have a career away from me. Also, I would note that extremist views such as Linares’ are not a fit with his own district’s constituency.
Birthing a child sometimes can be life-threatening. Linares doesn’t care: “No exceptions.” I have had a colleague who died from a brain hemorrhage while she was trying to have a child.
I may have wanted to hear more on Linares’ stances, but it seems he doesn’t like to show up to debates.
Please, if you value your choices as a woman, do not vote for Art Linares.
Sincerely,
Sue Huybensz,
Deep River
Many thanks to Sue Huybensz for her thoughtful and courageous letter to Republican women. It only reinforces for me the notion that when people of good will from both parties are willing to be flexible — to negotiate from both sides — we can get things done. We don’t have to find ourselves back in the 60s fighting the same fights we thought had been settled. No woman should be forced to use contraception or abort a dangerous or unwanted pregnancy any more than any woman should be denied that choice. Do you suppose we need more women speaking for us, mediating not only women’s issues but all of the issues bedeviling our respective representatives?
I applaud Sue Huybensz for speaking out so frankly. As a Nurse Practitioner at the University of Georgia, I had the difficult duty of arranging an abortion for many,many young women. Yes, the women were broken hearted, however, they were able to complete their education and continue to build a life.
My advice to Mr. Limited, if you’re against abortion, don’t have one.