Re: A possible case of abusing science

----- Original Message -----
From: "D. F. Siemens, Jr." <dfsiemensjr@juno.com>
To: <jwburgeson@juno.com>
Cc: <asa@calvin.edu>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2004 6:52 PM
Subject: Re: A possible case of abusing science

>
> On Sat, 26 Jun 2004 14:19:14 -0600 John W Burgeson <jwburgeson@juno.com>
> writes:
> > I received the email below (snipped propaganda from it) from the
> > FRC.
> > Does anyone know if this study compensated for demographics, age, or
> > any
> > other possible linking factor?
> >
> > I suspect that the findings are true. I'm less sure that the work
> > contributes to rational discussions of the gut issues.
> >
> > Possible reasons for the findings (among many):
> >
> > 1. Drug users make poorer decisions
> > 2. Drug users have more deformed babies
> > 3. Drug users have less financial resources
> >
> > etc.
> >
> > Burgy
> >
> > From: Family Research Council
> > Date: June 24, 2004
> >
> > New Study Exposes Abortion's Risks
> >
> > "... this month The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
> > published
> > the latest study of post-abortive women. Women who aborted had rates
> > of
> > substance abuse that were approximately twice as high as those of
> > women
> > who chose to give birth to their babies. ...."
> >
> >
> Something that came to mind is the bit of doggerel: Candy is dandy,/but
> liquor is quicker. I am quite confident that alcoholics and binge
> drinkers are more likely to have intercourse, especially unprotected
> intercourse, because they are less likely to be fully aware and in
> control of what they are doing. Reports I read also indicate that addicts
> are more likely to engage in prostitution to support their habit.
> Consequently, alcoholism and addiction are more likely to cause unwanted
> pregnancies and subsequent abortions. This runs counter to what is
> suggested, that abortion causes alcoholism and addiction.
>
> As to your question, why would any propagandist qualify a report that
> fits their agenda? In this vein, let me pass along a warning to you. I
> know for a fact that 100% of those who drink alcohol die. So I earnestly
> hope that you are a teetotaler, and have been all your life. You've been
> warned.

As I read that brief summary of the report a critical thing is unclear.
Were the women in question using drugs & alcohol heavily before they had
abortions or did they start afterwards?

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
Received on Sat Jun 26 21:10:56 2004