Published 24 June 2002 in the News & Record (Greensboro, NC). This page was adapted from a similar page with additional material on the author's personal site. Copyright © 2002 by
James Matthew Wallace. All rights reserved. Used with the permission of the author.
Susan B. Anthony opposed abortion
In her paean to Susan B. Anthony ("Suffragist deserves gratitude for hard-fought battle," June 14), columnist Rosemary Roberts rightly praises Anthony for her role in securing for women the rights to vote, to own property and to pursue higher education. Her tireless devotion to these causes understandably makes Anthony an icon for modern feminists.
Unfortunately for modern feminists, Anthony and the other suffrage feminists suffered a little quirk that renders them less-than-ideal icons: They were opposed to abortion and would no doubt be members of the modern Pro-Life movement.
In her publication, "The Revolution," Anthony referred to abortion as "child-murder" and proclaimed, "No matter what the motive, ... the woman is awfully guilty who commits the deed."
Furthermore, she condemned as "thrice guilty" the man who, by commission or through omission, "drove her to the desperation which impelled her to the crime."
For too many modern feminists, "a woman's right to choose" to kill her preborn child for any reason at any time during pregnancy is not only an inviolable right, but is the highest feminist sacrament, thus the ultimate fulfillment of true womanhood.
Fortunately, there are still women dedicated to the pursuit of the full, true feminist agenda of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and their colleagues. Since 1972, Feminists for Life of America (www.feministsforlife.org) has sought equality for all human beings while championing the needs of women.
The feminist foremother would be proud of her "daughters."
James M. Wallace
Greensboro, NC
