Letters to the Editor
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‘Friendly, Despite the Issues’
While Planned Parenthood is happy that Alicia Colon seems never have had to face an unintended pregnancy, never dealt with the heartbreak of being told that her fetus was severely malformed, and never confronted a health crisis that would’ve left her infertile had she continued a pregnancy, we are troubled by Ms. Colon’s callous disregard for the reality of individual women’s lives [New York, “Friendly, Despite the Issues,” January 19, 2007]. The truth is, women have abortions for many different reasons. And while some of those reasons may not seem right to some people, Planned Parenthood staunchly believes it is better that each woman be able to make her own decision. We therefore proudly celebrate the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and move forward secure in the knowledge that every woman has the right to decide when and whether to become a parent.
JOAN MALIN
President and CEO
Planned Parenthood of New York City
New York, N.Y.
Ms. Colon responds:
Besides making assumptions about my life experiences, Ms. Malin also cites examples of pregnancies that constitute a very small fraction of all abortions. The majority, albeit painful, are made for convenience, and many women remain uninformed of the psychological trauma associated with abortion. Nearly all abortions are violations of religious law.
‘N.Y. v. L.A.: Exploring the Differences’
Once again, the New York-based press has completely failed to understand the breadth and complexity of Los Angeles by narrowly looking only at one aspect of this sprawling city [Arts & Letters, “N.Y. v. L.A.: Exploring the Differences,” January 19, 2007]. You have fixated on the people and places of West Los Angeles, and focused on those that are directly or indirectly involved with the entertainment industry. Your coverage of the place completely ignores the diversity and richness to be found outside of the show biz enclaves of Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Malibu, and environs.
Because I know you are geographically challenged when it comes to looking at L.A., let me illustrate using an example you might better relate to: imagine viewing New York City as only that portion of Manhattan that lies on either side of Central Park, between 59th and 110th, and ignoring all of the island below Midtown, not to mention also ignoring the boroughs. That is how you have looked at L.A., and you have failed to see the multifaceted city that it really is.
You all may trash the Golden Globes and Oscars, but I suspect that you are secretly much more star-struck and gaga than we’d ever be. Maybe you are just following the big flashy money, but please understand that there is more to this place than celebrities, beaches, and expensive cars.
LARRY KAPLAN
Los Angeles, Calif.
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