Letter: Arguments falter in gender, abortion letters

Graphic by Lori Deaton

From where are your dramatic letter writers getting their misinformation? NPR or rumor or inadequate news coverage?

One commenter, Penelope Stephens, complains about mistreatment by “right-wing politicians” [“The Right to Be Free, Happy and Transgender,” Aug. 2, Xpress]. Offering no proof of legislation, is the writer referring to House Bill 574 protecting women’s and girls’ sports? Does the writer selfishly feel that a tiny minority’s rights to participate in women’s sports should infringe on the rights and protection of the vast majority of females? Is the writer referring to House Bill 808/Senate Bill 639, which prohibits gender transition procedures for minors? How are these “erasing” trans folks?

And reader Mena Kates speaks of “forced pregnancy” but offers no law or fact to back up those words [“The Consequences of Forced Pregnancy,” Aug. 2, Xpress]. What state law is the writer referring to? Not one law forces a girl or woman to have a baby. Perhaps the writer needs to read N.C. Senate Bill 20, which allows for abortions up to three months. How is this “forced pregnancy”?

— Janet Burhoe-Jones
Swannanoa

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Letters
We want to hear from you! Send your letters and commentary to letters@mountainx.com

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

4 thoughts on “Letter: Arguments falter in gender, abortion letters

  1. Enlightened Enigma

    LOL! so right Janet ! Too bad they don’t maintain the open forum here like years ago…but such letters are indicative of the local IQs and lack of common sense.

    1
    3
  2. therealduckie

    Oh Janet, you poor thing.

    I get it, though. You’re obviously sheltered, living up there away from everyone on your hill with your huge house and off-grid power. You have been a registered republican since 2007, so you are obviously not a great source of logic or reason when it comes to the lives of your fellow human beings whose lives are being torn asunder.

    Also cute how you avoided telling everyone you are a political consultant to the republican branch, helping them skew words and meaning to fit your hate-filled agenda. It’s literally your job to twist words.

    You honed those skills as far back as 1994 with your ministry work, carried ti through your history with the SBA, and finally as a marketing consultant before finding work in the private sector helping legislators.

    Fact #1: Trans women are women. Plain and simple. You denying that fact doesn’t make it any less true. I fear you are also one of those types who likes to equate your fellow trans Americans with spiteful words like “mentally ill”.

    Fact #2: Nothing they are doing with their lives affects you in any meaningful or lasting way. You;re just mad they exist.

    Fact #3: Abortion is health care. Once again– Plain and simple. You denying that fact doesn’t make it any less true.

    Fact #4: Senate Bill 20 absolutely is an attack on women, their rights and their health care. It stops them from getting a needed abortion down from 20 weeks to 12 weeks. Many women don;t know they are pregnant by then, which republicans count on. Maybe you forgot that in your glib reply.

    Anyway, sad that you would expend this much energy denying folks rights and attacking them from standing up for their rights as if any of their lives have any bearing on yours in any meaningful way.

    Maybe mind your business.

    I bet your next letter is about how school books are filled with sex, huh?

    P.S. You’re 70. Step aside and let the youth handle it. It’s 2023.

    5
    4
    • gapple

      Fact 1. Trans women are not women nor are trans men men.
      Fact 2. Your just mad Janet’s opinion exists and with a higher percentage than yours.
      Fact 3 . Abortion is not healthcare, it is the killing of the unborn. You saying otherwise will not change the fact that a life was extinguished.
      Fact 4. So abortion is allowed. You are just upset because of your sexual irresponsibility and therefore, can’t continue to procrastinate before eliminating your “mistake”

      Sad that you expend this much energy denying people of their rights as well. You should respect the elders as they have done and seen stuff you cannot imagine, because you are living in your progressive leftist democrat utopia, where unicorns run free and you don’t have a care in the world because you expect everyone to pay your way.

      Let the youth handle it, yea right. First time you break a sweat you will need to see your counselor over an overpriced cup of what you consider coffee.

      PS, don’t you have a memorial to tear down or a road to block?

      3
      5
      • therealduckie

        I see I triggered you. Cope and seethe.

        Your religion has no place in government or our laws. This is not a Christian nation. It’s a wonderful melting pot of millions of religious and non-religious.

        That said, abortion has always been, and will remain, health care:

        * When the person’s life is under threat from the fetus
        * When they are a child
        * When they are the product of a rape
        * and more

        Regarding trans women and men – your opinion doesn’t change the fact that intersex people exist, biologically. Their existence is not minimized because you find them hard to accept. Your antiquated, ignorant opinion does not trump actual, verifiable, valid science. I’m sure it makes you mad that you can not wish away people you do not like, but them’s the breaks, bub. Suck it up and accept it. Nothing you do or say is going to make it go away.

        My expenditure is the 3 minutes it took to respond to her and now you. Nothing more. We live in your heads, rent free, all the time. I am able to live a great life without worrying about or thinking about worthless, asinine people.

        Anyway, have a good day. I am sure you will find something or someone else to waste your energy on because you have a pathetic mission to deny the rights of your fellow Americans who have done you no harm and never wished you ill will. What a sad, scary life you must live constantly living in fear of “The Other”. I hope you find peace, one day.

        P.S. I’m ok with private memorials being removed from public land as tax payers should not be responsible for the upkeep. Also, most of those “monuments” were put up over 100 years ago by the ‘Daughters of the Confederacy’ (a racist group) as a way to push the “Lost Cause” narrative/lie. Good riddance to every one of them. Civil War is nothing to be proud of, nor was it fought for “state’s rights”. It was about slavery. period.

        5
        3

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.