Letters

This newspaper continues to spread misinformation.

Yes, the Supreme Court is on the brink of reversing Roe v. Wade [“Activist Judges,” Editorial, May 26], but abortions will still be legal in every state of the union. In fact, some states, like New York, still will allow abortion up to the 24th week.

Now, isn’t that something to celebrate? Most European nations are between 14 and 15 weeks, a standard set many years ago; in fact, most Europeans are quite surprised to hear of such a liberal interpretation such as in New York.

Even Ruth Bader Ginsburg felt Roe should have been decided based not on the right to privacy but on the equal protection clause of the Constitution.

Much has changed from 1973, not the least of which science and medical technology. In 1973, viability was 26 weeks — now its 23. The marvels of modern medicine are a wonderful thing. It’s not uncommon to operate on a fetus at 14 or 15 weeks for certain congenital conditions.

Additionally, most women and men support the right to choose, but they also support protecting the unborn at a certain stage of fetus development — and that really is the paradox of the debate.

Of course, the extremes on both sides will never agree to a consensus, but I do believe most Americans want a consensus. Protection can go both ways, and that is why it will be overturned and yet will still exist. Despite the media’s hype that the end is near, the truth is it just might be the beginning of confronting what most Americans have been afraid to address.

Hopefully, intellectually we will have adult conversations regarding a very complicated and divisive topic that builds on all we have learned from 1973.

Thomas M. Jones

Sag Harbor