How discouraging it was for me to read Katie Wilcox's column, ("Women need to be educated about abortion, learn life facts," SN 1/22), having been a social worker in the early 1970s, before Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973. The innocence of youth must be responsible for Wilcox's conclusion that there is blame to be assigned for unwanted pregnancies. Pregnancies occur for many, not always responsible, reasons. Despite that, blame is an unconstructive response.

Constructive and tangible solutions are appropriate responses to a woman whose situation requires more emotional, psychological, financial and medical supports than she herself knows. That is our challenge. That is our responsibility. A society that turns its back on women who may not be prepared for parenting is one that suffers the collective consequences of unwanted children. The horrors of being an unwanted child are unmentionable: neglect, abuse, resentment, and a lifetime of suffering adverse impacts.

On the anniversary of Roe v. Wade each year, we should be thankful for a court that reaffirmed each woman has a right to decide what is right for her, including reproductive freedom. I am still thankful for the wisdom of that court 31 years ago.

Mary M. Lindemann
1973 graduate