The optimist sees the doughnut. The pessimist sees the hole. - Republican introduces legislation to outlaw abortions. Go tell it on the mountain.

Saturday night I was went to a party wear you were supposed to have something that related to the 60s or 70s. I wore my JFK/LBJ button.

In my youth Pres. Kennedy's administration was our country's Camelot. And I saw and enjoyed the play Camelot that was on Broadway during his time in office.

You know the story. At the end, lovers Guenevere and Lancelot have fled to France, facing charges of treason. King Arthur sets off after them, knowing that he must declare war on France if the Round Table is to retain its integrity.

Prior to the battle, he meets them both. Aware that he has lost the love of Guenevere, Arthur forgives them and prepares for battle. Whether or not he is killed, he knows that the Order of the Round Table as he envisioned it will probably die. In a final gesture of hope, he dispatches a young boy back to England to spread the word and help keep alive the dream that was his Camelot.

And then King Arthur (Richard Burton) sings (and taking a bit of liberty here in mixing up the verses):

"Ask ev'ry person if he's heard the story,
And tell it strong and clear if he has not,
Don't let it be forgot
That once there was a spot
For one brief shining moment that was known
As Camelot."
_______________

Yesterday state Rep. Bobby Franklin (R. Marietta) introduced a bill -- co-sponsored by four other House Republicans -- that would outlaw almost every abortion in Georgia. Outlaw? Yes, and get this; no exceptions on abortion for women who are raped or victims of incest.

The bill introduced by a Republican would make it a felony for anyone to perform an abortion in Georgia, except in cases where the mother's life is in danger.

The bill has about as much chance of becoming law (including becoming law and not being declared unconstitutional) as I do of walking on the moon. It contradicts the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade.

GOP leaders said the ban is not part of the party's agenda.

But, as we have discussed, the GOP leadership has announced its support for one abortion bill, the "Woman's Right to Know Act." That legislation, expected be introduced in February, requires physicians to give women information on the risks associated with abortions and requires a woman to wait 24 hours before she has an abortion.

"That bill will get a vote," [Michelle Hitt, spokeswoman for House Speaker Glenn Richardson], said, implying that this one probably won't.

So what should we do with this. Be down and pessimistic about such legislation? Hardly. This does no good.

Rather get yourself into the King Arthur mode, and ask every woman if she's heard that this week the Republicans introduced a bill that would make abortion illegal in Georgia, ranking it up there with murder and rape as something so serious as to constitute being a felony to perform one.

We have known there would be some overreaching forthcoming, but this?

What overreaching!! What powerful propaganda: GOP seeks to outlaw abortions in Georgia.

(ajc, 01-26-05; Morris News Service, 01-26-05.)