LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: HAS BIERK GONE OFF DEEP END IN PROPOSAL TO END TEENAGE PREGNANCIES?

Dear Editor,

Several centuries ago, Jonathan Swift, of Gulliver's Travels fame, wrote an essay entitled, "A Modest Proposal". In the essay, Swift made a "serious" case for eating children in order to alleviate hunger. The essay was a brilliant, satirical one, though some may not have taken it that way, and were appalled. I can only hope John Bierk's (May 6, "Guest Commentary") proposal to control out of wedlock teen pregnancy by a government mandated surgical procedure on young girls was written in that vein. If not, then I fear Professor Bierk as "gone of the (very) deep end," at least on this issue.

Several decades ago a book and subsequent movie, "A Clockwork Orange," raise a somewhat analogous issue. The theme revolved around the dilemma faced by an advanced technological society which had the capability of controlling crime by usurping free will. Ultimately, the correct decision was made to continue to try to control crime as best as possible, while preserving human dignity and freedom. The properly rejected alternative was to create a fascist-like police state which virtually eliminated crime and, in the process, free will.

It seems to me that Bierk is advocating giving up on liberty and privacy to an alarming and unnecessary extent. I would imagine social scientist Charles Murray, who has advocated cutting AFDC after one out of wedlock teen pregnancy (an idea supported by only about 8 percent of the population), would likely shudder at Bierk's suggestion.

Bierk is correct to the extent society needs to do something to deter out of wedlock teen pregnancy. But, to suggest state required surgery as a preventive, even if a relatively minor procedure, seems to fly in the face of much of the moral, philosophical, political, and religious tradition western society professes to treasure.

To me, Bierk's idea differs not only in degree, but in kind, from all other proposals on the table for public discussion of how best to deal with this matter. It is simply beyond the pale. It is reminiscent of things unspeakable. It would certainly do nothing to prevent, and might encourage promiscuity, which could in turn lead to a spread in venereal disease, and heterosexually transmitted HIV.

I have a lot of respect for Professor Bierk. I remember him well when I was a student at SEMO. He is very intelligent and obviously articulate. Still, on this issue, I hope his suggestion was meant to be a proposal only in the sense of Swift's "modest" one.

STEVE MOSLEY

Sikeston