Right. But we should remember, especially in the case of public figures, in particular in the case of statesmen, and most carefully in the case of politicians worshiped by those the French call les bien-pensants: some of their actions can have bloody consequences, and these wide-reaching consequences subsist on this earth after their authors have long been gone.
Nelson Mandela (R.I.P.) achieved great things. He thanked God for his blessings by forcing upon South Africans one of the most heinously open abortion legislations, or, in the words of the Guttmacher Institute, "one of the most liberal abortion laws in the world": the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996. It allows abortion on demand up to the 20th week; after it and up to birth for "serious medical reasons"; and, as amended in 2004, allows registered nurses and midwives to perform abortions as well before the 12th week.
His initiative, his parliamentary majority, his party, his signature on the law. Most South Africans are still today against this, including a vast majority of black South Africans (64%) who think abortion is "always wrong" even in the case of "serious defect" - on the other hand, just a minority of white South Africans (23%) think abortion is "always wrong" in this case*... Margaret Sanger would be proud of this demographic achievement...
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* 74% of black South Africans and 57% of white South Africans agree that abortion is "always wrong if the family has a low income and cannot afford any more children".
His initiative, his parliamentary majority, his party, his signature on the law. Most South Africans are still today against this, including a vast majority of black South Africans (64%) who think abortion is "always wrong" even in the case of "serious defect" - on the other hand, just a minority of white South Africans (23%) think abortion is "always wrong" in this case*... Margaret Sanger would be proud of this demographic achievement...
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* 74% of black South Africans and 57% of white South Africans agree that abortion is "always wrong if the family has a low income and cannot afford any more children".
