This letter is in response to Larry Ott's March 24 column addressing the issue of adoption versus abortion. I agree with Mr. Ott that adoption is a wonderful option that a woman has when deciding what to do with an unplanned pregnancy; however, the fundamental issue that needs to be addressed is that of choice.

The commercials that appear on television are offensive. They are designed by the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation to make women who choose abortions feel guilty. Having a child is no tougher a decision for a woman to make than having an abortion. Arthur S. DeMoss, obviously a man, has no right to place this "guilt trip" on women.

I had the great fortune of listening to Faye Wattleton speak on March 23 about the issue of choice. She spoke of abortion and adoption as options that women have available to them. Mr. Ott, I am glad you consider yourself lucky to have been adopted, because as you were writing your opinion column, one million children in America are without homes and families to love them. It is a sad fact that in our society most, not all, families wishing to adopt children only want white newborn babies. What about the other children? I would not agree that their parents necessarily made the right decision when they were conceived, because they are now living very unhappy lives.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned this year, many courageous women will die and many women who abide by the "law" will be forced to have children. Where will these children end up? The number of homeless children will only increase, isn't one million more than enough?

Mr. Ott, you should also check the history books, because 22 years ago women only had one legal choice -- adoption. Thankfully, today, women have options, and they need to be preserved. Women, and men alike, can not allow the men in power to decide what is best for women. They cannot allow the men in Washington to erode the rights women have fought so hard to gain. Because these men fear the power of women, we cannot allow their insecurities to place women in a submissive and life-threatening state ever again.