On Nov. 4, Athletes for Action, Asian American Christian Fellowship, and Campus Crusade for Christ sponsored a performance called, "Silenced by Shame." This play was an alleged portrayal of the emotional aftermaths of abortion. The performer/author, Constance Wagner, expanded her experiences into a universal assumption of post-abortion effects. However, her supposed research of three months appeared to support only her viewpoint.

The facts used by Wagner were distorted and, therefore, highly inaccurate. Her portrayal of Planned Parenthood was outdated by 17 years and seen through the eyes of an anti-choice supporter. Abortion clinics today council women before any medical procedure. Planned Parenthood, especially, has a strict policy of discussing all options before any action is taken. Describing a fetus as a "blob of tissue no bigger than a thumb" and not soliciting questions from the potential patient is highly unusual and contrary to Planned Parenthood policy. Wagner's account of being left alone both before and after the procedure were again in discord with normal Planned Parenthood operations. Wagner's portrayal of the abortion clinic was typical of anti-choice rhetoric.

"I didn't want to have an abortion, but I didn't see any other choice." With these words, Wagner's character, Amy Ackerman, revealed her ignorance of the situation and lack of emotional stability. For these reasons alone, Amy Ackerman would have been counseled against a second abortion by any reputable clinic. The use of the character's addiction to Valium, tendency toward dysfunctional relationships and other extraneous factors did nothing more than attempt to solicit pity from the audience and divert attention from the issue at hand.

Wagner's presentation of Amy Ackerman seemed no more than an anti-choice fairy tale: Meet Amy. Meet Dan. Amy and Dan fall in love. Amy and Dan fornicate. Amy gets pregnant. Poor Amy. Amy and Dan have an abortion. Dan leaves Amy. Amy's problems begin again. Poor Amy. Paul pressures Amy to have an abortion alone. Amy does. Paul leaves Amy. Amy's problems get worse. Amy's life falls apart. Amy meets Karen, her kindhearted Christian neighbor. Karen introduces Amy to God. Amy is saved. Amy marries and lives happily ever after, but will always retain a specter of sterility for her past sins. The moral of this story being: If Amy and Dan had known and used safer sex techniques, fewer stories like Amy's would occur. The unwanted pregnancy rate would be lower, consequently dropping the abortion rate.

Nobody wants to have an abortion. Although there are alternatives to abortion, sometimes that choice must be made; and that is exactly what it is . . . a choice. Constance Wagner, you have made your choice -- let others make theirs.