These thoughtless and cruel

behaviors against children are brought about by mental instability, immaturity,

substance abuse, and other obvious problems not race, educational level,

or intelligence. How Mr. Hoffman sees a problem in addressing these problems

prior to having children is beyond me.

He refers to the sanctity of

life yet again, but my comments in no way compromise the sanctity of life.

In fact, just the opposite is true. I wish for life to be preserved and

children to be raised by parents who want them and who are capable of

caring for them.

I have not suggested aborting

unwanted children after conception. Rather I have suggested waiting to

conceive until the person is prepared for the responsibility. Even though

I have my own opinions regarding fitness, in my column I did not suggest

that I, Mr. Hoffman, or any other person be the one to determine fitness

for parenting. Rather, I suggested that the one considering conception

make that determination for herself.

His latest letter supposes

that I have suggested that parents only conceive when they are "100

percent prepared." He again has read more into my words than were

even vaguely implied. No one is 100 percent prepared for parenting. There

is a huge difference between suggesting that parents be 100 percent prepared

and suggesting that they consider the responsibility of being a parent

before they conceive.

I have no clue how Mr. Hoffman

sees my comments as "dry, self-interested analysis" and in his

latest remarks, he still has failed to logically contest the basic premise

of my column personal responsibility in decision-making. Instead he has

proposed illogical and indefensible leaps in his rhetoric.

It appears that Mr. Hoffman

is using my comments as a platform for launching a discussion of his own

agenda that is so weakly related to my remarks as to be difficult to follow.

Gregory K. Moffatt, Ph.D.

Brooks

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