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    Vol.62/No.5           February 9, 1998 
 
 
25 And 50 Years Ago  
February 9, 1973
JAN. 30-The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Jan. 22 that the abortion laws in 46 states and the district of Columbia are unconstitutional. The legislatures in those states must now pass new laws that conform to the Supreme Court ruling.

This means that no state can deny women the right to abortion during the first 12 weeks, states cannot impose restrictions on where or how abortions are performed, such as requiring that they be performed in a hospital instead of in a clinic or doctor's office. States may outlaw abortion during the last ten weeks of pregnancy, but they must still allow abortion "to preserve the life of health of the mother."

Following the court ruling, a bill to repeal all restrictions on abortions was introduced into the New York State legislature and signed by 30 legislators. The Women's National Abortion Action Coalition (WONAAC) supports the repeal measure.

WONAAC National Coordinator Susan LaMont told The Militant that "WONAAC views the Supreme Court decision as a major victory for abortion rights. At the same time, we feel there should be no restrictions on a woman's right to choose, and we will be supporting repeal bills wherever they are introduced into state legislatures."

February 9, 1948
The assassination of Gandhi was political news of the first importance, for Gandhi had become an international figure. His death has provided the capitalist press with an opportunity to wallow in hypocritical and sentimental outpourings. Gandhi was above all a political leader and it is this that explains his extraordinary career.

The least important thing about him was his theory of non- violence, his saintliness, his love of his fellow-man. His political personality and methods fitted like a glove the economic and political needs of the Indian landlords and capitalists. These two ruling classes were caught in a dilemma. To ensure their exploitation of the peasants and workers, the Indian landlords and capitalists depended upon the British government. Yet to free themselves from the clutches of British exploitation, which was ruining India, they had no force except the same millions of downtrodden and oppressed.

Gandhi never alienated the Indian capitalists and landlords. He might talk against industrialization, but every boycott he declared against British goods meant increased opportunities for Indian manufacturers. Gandhi, no doubt, sincerely hated industrialism, but he collaborated with it. Here spirituality capitulated to political expediency.  
 
 
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