4.1.41..4.444.y •■•■,44., s4.61:144.: , RVER SE 250 OBA Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South Feb. 16, 1973 `This right of privacy' Austin them, but because irrational emotionalism The decision came down the day infects them. And during the last 20, 30, Lyndon Johnson died and the impending 40, 50 years of public discussion of peace in Vietnam topped even that story. abortion, both sides have always seen the It was not what you call your slow news question, finally, as one of Right Against day, so the impact was muted. But it was Wrong. This has been true of the abortion not just the timing — even those who have debate to a far greater extent than it is of fought for, worked for and believed most public debates on such simple topics as deeply in the reform of our abortion laws defense posture, welfare reform, campaign did not feel like celebrating. There was one spending and the like. For example, who report of a party in the San Francisco could ever forget the Solid Rock League? office of the National Organization of For those of you who have never had a Women, but for many feminists it just chance to forget them, it should be noted didn't seem like a champagne occasion. It that the Solid Rock League of Women of was a little like the end of the war — more Houston is against genocide or child relief than joy. Sarah Weddington said slaughter. The Solid Rockers also oppose calmly that she was "pleased, very common-law marriages for teenagers, pleased." She is the Texas lawyer who won pornography and "the taking away of the case. religious freedom while atheism is being One way to look at the struggle over allowed in the schools." (One of the chief abortion is the journalist's way, sifting Solid Rockers once went to Pacifica radio slowly through the clips, most of them station in Houston to tape a discussion yellow and brittle with age. Story after program. She appeared accompanied by story is added to the big heap — the legal two hired male bodyguards, one of whom maneuverings year after year; the legislative sported a Canadian Mounties-type outfit reform efforts year after year; the with both a gun and a hunting knife in his obligatory "balanced" series from the belt. While the Rocker was doing the women's sections, some good, some poor; program the Mounty confided to a Pacifica the case histories, all that terror and misery staffer, "This isn't the strangest assignment reduced to 10 inches of type; the brief I've ever had: I was once asked to guard a death notices; the statistics stories, the barrel of pickles for 24 hours.") opinion polls; the gory ads from the Right What between all those aborted feti to Life groups; the Catholic papers, arguing dumped into buckets whilst still alive and again and again that that their position is all those 14-year-old girls with rusty not based on religious doctrine; doctors hangers stuck up 'em, anyone who kept his under indictment; the Florida woman head clearly did not understand the convicted of manslaughter because she got situation. an abortion; the slow changes, the medical association votes in favor of reform, the Fortunately, perhaps, for all of us, mental health organization votes in favor abortion eventually came down to a of reform, a legislator speaks out, a good question not of Right or Wrong but merely government group; more deaths, more whether it was constitutional. The decision statistics, more polls. was seven to two out of the Nixon Court, which reassures everyone except those who ABORTION HAS been one of the now want to excommunicate Justice messiest issues. Issues get to be messy not Brennan and hang the other six. Right to because reasonable folk disagree about Life! The Court's decision was based on Sarah Weddington FEBRUARY 18 TECH DRAMATISTS — Maxim Gorky's, "The MADRIGALS — Madrigal Singers from North Lower Depths," performed by Texas Tech drama The Texas State University, directed by Robert W. students; through Feb. 26, 8:15 p.m., University Ottoman, perform 16th and 20th century music, Theatre, Texas Tech University, Lubbock. with costuming of 16th century; North Auditorium, University of Texas, Dallas. HOOEE, RODEO! — The rodeo that gets more uptown every year, Houston Livestock Show and coming FEBRUARY 19 Rodeo, with schedule of superstars: Charley SHAKESPEARE — "A Midsummer Night's Pride, Feb. 23; Sonny & Cher, Feb. 24-5; Merle Dream," performed by National Shakespeare Haggard, Feb. 26; Rick Nelson, Feb. 27; Sonny Company; McFarlin Auditorium, Dallas. James and Donna Fargo, Feb. 28; 5th Dimension, March 1; Englebert Humperdinck, March 2-3; fortnight FEBRUARY 20 Jackson Five, March 4; Astrodome, Houston. PIANIST — Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel performs in Solo Artist Series; Hogg Auditorium, FEBRUARY 24 University of Texas, Austin. GLEE FEST — Glee clubs from all over, By Suzanne Shelton hundreds of fellas blending their voices in song in RADOST! — They call themselves Radost!, a Second Annual Glee Club Festival, with concert 70-member UNICEF folk ensemble, currently on featuring Austin highschoolers and Phi Mu Alpha FEBRUARY GRAB BAG its first US tour; Municipal Auditorium, Austin. Men's Chorus from East Texas State University; 8 MAX ERNST — "Inside the Sight," exhibition p.m., East Campus Library Auditorium, of drawings, paintings, collages and sculptures by MAN OR MOUSE? — Original Seattle University of Texas, Austin. Max Ernst, exponent of Dada and Surrealism; performance cast of Carlisle Floyd's opera based through May 20, Institute for the Arts, Rice on the Steinbeck novel, "Of Mice and Men," with FEBRUARY 25 University, Houston. Julian Patrick, Robert ' Moulson and Carol CLIBURN — It's always a treat to hear pianist Bayard; through Feb. 25 with Feb. 24 Van Cliburn; 8 p.m., Theatre for the Performing PUBLIC TV — You don't know what you're English-language performance; Jones Hall, Arts, San Antonio; also Feb. 27, Jones Hall, Houston. missing if you're missing public TV; samples from Houston. this fortnight: Eisenstein's epic film, "Ivan the POP HARP — De Wayne Fulton, pop harpist, Terrible"; Roberta Flack with the Boston Pops; UBU ROI — Aired Jarry, French playwright of in concert; Hamman Hall, Rice University, our own Ronnie Dugger, plus Frances Farenthold the avant-garde, wrote "Ubu Roi," performed by Houston. and Beryl Milburn, tangling wits with William Buckley of pot-smoking fame; Zubin Mehta and FEBRUARY 26 the LA Philharmonic with "Bolero"; and much TECH MUSICIANS — Texas Tech University more; check local newspaper for listings. Symphony Orchestra, with Paul Tobias, cellist; 8:15 p.m., Municipal Auditorium, Lubbock. ART OF JAPAN — "Japan III," international exchange exhibit of 100 contemporary prints by FEBRUARY 27 70 Japanese artists; through Feb. 26, Moody JOINT RECITAL — Violinist Josef Suk teams Hall, St. Edward's University, Austin. with pianist Joerg Demus in joint recital; Caruth Auditorium, Southern Methodist University, ARP ART — Sculpture, wood reliefs and Dallas. drawings by another Dada-Surrealist artist, Jean Arp; also collection of prints by California artists; FREE CONCERT — A pleasant freebie, UT Art Museum, University of Texas, Austin. Harp Ensemble, directed by Gayle Barrington, in concert; 8 p.m., Recital Hall, University of Texas, FEBRUARY 16 Austin. ROCKIN' EARL — Cultural Entertainment Committee presents Earl Scruggs Review; 8 p.m., Municipal Auditorium, Austin. Bound Volumes of BAWDY TALES — Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," musical performed by First the Observer Reportory Company, with sets designed by San Antonio architect O'Neil Ford; through Feb. 17, 23-24, March 2-3, 9-10, First Repertory Theatre, Bound volumes of the 1972 issues of HemisFair Plaza, San Antonio. the Texas Observer are now ready. In 6- maroon washable binding — the same FOR KIDDIES — Spring theatre for the small as in recent years — the price is $12. fry, "The Cowardly Knight," performed by St. Also available at $12 each year are Mary's Children's Theatre; through Feb. 25, Shoestring Cellar, St. Mary's University, San Theatre SMU; through Feb. 25, Margo Jones volumes for the years 1963 through Antonio. Experimental Theater, Dallas. 1971. CELLO CONCERT — Lev Aronson, cellist, in A very limited supply of bound COWARD COMEDY — "Blithe Spirit," Noel volumes of the Observer for the years Coward's comic variation on the eternal triangle, faculty recital; 8:15 p.m., Roxy Grove Hall, Baylor University, Waco. 1958 through 1962 — formerly out of- with Eddie Thomas as the novelist, Sharon stock — have been compiled and are L'Helgoual'ch as the living wife and Lynne Roots as the dead wife; through March 4, North Park offered at $50 per year. These are the Hall, Dallas. FEBRUARY 22 years when the Observer was weekly PIANIST — Piano concert by Joy and in a tabloid format. FEBRUARY 17 Pottle-Smith, Leventritt and Van Cliburn Piano Competition finalist and' newcomer to Austin Texas residents please add the 5% sales FOR LONGHAIRS — "The Barber of Seville," with her husband, Lawrence Smith, conductor of tax to your remittance. Volumes will with operatic baritone Alan Titus, 'who recently Austin Symphony Orchestra; Municipal sang the leading role in Bernstein's "Mass," with be sent postpaid. Auditorium, Austin. Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra; Del Mar Auditorium, Corpus Christi. THE TEXAS OBSERVER SYMPHONY — Dallas Symphony Orchestra, 600 W 7 AUSTIN 78701 Anshel Brusilow conducting, with cellist Leonard The Texas Observer Rose; also Feb. 24, State Fair Music Hall, Dallas. about as dangerous as a tonsillectomy. who is to write the Court's opinion if the Even more recent technological advances, chief justice is on the majority side. If he is This right ... particularly the suction method, which is not, the senior justice on the majority side about two years old, have made abortion, decides who will write the opinion.