I’m not sure if you’ve heard about this one or not, but a man who performed late-term abortions in Kansas was gunned down while in church today. Dr. Tiller was one of the few doctors in Kansas who performed late-term abortions, a practice that has had pro-life activists in arms for many years. In fact, this was not the first time that Dr. Tiller was targeted. His abortion clinic had been bombed back in 1985 and he was even targeted eight years after that, being shot in both arms. Unfortunately, this final act has stopped Dr. Tiller from performing another abortion and perhaps, saving the life of a woman in a troubled pregnancy.
Late-term abortions are highly controversial and are performed, typically, after the 20th week of pregnancy. The thinking is that a fetus is viable after the 27th week. Some feel that the fetus is even viable at week 21. This makes the weeks in between not so black & white. The other part of the controversy is that way that the abortion is performed in these cases can be a bit little more grisly. If you want the details on it, you can go check out Wikipedia. As you know, pro-lifers are against abortion at any stage of the game, as the belief is that the fetus is living from the moment of conception.
Typically, late-term abortions don’t happen just because the pregnant woman has decided to terminate the pregnancy for the hell of it. Usually if someone is that late in the game and does not want to have the end product, the child is delivered and put up for adoption. There are many other reasons why late-term abortions take place. Sometimes it’s a health risk to the woman. On other occasions, it’s because of a variety of birth defects and diseases that would give the fetus a poor quality of life. Some people have no problems raising a child with downs syndrome. However, there are other people feel differently and do look into abortion.
The point of this whole thing is not to change your mind on the abortion debate. I have friends who are pro-life and I have friends who are pro-choice. I have learned a long time ago that this is one issue I prefer not to debate the merits of. My biggest problem is that I take a great issue when someone, who says that he is against murder, (as many pro-lifers see abortions as murder) decides to practice that same act against another person. I find it to be horribly hypocritical.
I know that many might find it easier to take the issues into their own hands. However, if you want to change the abortion laws, you should do it in a legal, peaceful fashion. Here are a few suggestions:
- Start a writing campaign. Someone might actually read your words.
- Secure the proper permits and hold a parade. Just try not to do it on the same weekend as gay pride…. that could send out mixed signals.
- Circulate a petition and get signatures. If you’re determined and have enough like-minded folks, you might actually get your goal turned into a real bonafide law!
- Start your own local cable show. You could voice your agenda on a weekly basis and five folks might actually tune in.
- Hook up with Fox News. They’re always looking for something.
- Contact the RNC. They have nothing better to do other than to suck up to Rush Limbaugh.
The main point; don’t turn to violence in an effort to get your point across. The only thing you can accomplish by trying to kill others is turning yourself into a huge hypocrite, ruining the lives of others, and finding yourself sharing your cell, and a bit more than you bargained for with your new cellmate.
Oh, and I’m not that much of a religious person, yet I find that killing someone in a place of worship is seriously, seriously fucked up. That’s worse than killing someone sitting on the shitter.
Filed under: fucked up Tagged: | Dr. Tiller, Late-term abortion, pro-choice, pro-life
I was just horrified about this…a couple of other blog buddies have written about it, and I think what makes me maddest of all is the fact that these domestic terrorists aren’t taken as seriously as people in far away countries who “could be” or those who live here and “fit the profile.”
Even the best doctors have *no* idea when *life* begins.
If it’s true that it is at the instant of conception, then women who miscarry are abortionists. Or women who may get pregnant and the little ball of cells does not implant successfully are also abortionists. Millions of fertilized eggs get flushed every day when women get their periods. How about those gals?
Our date of our birth, as recorded on our birth certificates, is when we came into full-fledged humanness. If not, then they need to adjust every single person’s birth certificate to nine months earlier.
Very very sad. We should all have the right to do what we wish with our uteruses (is that even a word?!). If you don’t like abortion, don’t have one. Very simple.
RK- Just like the first terrorist attack on US soil was done by an American citizen.
You make a very good point skye. I always counted my first day of existence being the one when I tore my way out into the world (literally).
Mari- It can be a word now. I sort of look at abortion the same way you do. I don’t understand how people, especially men, can dictate what women should do with their own bodies. Not to mention, no one knows what circumstances a woman is in when she seeks out an abortion in the first place.
I can’t imagine how anyone could think something like this is acceptable, whether they are pro-life or pro-choice, but there are crazies on both sides of the argument. At least this crazy appears to be caught!
Good suggestions, all of them.
And I don’t want to start any snarkiness, but I don’t care what any guy says on the issue. It is a female issue.
These people are insane and deserve to be in a mental Institution …