Dr George Tiller amazingly lived to be 67 years old. There had been previous attempts on his life, including the one in 1993 when Shelley Shannon shot through both of his arms. There have been bomb and arson attacks on his clinic, and abortion opponents brought charges against him accusing him of performing illegal procedures at his clinic - charges of which he was acquitted earlier this year. It isn't a surprise that people who call themselves pro-life were involved in creating a frenzy of hate for this man, including calling him a mass murderer. A climate of hate which led directly to his cowardly assassination in a church in Kansas. Toto - when you're in Wichita, keep your mouth shut.
Today, the glee among the haters is palpable - comments on blogs and news sites are dripping hellfire and brimstone, and Amerika seems a very dangerous place to support women's choices. I have never met anyone, not a single person who likes abortions. Most women I know who have been heterosexual in their lives have considered abortion. Many of them have also had children and raised them well, with a respect for the natural and living world around them.
Tiller never intended to be a lightning rod for abortion foes. In 1970 he was about to start a dermatology practice, but on August 21, 1970, his parents, sister and brother in law were killed in an accident and his sister requested in her will that he look after her 1 year old son. He went back to Wichita to close his father's medical practice (which had included providing abortions) and when he found out that a woman in the area had died after having to seek out an illegal abortion, he decided to stay - and to make abortions as safe as possible.
Tiller was an usher at his church and his wife, who was there at the time of his killing, was in the choir. It takes a particularly arrogant human being to act judge jury and executioner and snuff out the life of another human being who has committed no crime - even though it is perfectly justifiable to dislike what the man is doing and for you to use every legal means to stop him. They tried that, and they failed. So, in classic American style the next stop was the gun store. A 51 year old man, Scott Roeder, has been arrested. Presumably his political and religious connections will soon be known.
My heart goes out to the Tiller family whose public statement spoke first and foremost about Tiller's commitment to providing safe abortion care to women.
I thought I would pop in this morning while the bread was baking and the children were still sleeping. Although I know you think of me quite conservative, I will tell you this, anyone who thinks that the life of a Dr. means less than a life of a fetus and can so easily take away that life, will have their own little special place in hell waiting for them. (if one believes in such places, which i am not sure i do).
When I was 18 (just barely) I became pregnant and had an abortion. I didn't understand at the time how lucky I was to be in a sterile, supportive environment. Was it the best decision I could make at that moment? Yes it was. Do I think its the only best decision for everyone? No. I think if I were to counsel my daughter I would ask her to consider giving the baby up for adoption or depending on her circumstances, raising the baby herself. But I would be the first person in line to hold her hand if she chose otherwise. And I would be grateful to know that she didn't have to endure dirty, backstreet, or grusome self abortion techniques as she makes her decision to do so.
I am pro choice and pro life. I believe everyone should have the right to make their choice without paying with their lifes in order to do so.
and on a more personal note: thanks jillie. again i do so hope next time we talk there will be less tears and more enjoyment of friendship building.
nina
Posted by: nina | June 01, 2009 at 05:48 AM
Today the purveyors of the hatred are in full flight mode, full press relations, full outrage, full metal jacket 'omg, did one of us do this?' mode. Their finger just wasn't on the trigger, is all. This is a link to an Operation Rescue video about Tiller. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3351959967170808457
Yesterday I was listening in as I often do to those happy conservative talk shows and heard someone say that the 'weak-minded' in the pro life movement could possibly be pushed 'over the edge' by the kind of imagery portrayed in materials like the video.
Yup - and interestingly, abortion has less popular support than at any time over the last 25 years. They are winning the culture war on this one - which is why they are as concerned today as they are for their public image. Scott Roeder is entirely their 'product'.
Posted by: JP | June 01, 2009 at 07:30 AM