Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
On my way home for lunch today, there was a small group of anti-abortion activists standing outside a big shopping center, holding up "Abortion Kills Children" signs and giant blown-up pictures of aborted fetuses, etc. I'm all for people expressing their views peacefully, which is what they were doing, but it seems weird to me that a group of people so adamant about protecting children would expose potentially dozens of kids in passing cars to these photographs. It seems counterproductive--for example, someone who hadn't really thought about their stance on abortion happened to stop at the light right next to these folks, and had their kids in the back seat, might object so strongly to the photos that they might either not give the issue any more thought because of its unpleasantness or maybe even deem pro-lifers 'sick' or 'twisted.' What do you all think are effective means of protest. I'm anti-war, but I certainly wouldn't stand on the corner with giant pictures of dead children for all to see to get my point across.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 7:19 pm Posts: 39068 Location: Chapel Hill, NC, USA Gender: Male
I remember an article about pro-lifers camping out around some clinic staff's house (the actual doctor lived in a gated community so they harrassed his staff), and a little kid came by on a bike. They grabbed that kid, made sure he knew the lady and told the kid that she was a baby-killer and he should avoid her and make sure his family avoided her. And if he ever saw her doing anything bad, he should immediately come tell them.
Folks, just b/c your pro-life doesn't guarantee you a spot in heaven. If you're evil to the core, you're still going to hell.
_________________ "Though some may think there should be a separation between art/music and politics, it should be reinforced that art can be a form of nonviolent protest." - e.v.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:05 pm Posts: 622 Location: Virginia Beach, VA
just_b wrote:
I remember an article about pro-lifers camping out around some clinic staff's house (the actual doctor lived in a gated community so they harrassed his staff), and a little kid came by on a bike. They grabbed that kid, made sure he knew the lady and told the kid that she was a baby-killer and he should avoid her and make sure his family avoided her. And if he ever saw her doing anything bad, he should immediately come tell them.
Folks, just b/c your pro-life doesn't guarantee you a spot in heaven. If you're evil to the core, you're still going to hell.
Gee, thanks for the life lesson. When you come down off your pedestal, you'll realize that some people, no matter what they believe, are just plain whacko. I would say I am against abortion (althought I don't believe that it's my right to make a choice for someone else), so this lady doesn't represent me or most pro-lifers. Can we move on now?
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Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:58 pm Posts: 1148 Location: Green Bay
ElPhantasmo wrote:
On my way home for lunch today, there was a small group of anti-abortion activists standing outside a big shopping center, holding up "Abortion Kills Children" signs and giant blown-up pictures of aborted fetuses, etc. I'm all for people expressing their views peacefully, which is what they were doing, but it seems weird to me that a group of people so adamant about protecting children would expose potentially dozens of kids in passing cars to these photographs. It seems counterproductive--for example, someone who hadn't really thought about their stance on abortion happened to stop at the light right next to these folks, and had their kids in the back seat, might object so strongly to the photos that they might either not give the issue any more thought because of its unpleasantness or maybe even deem pro-lifers 'sick' or 'twisted.' What do you all think are effective means of protest. I'm anti-war, but I certainly wouldn't stand on the corner with giant pictures of dead children for all to see to get my point across.
That's a pretty normal tactic for a certain faction of the pro-life movement. Similar protests (holding up pictures, etc) have occurred around Green Bay from time to time. It's disgusting and I'm not sure how they think it's going to help their cause. I'd rather my 14 month old daughter not see something like that.
Edit - DELETE
_________________ When the last living thing Has died on account of us, How poetical it would be If Earth could say, In a voice floating up Perhaps From the floor Of the Grand Canyon, "It is done. People did not like it here.''
Last edited by energystar on Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
Is this thread about protest tactics in general or about pro-life protesters specifically? Or is it going to become a thread about pro-life/abortion in general?
I'd prefer if it not get ugly, OK. Thank you.
--PoliceDavid
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:58 pm Posts: 1148 Location: Green Bay
punkdavid wrote:
Is this thread about protest tactics in general or about pro-life protesters specifically? Or is it going to become a thread about pro-life/abortion in general?
I'd prefer if it not get ugly, OK. Thank you.
--PoliceDavid
I wasn't sure either, so I went both ways. Ignore whichever of my paragraphs is irrelevant to the topic.
_________________ When the last living thing Has died on account of us, How poetical it would be If Earth could say, In a voice floating up Perhaps From the floor Of the Grand Canyon, "It is done. People did not like it here.''
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 20537 Location: The City Of Trees
punkdavid wrote:
Is this thread about protest tactics in general or about pro-life protesters specifically? Or is it going to become a thread about pro-life/abortion in general?
I'd prefer if it not get ugly, OK. Thank you.
--PoliceDavid
Yeah, I was going to ask the same thing. If it is the former, then I can post some real old stuff to add to this thread.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
punkdavid wrote:
Is this thread about protest tactics in general or about pro-life protesters specifically? Or is it going to become a thread about pro-life/abortion in general?
I'd prefer if it not get ugly, OK. Thank you.
--PoliceDavid
What I had in mind for it was protesting in general. The anti-abortion people are what gave me the idea, but I was looking to expand it to protesting any cause. What are effective/ineffective tactics? I don't want to turn it into an abortion thread at all. Please.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 4:52 pm Posts: 10620 Location: Chicago, IL Gender: Male
Didn't the NAACP protest S. Carolina (in terms of not visiting, cancelling conventions, organizing other businesses to do the same, not purchasing anything made in S. Carolina) because of the confederate flag episode? Considering it actually proved somewhat effective, it was a great way to send a message. It's like if you don't like a product or service -- don't it or use it. Vote with your wallet.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:52 pm Posts: 1727 Location: Earth Gender: Male
This made me think, maybe anti-war protesters should have giant blown up pictures of dead children from war. I'm sure you can find some much more horrific and shocking photo's of slain woman and children in war that will cause someone to stop and feel sick at the image.
_________________ "The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum." -Noam Chomsky
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:53 pm Posts: 20537 Location: The City Of Trees
IEB! wrote:
This made me think, maybe anti-war protesters should have giant blown up pictures of dead children from war. I'm sure you can find some much more horrific and shocking photo's of slain woman and children in war that will cause someone to stop and feel sick at the image.
I saw some protestors do this back in college when Iraqi sanctions were in question.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
IEB! wrote:
This made me think, maybe anti-war protesters should have giant blown up pictures of dead children from war. I'm sure you can find some much more horrific and shocking photo's of slain woman and children in war that will cause someone to stop and feel sick at the image.
Well, that's what I find kind of interesting. As I said before, I wouldn't do something like that personally, but when you think that photos like that of Kim Phuc, or of My Lai; these were the impetus of popular opinion of the war in Vietnam turning. So, perhaps they are effective?
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:12 am Posts: 1080 Location: boulder
ElPhantasmo wrote:
On my way home for lunch today, there was a small group of anti-abortion activists standing outside a big shopping center, holding up "Abortion Kills Children" signs and giant blown-up pictures of aborted fetuses, etc. I'm all for people expressing their views peacefully, which is what they were doing, but it seems weird to me that a group of people so adamant about protecting children would expose potentially dozens of kids in passing cars to these photographs.
Don't you think these children see far worse on television and in movies? Or how about when they have to do animal dissections in biology class? I sure as hell remember having to watch a movie in my middle school health class of an actual birth of a child - I can remember some kids throwing up and I felt nauseous for weeks
So yeah.. I'm not crazy about something like this but I don't think it's any worse than what many kids are already exposed to.
_________________ "my fading voice sings, of love..."
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 12:36 am Posts: 3556 Location: Twin Ports
stonecrest wrote:
ElPhantasmo wrote:
On my way home for lunch today, there was a small group of anti-abortion activists standing outside a big shopping center, holding up "Abortion Kills Children" signs and giant blown-up pictures of aborted fetuses, etc. I'm all for people expressing their views peacefully, which is what they were doing, but it seems weird to me that a group of people so adamant about protecting children would expose potentially dozens of kids in passing cars to these photographs.
Don't you think these children see far worse on television and in movies? Or how about when they have to do animal dissections in biology class? I sure as hell remember having to watch a movie in my middle school health class of an actual birth of a child - I can remember some kids throwing up and I felt nauseous for weeks
So yeah.. I'm not crazy about something like this but I don't think it's any worse than what many kids are already exposed to.
Or PETA ads, or "meet your meat", etc. etc. etc.
_________________ Rising and falling at force ten
We twist the world
And ride the wind
to compare what they are doing to what kids see on tv is laughable. i can, and so have many others, watch people be beheaded and eviserated (or is it evicerated) on tv and eat a bowl of spaghetti and not miss a beat, but to see it live is a completely different animal.
when kids see something like that on tv, they know the person isnt dead or injured in real life
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 10:46 pm Posts: 9617 Location: Medford, Oregon Gender: Male
stonecrest wrote:
ElPhantasmo wrote:
On my way home for lunch today, there was a small group of anti-abortion activists standing outside a big shopping center, holding up "Abortion Kills Children" signs and giant blown-up pictures of aborted fetuses, etc. I'm all for people expressing their views peacefully, which is what they were doing, but it seems weird to me that a group of people so adamant about protecting children would expose potentially dozens of kids in passing cars to these photographs.
Don't you think these children see far worse on television and in movies? Or how about when they have to do animal dissections in biology class? I sure as hell remember having to watch a movie in my middle school health class of an actual birth of a child - I can remember some kids throwing up and I felt nauseous for weeks
So yeah.. I'm not crazy about something like this but I don't think it's any worse than what many kids are already exposed to.
I'm not talking about teenagers though. I know for a fact that my 6 year old would ask me what that's a picture of, or perhaps be able to make out on his own what it is. "Why is that guy holding a picture of a dead baby?" Not really the kind of question I want him asking at that age. And no, I don't think kids see graphic medical procedures and aborted fetuses on television. At least not in my house.
_________________ Deep below the dunes I roved Past the rows, past the rows Beside the acacias freshly in bloom I sent men to their doom
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