Corner of Bourbon & Division

As most of you no doubt know, Dr. George Tiller was murdered yesterdaywhile attending his church.

Now, I don't usually care what people's politics are. As I've said before, I'm anti-abortion, but pro-choice. I don't like the fact that abortions are necessary, but I firmly believe that it's every woman's choice to make.

This killing? This was murder. This was the murder of a good man, who not only stood up for his convictions, but lived by them, every single day. He went out of his way to perform a service for women that many others could not, and would not perform. Calling him a mass-murderer is, as lightcastle put it, a particular flavour of viciousness. It's not subtle to encourage people to invade people's sanctuaries, no matter how you try to couch your threats in terms of "peaceful" protest.

I don't know if it makes it somehow more heinous that someone violated holy ground in order to perpetrate the murder. The act itself was so heinous that I am hard-put to see how it could be made more so, but whoever the suspect is, he certainly gave it the good old college try.

Every time I think we might be going forward, something like this happens.

:::ETA:::

Here are a few posts by friends of mine, both of which offer particular insight into the matter:

Meallanmouse's perspective, as the daughter of an ob-gyn, with useful links too.

Lisa Small's entry, complete with links.

This has cropped up a number of times on my flist of late, which isn't all that surprising, considering my friends.

I don't know if it'll surprise many people on here if I say that, fundamentally, I don't believe that abortion is right. Maybe it will surprise people. It won't surprise those who know me well. I am the product of someone's choice not to abort, so I feel rather strongly on the topic, to say the least.

That being said, until there are safe, viable alternatives to abortion, I will remain pro-choice.

When there is a clear and present danger to the mother's health, I am all in favour of terminating a pregnancy in a safe, medical procedure that is authorized by law. Until dangerous pregnancies are a thing of the past, I will remain pro-choice.

Until everyone who doesn't want a child is given access to birth control and other safe-sex products, I will remain pro-choice.

Until little girls are no longer raped, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as women are no longer abused and raped by men they thought they could trust, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as abortion remains the *only* resort for some unhappy, desperate women, I will remain pro-choice.

Until such a time as women are entirely in control of their own fertility, I will remain pro-choice.




I am not anti-life. I am pro-choice. There is a difference.


:::ETA:::

I am leaving comments open for now. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, and to discuss in a sane, rational, and respectful manner. Most of you don't need to be told to remain civilized, but this is a sensitive topic, so if you get upset, keep your hands away from your keyboard. Close friend or online acquaintance, if you insult or otherwise flame someone on this LJ, I will ban your ass faster than you can say "Bob's your mother's brother." Capito?