You know how I feel about partial birth abortion. The very thought of someone being able to leave a baby, on a cold table in a dark room, to die disgusts me. The thought of a physician (who took an oath to "first do no harm") being capable of taking the life of an infant who survived an abortion sickens me. It makes my heart literally ache.
Some have called Dr. George Tiller courageous. I could not disagree more vehemently. No one will ever convince me that performing partial birth abortions is an act of courage. I can think of many men and women who are, in fact, courageous....George Tiller will never be on that list. I believe he broke the law each time he performed a partial birth abortion. That said, I am saddened by his recent murder. I don't believe this man "deserved to die". I don't believe his family deserves the sorrow that has now been inflicted upon them. I believe that life is sacred, every life...not just the lives of those who believe as I do and make choices I feel are appropriate.
It's heartbreaking that the debate between pro-life and pro-choice advocates is often played out in a theatre of war. In our passion and drive to protect innocent babies, as well as their mothers (who most probably face circumstances we can not comprehend), we must move with compassion and love. Taking a doctor's life will never bring back the hundreds of thousands taken through abortion. Taking the life of George Tiller will neither end abortion, nor open the hearts of those who believe it's acceptable to leave a baby to die....a baby that was born alive in spite of the act meant to take his or her little life. However, taking the life of George Tiller will leave yet another family in despair. It will further the divide between those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice. This war will continue to rage on. I sincerely wish the debate could be conducted with understanding and compassion, as opposed to ridicule and malice. And I'm referring to those on both sides of the divide.
My dear blogger friend, Laretha at Beauty Unveiled, wrote a thought-provoking post yesterday. You can read it here. A quote she posted struck me. This is from Representative Scott Schwab of Kansas: "I think Tiller was a law-breaker, but this is not how you win...you win by winning hearts, not by stopping them from beating."
How true is that statement? While I don't believe we have the power to change hearts, I do believe we can win hearts with love, we can soften hearts with compassion. God can change hearts that are soft and willing. How much in this world could be turned around if we attempted to win hearts before stopping them from beating? I can't say for certain, but I'm all for giving it a try. What I do know is that giving it a try couldn't hurt. It really couldn't hurt.
Monday, June 1, 2009
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23 comments:
I read Laretha's post before yours. It is well written.
We've missed you. Hope things are going well and you're still mostly sane.
I couldn't agree more with you both.
Thanks for the link girl. We are on the same page - as always.
My heart breaks today over this. All of it.
I will do a post later on people calling him a hero and courageous. That is just SICK.
Love you girl!
I could not agree more. In fact I just read your post to a friend of mine and she was nodding the entire time. It's like the old saying,'Two wrongs don't make a right...' with an added dose of compassion and faith.
Love Linds.
Agree and Amen.
Both you and Laretha say it well.
Thanks for sending me over to Laretha's post. She is absolutely correct, and so are you.
One of my sister's girlfriends had a late-term abortion when she was about 16. The baby lived for just long enough to traumatize a scared young mother who made a bad decision without having any idea what she was getting herself into. I don't believe she has ever fully recovered from the experience. Neither has my sister, to tell the truth.
Having said that, there is still no excuse for compounding the violence by executing the executors. As I said on Laretha's blog, "No heart should be stilled by any hand but the Hand that created it."
Extremists who take adult life in the guise of gaining justice for the unborn are no better than the abortionists themselves.
Thanks for a great post. It's good to "see" you! Hope all is well.
=)
As usual, well put. So sad all the way around.
Lanie
I believe that the quote at the end is how we "Christians" pro-lifers..should live our lives. Thanks for the post...great as always.
I have a sweet friend in the hospital just trying to keep a baby in her womb for a few more days so he can survive outside of it and it just saddens me that the other extreme is the let that precious baby lay on a cold table until nature takes it course - how can that not be wrong?
As for taking the life of a Doctor or anyone we don't agree with, it is just as wrong!
I will pray for soft hearts! Thanks for the post and for the link.
Natalie,
Thank you for your eloquent and compassionate post on this topic. I couldn't have read it at a better time. Last night, a Facebook friend posted about the murder and I responded. I've been sick and my blood has been running cold in my veins as I've read the follow-up comments to my comment. Here is the string of comments (let me know what you think):
S's Status Update: "I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."-President Obama. What do people mean by the idea of "pro-life".
My Comment:
Hey S. I certainly fall into the pro-life camp and I find Dr. Tiller's abortion methods disgusting, particularly the induction method. However, I am absolutely outraged by his murder.
Lisa:
Your guess is as good as mine.. They contradict themselves just a little!
Jessica:
People don't have abortions frivolously, and Dr. Tiller and doctors like him do not perform abortions frivolously. I wonder if the methods used still seem "disgusting" in a case like this: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2004/01/25/my_late_term_abortion/
Karen:
Have you seen "lake of fire"? A must see.
John:
Thank you for the link, Jessica. That same procedure is also used for fetuses that have already died in the womb. The only alternative, if it is banned, is to go through forced labor and give birth to your dead child.
My husband's comment:
As someone that has been in the room for the birth of my still born daughter, I can say that the time I was able to hold her was precious. I cherish the brief amount of time I had with my daughter. She is with me in my heart everyday.
How anyone can abort the life of any child is beyond my comprehension. Today go to any playground and look at the smiles and listen to the joy. Many of the children you see and hear have less than ideal lives, but they are all here and can now make their own choice.
Now realize that each year 1.3 million children never get the chance to be on the playground.
The murder of the doctor is horrible! The murderer does not represent any of us that value life.
John:
Hey C, very sorry for your loss. I was certainly not intending to denigrate the choice to go through labor, simply arguing that in these instances (fetal demise), there should be a choice nonetheless. Take care.
S:
All of you who have commented on this post have heartfelt and deep reasons for your beliefs and opinions on this divisive issue. And although I am strongly pro-choice I can respect the opinions held by C and his wife, especially as they were informed by their loss. As no doubt John's is as well.
And though I will always support a woman's choice in all issues relating to her health and well being, I will never vilify those who are on the other side of this debate. My major point in this post was my feeling that it is precisely this vilification of doctors and clinics and the angry rhetoric of many anti-abortion groups that lead to this kind of brutal attack. That being said I am glad my friends on this post can have a civil debate on a tough topic.
Lisa:
Pro- choice is not Pro- abortion. It is unfortunate that it carries such a stigma with it.. Pro choice is just that... a choice. Any woman who has had one will tell you it is not something you forget or walk away from without ever giving it a second thought.
The whole thing just saddens me. I am sick thinking about it - I absolutely hate what this "doctor" was doing, yet taking his life is not the solution.
Of course, I love your post. I don't understand why people think committing the act they claim to be so adamantly against (namely, murder), in any way strengthens an argument. I am very much pro-life, but that includes having the strength of character to support the right to life of grown people I may find reprehensible personally. The people who murdered Dr. Tiller are actually guilty of the exact same crime as he was--taking the life of someone who didn't get the chance save themselves. It doesn't matter how old the victim is!
You always say it best. Agreeing with you 100%!
word of the day: vehemently
i'm so glad you put these thoughts down. i felt the same way, but didn't know it until i read it.
Very very true!! As much as I HATE abortion, two wrongs don't make a right.
Aw man, someone already said that (I read comments AFTER commenting).
But it's still true. :)
Hey, thanks for adding my button! Color coordinated and everything...
=)
"Two wrongs will NEVER make anything right." NEVER....
The irony of what people will do "in the name of God" and/or "righteousness."
Sorry...haven't had time to comment! Snarkettes, I am right here with Captain and the Belle, loving every minute of wrapping up the school year with the little people...
-11 year old is still brillant and unbelievably handsome
-7 year old is so dang cute and funny...his eyes actually twinkle he is such a happy kid!
-"princie"...what can I say, beautiful child and amazingly "calm"...
Note to my "bloggy" friend...Thank you! What a nice surprise! Not to worry, I never "blog and tell!"
Hey Natalie! I haven't been blogging much, so this is my first time on your blog since the new layout. LOVE it! So perfect. Great post!
I don't understand how he could say he was an advocate of women's health. It's quite disgusting to me.
"this is not how you win...you win by winning hearts, not by stopping them from beating."
Oh, I like that quote. So true.
I admire your strength and ability to bring life to your words. You are so kind an compassionate. I am proud of you too. I love you and miss you so deeply. If you ever come back to KC, please look us up!
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