My instructions finally came in the mail on an early winter morning when no one else was in the house. That was good. The papers said I shouldn't share this information with anyone.
I looked over everything, and when I felt that I had a handle on what had to be done, I walked upstairs to the master bathroom and opened the medicine cabinet. Here was the bulk of the problem, at least in my house. According to the list I was holding, almost every product on my shelves was helping women get abortions.
I'd just have to suffer through my hangovers because the Tylenol Extra Strength was out, along with the Rolaids. Allergies were going to be a lot worse without the Benadryl and the Sudafed. These got tossed into a stainless-steel wastebasket now full of over-the-counter pharmaceuticals — Pepcid, Zyrtec, Imodium. If I hadn't kicked cigarettes in December, I'd have to lose the Nicorette, too. Damn. Even the Neosporin? Hello, gangrene. I can always learn to type with hooks.
The 16-page boycott list was the first thing that arrived in the mail when I joined Kansans for Life, one of dozens of anti-abortion groups around the country. It named every business and nonprofit supposedly ready to take my money and hand it over to Planned Parenthood. If a corporation was new on the list, it was helpfully identified with a frowny face next to its name.
The list was put together by Life Decisions International, a Front Royal, Virginia, group that, on its website, describes its mission as "exposing and opposing the agenda of Planned Parenthood, the world's primary advocate of legal abortion." The group spends a lot of time watching charitable contributions on both sides of the debate. Among its other publications is a list of celebrity enemies; titled "The Culture of Death," the pamphlet lists Bea Arthur (R.I.P.), Alec Baldwin and Beau Bridges, among others. I figured I had the gist of it before I made it to the C's.
Next up: dental hygiene. Listerine prevents tooth decay, but it also ends 1.3 million American lives in the womb every year. So I should've suspected — the American Association for Dental Research was on there, too, right next to the American Cancer Society, the Audubon Society and the Children's Defense Fund.
If I had a kid, I wouldn't be able to treat her with anything from Johnson & Johnson. Entertainment would also be a problem, with Walt Disney and DC Comics on the list. Apparently, Superman really stands for truth, justice and the right to terminate a pregnancy.
On Sunday morning, May 31, 2009, Dr. George Tiller woke up, put on a good suit, and went to usher at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita. He looked like the dermatologist he'd studied to become before taking over his father's clinic, but he was a veteran in every other sense. In June 1986 after his practice was fire-bombed, he rebuilt and put out a sign that read, "Hell no, we won't go." In August 1993, he was shot five times in his car and survived.
Even with all that, it's hard to believe that anyone expected Scott Roeder to walk up to him and shoot him through the eye in the middle of services.
Roeder was arrested two days later, tried and eventually sentenced to 50 years in federal prison. Groups on both sides of the debate publicly denounced the murder. Others said Roeder's act was one of righteous vengeance.
One year later, in an election year, conservative politicians have started the usual begging to secure the backing of anti-abortion groups. And even though the doors are permanently closed at Tiller's clinic, Kansans for Life is still connecting the dead doctor's name to every sympathetic politician in the state.
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Thanks for this article, Peter. You accurately tell the ridiculousness of the people of the pro-life movement, whether you meant to or not.
Thanks for this article, Peter. You accurately tell the ridiculousness of the people of the pro-life movement, whether you meant to or not.
You have a way of taking a peaceful, legitimate and well accepted form of social protest and turn into something that sounds ridiculous by making absurd leaps in logic and ignoring basic truths about the historic use of boycotts. You neglected to say that at least 255 corporations have stopped funding the abortion-committing empire because of the boycott. You also fail to mention the reasons why dissemination of the material is controlled. What a sad and pathetic view of life you must have.
You have a way of taking a peaceful, legitimate and well accepted form of social protest and turn into something that sounds ridiculous by making absurd leaps in logic and ignoring basic truths about the historic use of boycotts. You neglected to say that at least 255 corporations have stopped funding the abortion-committing empire because of the boycott. You also fail to mention the reasons why dissemination of the material is controlled. What a sad and pathetic view of life you must have.
One more thing for the uneducated. I am old enough to remember when abortion was illegal. I also remember that didn't stop women from getting abortions. The ones who could afford them got them on weekends and in the middle of the night in doctor's offices and hospitals or at motels and hotels. And the cost was three times what legal abortions cost today. The women who couldn't afford the 'safe' abortions went to a barber shop on Troost or a house in Northeast KC. Many of them died. This was the reality right here in KC. No abortions has never been the reality, not in our lifetime or throughout history. Keep abortion safe, legal and rare. That's what a true pro-lifer would do.
The fact left out of these debates about Dr Tiller is that he saved women's lives. It's truly sad that one commenter didn't even know that before 1973, ALL abortions were illegal. There were no exceptions. I know a woman who was 6 months pregnant in 1955 when her baby died. Because ALL abortions were illegal, even when the fetus was dead, she was forced to carry that baby for 3 more months until she went into labor. And while it was still inside of her, it did what dead bodies do. The toxins nearly killed her. And she was never able to get pregnant again. Dr. Tiller saved women's lives. Women just like this one, who nearly died and was made infertile, before abortion was legal. Scott Roeder not only murdered Dr. Tiller, he also deprived women whose fetuses died of a life saving abortion and put them at risk for never bearing any more children. And how pro-life is THAT? Please mind your own business and respect the law, even if you disagree with it. Your ignorance only results in death.
One more thing for the uneducated. I am old enough to remember when abortion was illegal. I also remember that didn't stop women from getting abortions. The ones who could afford them got them on weekends and in the middle of the night in doctor's offices and hospitals or at motels and hotels. And the cost was three times what legal abortions cost today. The women who couldn't afford the 'safe' abortions went to a barber shop on Troost or a house in Northeast KC. Many of them died. This was the reality right here in KC. No abortions has never been the reality, not in our lifetime or throughout history. Keep abortion safe, legal and rare. That's what a true pro-lifer would do.
The fact left out of these debates about Dr Tiller is that he saved women's lives. It's truly sad that one commenter didn't even know that before 1973, ALL abortions were illegal. There were no exceptions. I know a woman who was 6 months pregnant in 1955 when her baby died. Because ALL abortions were illegal, even when the fetus was dead, she was forced to carry that baby for 3 more months until she went into labor. And while it was still inside of her, it did what dead bodies do. The toxins nearly killed her. And she was never able to get pregnant again. Dr. Tiller saved women's lives. Women just like this one, who nearly died and was made infertile, before abortion was legal. Scott Roeder not only murdered Dr. Tiller, he also deprived women whose fetuses died of a life saving abortion and put them at risk for never bearing any more children. And how pro-life is THAT? Please mind your own business and respect the law, even if you disagree with it. Your ignorance only results in death.
Scott Roeder did the right thing. He stopped that babykilling abortionist bastard George Tiller from murdering any more children.
Scott Roeder did the right thing. He stopped that babykilling abortionist bastard George Tiller from murdering any more children.
Suzy said: "And Mr. Roeder should have been publicly executed by a firing squad since he is a "soldier of God"...
Are you serious Suzy? I honestly believe Mr. Roeder should be punished to the FULL EXTENT of the law for taking someone's life. But, if you really believe that BECAUSE he's a 'SOLDER OF GOD' he should receive punishment beyond what the law dictates, then you're discriminating just as much as HE did.
When we begin to step outside of man's laws for one purpose, it becomes so easy to justify anything we please. Think about the big picture Suzy. If you don't like the law, lobby to change it, but putting him in front of a firing squad is just as unethical as what he did to Tiller.
Suzy said: "And Mr. Roeder should have been publicly executed by a firing squad since he is a "soldier of God"... Are you serious Suzy? I honestly believe Mr. Roeder should be punished to the FULL EXTENT of the law for taking someone's life. But, if you really believe that BECAUSE he's a 'SOLDER OF GOD' he should receive punishment beyond what the law dictates, then you're discriminating just as much as HE did. When we begin to step outside of man's laws for one purpose, it becomes so easy to justify anything we please. Think about the big picture Suzy. If you don't like the law, lobby to change it, but putting him in front of a firing squad is just as unethical as what he did to Tiller.
the Pitch is a good place to find advertisements. the opinions and articles supporting those opinions are prejudiced, judgmental, and have the "holier than thou" feel.....are you sure you aren't becoming a regular of the (dark side) of the Christian platform that you so fervently fear and are afraid of? Its almost like you and most writers spew forth anti freedom thoughts and throw in a little guilt trip for good measure. most of the writers at the pitch (along with most liberal acquaintances) seem to be trapped in a dark shallow hole of "how you should be/think/feel". I remember feeling that way when I was about 8 years old because I was not into sports like the other boys. God created to be free to choose. If that includes hating or being judgmental or being ultra conservative, who are you to judge.....sorry but this comment does sound like a bitch rant article from the pages of your narrow mind magazine (which of course has almost always also has lame music opinions based on popularity)
radb
the Pitch is a good place to find advertisements. the opinions and articles supporting those opinions are prejudiced, judgmental, and have the "holier than thou" feel.....are you sure you aren't becoming a regular of the (dark side) of the Christian platform that you so fervently fear and are afraid of? Its almost like you and most writers spew forth anti freedom thoughts and throw in a little guilt trip for good measure. most of the writers at the pitch (along with most liberal acquaintances) seem to be trapped in a dark shallow hole of "how you should be/think/feel". I remember feeling that way when I was about 8 years old because I was not into sports like the other boys. God created to be free to choose. If that includes hating or being judgmental or being ultra conservative, who are you to judge.....sorry but this comment does sound like a bitch rant article from the pages of your narrow mind magazine (which of course has almost always also has lame music opinions based on popularity) radb
Realist,
You're right and that's my mistake. Roeder was arrested the same day, he was officially charged with first degree murder two days later.
Realist, You're right and that's my mistake. Roeder was arrested the same day, he was officially charged with first degree murder two days later.
Ben, you are exactly right, God is the pretext. He always is. If you think what I wrote sounds centuries old, it is because it is. The Truth doesn't change, it is always real for every time period.
There is seperation of church and state. The U.S. has not declared an official state religion. That is what the seperation of church and state meant in the constitution. It did not mean to leave out God in making laws, because all civil laws flow from the eternal law, anyway. It is impossible to do. Keep in mind that the state came after the church. The family came before the state and is the "domestic church". Therefore, the family and its needs supersede the state. Civil laws should protect the family since it came before the state. One of those protections is to protect the unborn, as they are part of the family at the moment of conception.
Ben, you are exactly right, God is the pretext. He always is. If you think what I wrote sounds centuries old, it is because it is. The Truth doesn't change, it is always real for every time period. There is seperation of church and state. The U.S. has not declared an official state religion. That is what the seperation of church and state meant in the constitution. It did not mean to leave out God in making laws, because all civil laws flow from the eternal law, anyway. It is impossible to do. Keep in mind that the state came after the church. The family came before the state and is the "domestic church". Therefore, the family and its needs supersede the state. Civil laws should protect the family since it came before the state. One of those protections is to protect the unborn, as they are part of the family at the moment of conception.
Roeder, narcissistic, self absorbed, fame whore, with (As opposed to what he or his secret supporters would like you to believe.) aspirations and intentions instilled in him by his intellectual superiors, is in fact, a de facto suicide bomber for the RTL movement. Like Iran, sidestepping responsibility for roadside bombs, Roeder's cowardly act left the zealots, the actual perps safe behind a curtain of safety.
When, in harm's way, in the face of the guns of the Highway Patrol, he capitualted with a whimper.
He served other's cause by proxy. No more than a trained dog, his convictions are non existant. He is a parrot. Polly wants a murder.
Roeder, narcissistic, self absorbed, fame whore, with (As opposed to what he or his secret supporters would like you to believe.) aspirations and intentions instilled in him by his intellectual superiors, is in fact, a de facto suicide bomber for the RTL movement. Like Iran, sidestepping responsibility for roadside bombs, Roeder's cowardly act left the zealots, the actual perps safe behind a curtain of safety. When, in harm's way, in the face of the guns of the Highway Patrol, he capitualted with a whimper. He served other's cause by proxy. No more than a trained dog, his convictions are non existant. He is a parrot. Polly wants a murder.
"Roeder was arrested two days later"
That's not how I remember it. He was arrested the same day, while driving back to KC.
"Roeder was arrested two days later" That's not how I remember it. He was arrested the same day, while driving back to KC.
The GREAT thing about these articles is the recurring and poignant affirmation that: 1) Religion is THE unmitigated Scourge of Mankind, 2) Pro-Life groups are terrorist organizations that condone, enable, and engage in first-degree homicide, 3) the ONLY person that remains innocent with any and all rights on the abortion issue is a pregnant woman. And Mr. Roeder should have been publicly executed by a firing squad since he is a "soldier of God", an anti-social miscreant, and depraved cold-blooded convicted killer.
The GREAT thing about these articles is the recurring and poignant affirmation that: 1) Religion is THE unmitigated Scourge of Mankind, 2) Pro-Life groups are terrorist organizations that condone, enable, and engage in first-degree homicide, 3) the ONLY person that remains innocent with any and all rights on the abortion issue is a pregnant woman. And Mr. Roeder should have been publicly executed by a firing squad since he is a "soldier of God", an anti-social miscreant, and depraved cold-blooded convicted killer.
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