Anyone else see that Pro-Life Display on Campus?

[CaramonLS]

Great stuff, apparently it is going to be there tommorrow as well, it was right in between SA/SB and Mac Hall.

Had a bunch of people passing out fliers, as well as security there to make sure nothing happened.

I mean what better way to get your point across than to put up pictures of Rawandian Genocide and associate it with Abortions (of course they had the fetus pics too).

I know this has been brought up a couple times, but I don't think I've seen a display this size on Campus before.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I havn't seen it yet this year, but I was under the impression it was to be scaled down from last year. That display was quite the scene and quite offensive to many people.

[liamenator]

I saw it today but didn't give them the satisfaction of my time by looking at their garbage display.... It's totally ridiculous.

I'm all for people having their own viewpoints, and I understand shock and awe tactics, but they go way overboard as a result are downright offensive to 95% of people. I don't care what your politics are, I don't need you shoving displays comparing this issue to ones the size and scale of the Rwandan genocide and the Holocost (last year's display - not sure if thats still included).

And this issue is not even a particularily hot-button one for me...I can't imagine what the hard-line pro-choicers think.

[Freeway]

I walked past it once, and my eyes bled from the insanity, so I just avoided that part of campus for the rest of the day.

[icarus]

Who was responsible for it?

[JayP]

Originally Posted by liamenator

I'm all for people having their own viewpoints, and I understand shock and awe tactics, but they go way overboard as a result are downright offensive to 95% of people. I don't care what your politics are, I don't need you shoving displays comparing this issue to ones the size and scale of the Rwandan genocide and the Holocost (last year's display - not sure if thats still included).

I didn't bother giving it a close look, but there's definitely swasikas on those posters.

As we all know, pro-choice = Nazi.

[liamenator]

I believe it was the "University of Calgary Pro-Life Organization" or something like that. I don't really know too much about them other than they are a relatively new group, in fact they may only have started up last year. They set up a similar display last year in Mac Hall to which there was some serious outcry.

They got shut down on campus, then proceeded to set up on Crowchild Trail & 24th Ave, if I am not mistaken. Then there was a huge fight, I think legal action was taken (you can imagine how the Jewish students association reacted to the portrayal of the Holocost).. and here they are again.

They've set up outside, between Science A and the Mac Hall Ballroom, and have the area roped off - I assume to avoid vandalism and protect their representitives. There are signs posted all around campus to warn people of the controversial and offensive nature of the display, which is "protected by Campus freedom of speech act" or something like that.

But I dont think that free speech is the issue for most people.. Its the blatent attempt at shocking people - which is in poor taste.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by JayP

I didn't bother giving it a close look, but there's definitely swasikas on those posters.

As we all know, pro-choice = Nazi.

Really?

If so, wow. So wrong. Sooo wrong.

Even if they aren't Nazis, but trying to associate abortion with Nazi-esque genocide, as I suspect might be the case, it is bewildering.

I can't imagine the SU would stand for Nazis in Mac Hall for long.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by icarus

Really?

If so, wow. So wrong. Sooo wrong.

Even if they aren't Nazis, but trying to associate abortion with Nazi-esque genocide, as I suspect might be the case, it is bewildering.

I can't imagine the SU would stand for Nazis in Mac Hall for long.

I saw a poster earlier this year making direct comparisons between genocide in Rwanda, extermination of the Jews, and abortion. It wasn't subtle or anything, just something like "how are these three things any different?" I think it got banned and likely isn't up at this stupid rally, but it's a complete joke.

...and the worst thing is the thing is allowed by the SU. At least I think it is. It's not just random people setting up shop in Mac Hall. It's right along the grass area besides Science A (think about leaving Mac Hall and walking towards Science Theatres. It'd be on your left.). There's those orange fences in front of the posters and they were there all day. There's no way there's no some level of acceptance from the university (which is a complete crock of ****).

[icarus]

Originally Posted by JayP

...and the worst thing is the thing is allowed by the SU. At least I think it is. It's not just random people setting up shop in Mac Hall. It's right along the grass area besides Science A (think about leaving Mac Hall and walking towards Science Theatres. It'd be on your left.). There's those orange fences in front of the posters and they were there all day. There's no way there's no some level of acceptance from the university (which is a complete crock of ****).

I would have to see the display, but generally I guess it would be protect by section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unless it promoted hatred or the use of violence. I'm guessing it is probably legal and should be respected by the University although I would love to have a look.

As for the genocide materials, I would mention the following to whoever is at the display. Abortion is not genocide, and so what they suggest is a blatant lie. The elements of genocide is as follows (from the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court):

Article 6: Genocide

For the purpose of this Statute, "genocide" means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group; [...]
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;[...] [Italics Mine]

[Freeway]

A retrospective of stuff from the Gauntlet's website. Read and judge for yerselves:

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/9884

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/9839

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/9522

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/5508

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Freeway

A retrospective of stuff from the Gauntlet's website. Read and judge for yerselves:

http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/9884

The University of Calgary has given the Campus Pro-life club permission to exhibit a controversial display equating abortion with historical atrocities like the lynching of blacks in the U.S.

Abortion is like lynching of blacks? Really, who is acting out of hatred more--the woman who gets an abortion, or the virulent protesters? Sorry, I don't mean to take a side, but I just dislike irrational propaganda. There are ways to express your distaste for abortion that don't destroy your credibility.

[evman150]

LOL.

I can't imagine something like this happening here. Only in Alberta I guess!

The only demonstrations/rallies/displays we get here are either hippie, commie, tree hugger or all three. Actually I'm not sure if there's a difference between the three. Oh well. Anyway....needless to say something like this would never fly here...I'm glad to say.

In other news, our school paper had a girl "servicing" a guy on the front cover last week. It was sort of in the background, but you could see his c*** and everything LOL.

You have right wing demonstrations, we have porno in our student paper. Quite the political difference.

*Yes I realize none of you support this BS (well I hope not anyway).

[tripin_billie]

Originally Posted by evman150

LOL.

I can't imagine something like this happening here. Only in Alberta I guess!

The only demonstrations/rallies/displays we get here are either hippie, commie, tree hugger or all three. Actually I'm not sure if there's a difference between the three. Oh well. Anyway....needless to say something like this would never fly here...I'm glad to say.

In other news, our school paper had a girl "servicing" a guy on the front cover last week. It was sort of in the background, but you could see his c*** and everything LOL.

You have right wing demonstrations, we have porno in our student paper. Quite the political difference.

*Yes I realize none of you support this BS (well I hope not anyway).

Yeah, I like it that UVSS and UVic have allowe the student body to vote that the school's official position is pro-choice. I think it was one of the election questions at school recently.

I like UVic's politics, and the Martlet is funny, but sometimes the hippies get annoying. But I could just imagine the fury that a display such as this abortion thing would cause. It just wouldn't happen.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by icarus

I would have to see the display, but generally I guess it would be protect by section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unless it promoted hatred or the use of violence. I'm guessing it is probably legal and should be respected by the University although I would love to have a look.

Oh I'm sure it's protected by Law, but I don't see why the SU is giving out stuff to radicals like these. They can do whatever they want with the space on campus and this crap doesn't belong. If they want to protest, fine be my guest. I guess I lean towards pro-choice, but it's not really a big deal for me. The propaganda at the "protest" today simply don't below anywhere in the world and I just don't see why the SU allows it.

[FireFly]

It wasn't the SUs decision to allow. The SU decided to step out of the debate so it was taken up with the University who is allowing it. The SU has no official stance on the matter.

And while you all are looking at the racial implications of the genocide, Holocaust, and black lynchings, the pro-life group is looking at them as mass exterminations and comparing them that way. Hundreds of thousands of babies are aborted every year is what they are saying. We are allowing our citizens to commit their own 'holocaust/genocide' on the unborn of this nation.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by JayP

Oh I'm sure it's protected by Law, but I don't see why the SU is giving out stuff to radicals like these. They can do whatever they want with the space on campus and this crap doesn't belong. If they want to protest, fine be my guest. I guess I lean towards pro-choice, but it's not really a big deal for me. The propaganda at the "protest" today simply don't below anywhere in the world and I just don't see why the SU allows it.

Well because it is Charter protected and therefore illegal to preclude it from a public university.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by FireFly

And while you all are looking at the racial implications of the genocide, Holocaust, and black lynchings, the pro-life group is looking at them as mass exterminations and comparing them that way. Hundreds of thousands of babies are aborted every year is what they are saying. We are allowing our citizens to commit their own 'holocaust/genocide' on the unborn of this nation.

That may be what they are trying to say, but they are terrible analogies that don't really correlate unless you look at it from the at superficial level. To their this organisation's disadvantage, most university students actually think; they'd be better taking their display someplace where there are more mindless people about.

[Azure]

[quote=evman150]LOL.

I can't imagine something like this happening here. Only in Alberta I guess!

[quote]

So only Alberta has freedom of speech? News to me?

The display would probably be offensive to me too, but I would just look the other way. Just like we all should.

[FireFly]

Do you have better examples of mass exterminations readily available with photos? Every one I can think of has been racially motiviated.