U of C Abortion protests

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Okay, so they do harangue people walking by? That kind of changes things.

I was by the display for much of yesterday. I found the Pro-Life group was not verbally abusive, except for a couple heated moments. Most of the Pro-Choicers were calm, too.

A few bad apples on both sides.

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I watched the CFCN news coverage of this, and I don't really agree they should be punted.

If they aren't literally pushing it in your face or haranguing students (which it didn't look like they were doing) then they do have a right to do this. It is "their" school after all.

If you don't want to look at it, don't. Is that possible?

I don't know if they still do this, but when I was at the U of C two years ago, the display was set up by the Rock by the Library where three different walkways meet and like 50 feet away from the display in each direction there were advisory signs put out on sawhorses so you knew to walk another way if you didn't want to see it. So they give you fair warning to avoid it. I would just turn up the headphones and walk by as fast as I could.

[icarus]

Abortion is one of those things that you're either willing to accept or not willing to accept and no one is going to change your mind. Anyone--whether on campus or online--who thinks he or she can change someone else's mind on the topic is delusional. So what's the point?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by peter12

I also believe in a firm dedication to prevent unplanned pregnancies from the other end. A strong commitment to the subsidisation of contraceptives and sexual education is a must for anyone opposed to abortion.

Totally agree. Prudence and abstinence are a proven failure worldwide.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by icarus

Abortion is one of those things that you're either willing to accept or not willing to accept and no one is going to change your mind. Anyone--whether on campus or online--who thinks he or she can change someone else's mind on the topic is delusional. So what's the point?

The same could be said for slavery 150 years ago...

[icarus]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

I don't know if they still do this, but when I was at the U of C two years ago, the display was set up by the Rock by the Library where three different walkways meet and like 50 feet away from the display in each direction there were advisory signs put out on sawhorses so you knew to walk another way if you didn't want to see it. So they give you fair warning to avoid it. I would just turn up the headphones and walk by as fast as I could.

Back in my days at U of C they set up shop on the pedestrian bridge to the C-Train station. Pretty hard to avoid it if you take the LRT. Maybe they were forced to relocate just for that reason.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Okay, so they do harangue people walking by? That kind of changes things.

What would they say?

Do they get abuse thrown back at them?

My confession is that I'd take the chance to be nasty to them if they started hassling me.

What would normally happen in years past is they would be yelling something that is pretty textbook for pro-lifers like "Abortion is murder". They might not be directing it at specific people but specific people definitely take offense. Someone that felt offended would then say something in rebuttal and then things would escalate quickly from there.

I just think that everyone should have a choice about witnessing or listening to this pro-life display. As it currently stands, a lot of people don't have much of a choice because they set up in a common area.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by peter12

It's normally a pretty abusive situation. Certain individuals on both sides take the opportunity to cat-call and chant slogans. From the point of democratic participation, it's a pretty pathetic display by all sides.

Hmm, sounds like fun

One of the pro-choicers should have put their money where their mouth is and started a fight years ago. Then it would have been shut down for good, citing "security reasons".

You know the university is just looking for an excuse, and that would have been a perfect one.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by peter12

The same could be said for slavery 150 years ago...

Well that's a bit of a tenuous comparison, but regardless they should lobby the lawmakers. Lobbying passersby who aren't going to alter their stances is not going to result in legislative change.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by peter12

sexual education is a must for anyone opposed to abortion.

My thoughts on contraceptives are mixed. I won't get into that now.

But I do agree that an emphasis on proper sexual education would help.

[Joborule]

I don't see how abortion and genocide are in the same league, nevermind ballpark. I don't mind their belief, but their presentation I highly disagree with (plus the pictures don't look pretty either). It doesn't have to be that disturbing looking.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

I'm anti abortion, and a student at the U of C myself. But I'm not a member of the Pro-Life group. Overall, I support the message of the group, but I think the delivery was a bit brash- the display could have been placed in a room or something.

Also, I'm kind of unsettled by the abortion/genocide analogy. One could say that killing is killing, but genocide is a different context.

I can't really put accurate words to why that analogy doesn't quite work for me. Just a feeling.

Overall though, I am quite pro-life.

No one got roughed up or anything yesterday. There were tons of security around, and one pro-choice guy who liked to scream "You don't have a right to live!" (How ironic, idiot). The display was still up today, but I wasn't around it, I was in class.

Once the screaming, argumentative people on both sides got out of the way, I found I was able to have quite a few calm, civilized discussions and debates with others. Once the drama stopped, it was good.

Good post. I have pretty mixed feelings on the issue myself, but respect the way you support your view, and it's too bad the crazy fringe pro-lifers get all the attention when their are more stable minded people on that side of the debate.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by Joborule

I don't mind their belief, but their presentation I highly disagree with (plus the pictures don't look pretty either). It doesn't have to be that disturbing looking.

Well, they can't represent abortion with lollipops and rainbows. Abortion is not pretty.

I ultimatly think the display could have been placed in a room, though.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Well, they can't represent abortion with lollipops and rainbows. Abortion is not pretty.

Yeah, I understand the complaints about the comparisons to genocide etc...

But the other stuff, I mean, that is an aborted little human the size of a dime. There's no way around it. That's what abortion looks like.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Okay, so they do harangue people walking by? That kind of changes things.

What would they say?

Do they get abuse thrown back at them?

My confession is that I'd take the chance to be nasty to them if they started hassling me.

Essentially the long and short of it is this: They set up their posters of kids being hacked apart by machetes, Nazi Concentration Camp ovens, refugee camp massacres, etc, etc, pretty much the most gruesome stuff they can lay their hands on. Presumably because these are equivalent to abortion in some manner.

They then set up in the public courtyard between Mac Hall, Mackimmie Library and the Science buildings. So about as unavoidably public as it gets. If you're walking on Campus its pretty much impossible to miss.

They then have their little minions patrolling the courtyard with signs with some invariably inaccurate but perceivably catchy slogan to hunt down and harass people who are walking by. In previous years they were actually held within a confined space marked by snow fence so they couldnt hunt people down, but this seems to have ended.

If you're trying to walk by and ignore them they run to catch up to you to ask you what you're problem is. I actually got into a confrontation with them in my second year of Uni, I'd seen it before, I knew all about the song and dance, and I just wanted to get to the Den and get drunk after a long hard day of pretending to study.

The conversation was incredible. Things along the line of: What's your problem? Cant handle the pictures? You must be a pro-choicer....etc, etc, etc.

Here is the thing, people have a tendency to neatly categorize others based on their views, heres mine: I dont care. Its not an issue that has ever affected me in any way, if, at some point in the future it does, then I'll sort it out at that point in time. I am not an empathetic person, I have little patience and I dont gladly suffer fools. You have a problem with abortion? Fine, I dont care. Deal with it in some constructive manner.

Furthermore, here are some more views of mine: I firmly believe that almost every socially/politically opinionated University student almost invariably have no clear grasp about what they're talking about, and the ones that likely do arent eloquent enough to do anything about it.

Last piece of advice: Regardless of your beliefs on abortion or any other social matter, when your aim is transmit your beliefs or just simply get a message across, its far more effective when that message is coming across as a well reasoned, logically evaluated and thought out argument coming from a reasonable person.

No one is going to listen to you or whatever you have to say if you're trying to bludgeon your message into their skulls. People, or rational, free-thinking people at least, aren't receptive to having beliefs bashed across their heads.

If you want to take these people's approach, it doesnt matter if your message is "Chocolate Chip cookies are good" if you come across like the cat lady from the Simpsons, people aren't going to listen.

[Kipper is King]

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, I understand the complaints about the comparisons to genocide etc...

But the other stuff, I mean, that is an aborted little human the size of a dime. There's no way around it. That's what abortion looks like.

I'm confused as to why you quoted me. Aren't we saying the same thing?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

I'm confused as to why you quoted me. Aren't we saying the same thing?

No, I was just agreeing with you.

[Tron_fdc]

You know what would be funny? A guy with a sign that said "free coathangers" right across the street from the pro lifers.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

Well, they can't represent abortion with lollipops and rainbows. Abortion is not pretty.

I ultimatly think the display could have been placed in a room, though.

Originally Posted by peter12

Yeah, I understand the complaints about the comparisons to genocide etc...

But the other stuff, I mean, that is an aborted little human the size of a dime. There's no way around it. That's what abortion looks like.

Of course not, but I don't think that is something you can see on TV. If it isn't then that's pretty disturbing. But I guess thats why the warning is there. I just don't think everyone should be completely forced to go around a display that will make some people sick since it's at hotspot.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Are these protestors students?

Anyways, I am pro-abortion................there are so many kids out there right now that dont get the care they need and we dont need anymore. Unless the pro-lifers want to take care of the kids??