UJ: thursdays

So, I had a meeting this morning at 9am....and it was right downtown in the office next to the local Planned Parenthood. And if people don't know, Thursday is usually the day when PP does abortions. They just pick one day in the week, so that in terms of security they don't have to be on high alert all the time. So, I ended up parking in the PP parking lot and every week there are all these people sitting there with signs protesting.

Now, don't get me wrong...I don't think people do not have the right to protest, I just hate the way they choose to spread their message. They have all these pictures of aborted fetuses and signs which say such hateful things. And as someone gets out of their car...they yell at them and say things like, "Your baby loves you. Love your baby back."

It upsets me for many reasons. Yes, I am pro-choice....to anyone who knows me that would be obvious, but my problem isn't that these protesters are pro-life, it is how they are doing what they are doing. I can see that in their minds...they just care and want to save little babies, but come on. Do you think these women haven't thought of the things you have to say before they walk in there? Do they think that most women who have abortions just do it on a whim? I know there are some women who are irresponsible with the right to choose, but that is such a small minority. And for people to be so hateful to another human being....it just makes me ill. And second of all, only a very small percentage of women who use PP on Thursday are getting abortion services. Most women are getting the same services they get during the rest of the week....and those women get yelled at too.

I walked by one of the protestors and she smiled at me and was about to say something (since she saw me walking away from PP, so she assumed that I was not part of the target audience to be screamed at). As she started to speak to me...I just put up my hand and said "please don't" She then spouted that she is doing the work of the lord....and I looked back and shook my head. Maybe, but in my eyes....those who are escorting these women into the clinic and putting their lives on the line are doing god's work. Those who help people when they are desperate do god's work. I do god's work everyday....and it doesn't involve bringing grotesque signs, yelling at people and calling them sinners.

I don't know...it just struck a chord with me. It's stayed with me all day....and I have seen them every week. I always drive by them on my lunch hour or my way home from work. Just the sight of them always disturbs me...and I am sure that is what they want. But I am not disturbed because of the gravity of what they are saying...I am disturbed by their cruelty in how they choose to speak their message.

I think I might call PP and see if I can volunteer on Thursday mornings to be a volunteer escort. Maybe that way...I will be able to do something...it won't be a lot, but it will be a support arm bringing those people into the building.

Anyways....that's my social-worky, political rambling for the day....

Shelley