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06/01/2009
Bleeding Kansas
I don't care how incongruous it might seem for me — at last and gratefully a mother — to rage at the murder of Dr. George Tiller, one of the few remaining doctors in the U.S. to perform late-term abortions. It's not, and I'm doing it.
I am also donating to Medical Students for Choice, which works to secure training opportunities for pro-choice future physicians, and to the local arm of the National Network of Abortion Funds, which raises money to provide assistance directly to women in need seeking care.
I echo the NNAF's statement: "[A]ll women should have the right to decide whether and when to become a mother. Every woman should have the right to shape her own life and the right to care for herself and her family with dignity." And no one, no one should be harassed, threatened, hurt, or, my God, killed for assisting women in exercising those rights.
I know — believe me, I know — not everyone who reads this feels as I do. If you are moved to say so in the comments, please do so respectfully, not for my sake but in acknowledgment that whatever you may feel about abortion or those who facilitate it, a man is dead, has been killed in cold blood, in an act of homegrown terrorism. And if you do feel as I do, please take action.
Comments (167)
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I agree wholeheartedly, and I donate to my local abortion fund every month. I've always been pro-choice, and being a mom has only strengthened me in my conviction. Thanks, Julie. And RIP Dr. Tiller.
Thanks for this, Julie. I'll make a donation too, probably to Medical Students for Choice.
I find it funny that my view regarding myself has changed over the years simply because of circumstances. When I was 20, I would have had an abortion, now that I'm 32 with a good job and a supportive family, in the instance of an unintended pregnancy I would not and find the idea rather repellant.
But my view regarding the concept in general has not changed. Underlying my decisions about myself is the fact that I have the right to choose. Period.
RIP Dr. Tiller. Thank you for working so hard on behalf of women everywhere.
I live in Kansas...just a couple miles from where the suspect lives. I was watching the coverage on the local news yesterday afternoon. Apparently he has been accused of shootings and bombings at abortion clinics for the last twenty years. It's about time this guy was caught. It's disgusting what he has been doing. http://www.kctv5.com/news/19618019/detail.html
My heart aches for the family of Dr. Tiller. There is absolutely no excuse for murdering a man in cold blood, regardless of your feelings on abortion.
How can you justify taking someones life when you claim to be against abortion. I will never understand.
I believe in a woman's right to choose. NO ONE and I mean NO ONE has the right to question a woman and her choice. Woman that have late term abortions do not do so just because. I wish people would stop, step back, and realize not one woman has ever said...
"I wanted that abortion, it was the best thing I have ever done"
They made an agonizing decision that they have to live with for the rest of their lives.
I will be making a donation as well.
While I remain staunchly pro-choice, having a child of my own has rendered me more committed to finding and funding alternatives. Perhaps if sex education was more comprehensive than "don't", we wouldn't be in such a mess. But I digress.
This is a dispicable act and a study in irony--this man was brutally murdered in the name of 'pro-life'. Why is his life less vaulable than the unborn they claim to represent?
Double X has a good article on him:
http://www.doublex.com/blog/xxfactor/bravery-george-tiller
Great post Julie!
"Prenatal testing without prenatal choices is medical fraud." - Dr. Tiller
He offered women who had received the worst kind of news from prenatal testing the only kindness possible. He offered them the choice of whether to carry a doomed pregnancy to term.
I would say that far from being "an abortion doctor" as far too many of the news media are labeling him, he must have been one of the bravest and most compassionate doctors practicing medicine in the U.S. today.
Rage is appropriate. So is grief. Fear over what else will happen now that the insane doctor-killers' cease-fire seems to have ended might also be well-founded.
I have friends at that church, people who knew Dr. Tiller as a person -- husband, father, grandfather, doctor who cared about his patients.
Abortion is a difficult issue for me. It's confusing and emotional and I'm never quite sure where I stand.
But I can say with absolute certainty that there is no honorable reason to walk into a house of worship and kill a man. Ever.
Loved this post...everyone should read it and take note...nicely done.
Done. Thank you Julie.
Thank you for emphasizing the terrorist nature of Dr. Tiller's murder. People claiming to be "Pro Life" may speak about fostering a culture of life, yet many of them seem very content with fostering a culture of hatred, fear, and violence directed at women and the doctors who provide medical treatment (from cancer screens to contraceptives to abortions) to women. At the same time, they aggressively target the availability of contraceptives and sex ed-- one of the best ways of preventing unwanted and unintended pregnancies and thus abortions.
The person who shot Dr. Tiller merely succeeded in confirming the opinion of many pro-choice people that pro-lifers are insane. No one speaks for me, a pro-life person, LESS than those who choose to murder another person for their cause. The rate of abortion will only decrease when this country will commit to finding solutions for unplanned or undesired pregnancy - and why spend money on that when we could finance any number of ridiculous special interest groups? What a despicable, cowardly thing this murderer did.
I could not agree more. Thank you for this post, Julie.
You don't have to agree with all of the choices, but they need to be available.
Dr. Tiller's murder was tragic and unjustifiable, and will certainly limit the choices of the women he cared for.
Agreed. Thank you for the beautiful post.
I am pro-life and believe that all life is precious, in utero and out. The death of anyone is a horrible thing, particularly when it is a life cut short by the acts of a mentally unstable person. I have never treated anyone differently because of choosing to end a pregnancy, but it does cause me to wonder what more we as a nation and culture can do to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies, and to prevent birth defects and improve screenings so that no baby is lost to false results. I am pro-life, but believe that no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. I am a realist and understand that sometimes abortions are necessary.
However, I am a little shocked at the sweeping generalizations that have been made on some of the comments here about "pro-lifers." That we are all religious nuts who would kill anyone trying to perform an abortion or obtain one. Please, don't lump me and most of the people I know into that kind of category. Its not fair to anyone.
Thank you for writing this, truly. I am so completely infuriated, disgusted and saddened by Dr. Tiller's murder that I know I could never have said what you said so eloquently.
I have always been "in theory" pro-choice, but a few years ago, after being told that another pregnancy would kill me (in no uncertain terms, by my doctor), my husband had a vasectomy. The vasectomy failed, I got pregnant. I have two children already, two children who need their mother. There were NO other options. This wasn't a 'let's talk about it/let's consider adoption/let's see what the other choices are' kind of situation. This was a 'try to go through with it and you WILL DIE' situation. It was NOT what I wanted, it was THE HARDEST thing I've ever done, it took me over a year to get past it enough to move on with my life, but the fact is that I have a life to move with, and it's thanks to people who, like Dr. Tiller, have put themselves in the potential for harm's way by devoting themselves to helping women - women like me.
Dr. Tiller - thank you. Thank you for all you did. To the person who perpetrated this heinous act - shame on you. SHAME ON YOU. How is murder in any conceivable way an act of "pro-life"???
Thanks, Julie. I was looking for appropriate organizations to donate something in honor of Dr Tiller.
Well said, Julie.
Although I am pro-choice, I know plenty of people who are adamantly pro-life, and they are all equally as horrified by what this lunatic did! In the house of God! This is not what being pro-life is about.
As for me, even though I knew from a young age that I would never have an abortion and even though we struggled to conceive, suffered through a miscarriage and had to think through alternatives including adoption, I have been and always will be pro-choice. Some of my family members are surprised, considering what we've been through. But I will always stand by the fact that every one should have the right to choose whether or not they are ready for a child. I am happy that I could choose to have children (thanks to fertility treatments in my case). I always hope that every one can have the choice that they want in regards to parenthood.
I am just so saddened by this horrible atrocity committed against Dr. Tiller, his family, and the medical community. It's wrong on so many levels.
Well said, Julie.
Although I am pro-choice, I know plenty of people who are adamantly pro-life, and they are all equally as horrified by what this lunatic did! In the house of God! This is not what being pro-life is about.
As for me, even though I knew from a young age that I would never have an abortion and even though we struggled to conceive, suffered through a miscarriage and had to think through alternatives including adoption, I have been and always will be pro-choice. Some of my family members are surprised, considering what we've been through. But I will always stand by the fact that every one should have the right to choose whether or not they are ready for a child. I am happy that I could choose to have children (thanks to fertility treatments in my case). I always hope that every one can have the choice that they want in regards to parenthood.
I am just so saddened by this horrible atrocity committed against Dr. Tiller, his family, and the medical community. It's wrong on so many levels.
Regardless of whether I am pro-choice or pro-life, I can hardly stand the hypocrisy of murdering someone because they are pro-choice. Doesn't that completely defeat the point of defending the lives of the unborn if you are taking life in the process. It's really sad!
Jennifer B:
So sorry you're offended at the "sweeping generalizations" that all anti-choicers are crazy wingnuts. Maybe now you understand what it's like to be painted with the "murderer" brush just because we're pro-choice. Oh, but that's not the same thing to you, is it, because your religious ideology teaches you that it's only black and white when you're seeing it from a certain direction.
Go ahead and be offended. People LIKE YOU and who share YOUR BELIEFS are the ones bombing and killing practicing physicians. You don't see pro-choicers out there killing anti-choice protesters, do you? No, because we're NOT murderers, and we're NOT crazy wingnuts.
Julie: Great article. I just donated, and I hope everyone else who reads this does too.
Ahh... 23 comments in and already the fur is flying. Sadly, 'respectfully' may have been an optimistic request.
A difficult subject. A thoughtful post. A pleasure, as always, to read you, Julie.
Ariella, I think you need to read Jennifer's post again. There are definitely radical/scary pro-lifers out there, but I didn't get that from her post at all.
Ariella, I think you need to read Jennifer's post again. There are definitely radical/scary pro-lifers out there, but I didn't get that from her post at all.
Hey there, Ariella, Jennifer B said: "The death of anyone is a horrible thing" and "I am pro-life, but believe that no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. I am a realist and understand that sometimes abortions are necessary."
The people out there "bombing and killing practicing physicians" are not like Jennifer B and do not share her beliefs.
That said...
Applause to Julie for this post, and for helping us take action!
I couldn't agree more! I find it amazing how people who call themselves pro-life (because EVERY life matters) can kill in the name of life.
On a more personal note, a co-worker of my mother's just found out at 21 weeks that they had lost their baby. The baby had a rare genetic disorder, and it was unable to continue growing (the brain never formed). Because she was 21 weeks along, the doctors told her she would have to wait and see if she could naturally deliver the baby stillborn at 40 weeks, or she could go for a procedure now. Because she did not go into labor on her own, the procedure was classified as a late-term abortion, and there were no doctors in our area who would perform it. She could not bear the thought of carrying a dead baby for another 19 weeks and going through the trauma of delivering a stillborn baby. She had to drive several states away in order to have this done. If it is this challenging now with the procedure legal, I do not even want to think what would happen if the procedure were deemed illegal or only when "medically necessary." Doctors are so afraid anymore - and this murder shows why. It is a tragedy.
Though I agree that Ariella mistook Jennifer B's statement, I do think it brings up a point all of us should remember - labels and stereotypes only serve to divide, not unite. Pro-life vs. pro-choice, liberal vs. conservative, democrat vs. republican - all conjur a stereotype of beliefs and judgments that remove the human factor from the equation.
I tihnk it's good that Jennifer B spoke up - and Ariella as well, though I wish it were less incendiary. We all need to remind each other that a single belief does not paint all beilevers exactly the same.
Just because I am pro-choice does not mean I am equally "pro abortion." Just as being pro-life doesn't mean that person wants all women who have had abortions (or all doctors who perform abortions) dead.
What Peach said. :)
Jennifer B, thanks for your thoughtful comment. One bone to pick with you, though: you said "I am pro-life, but believe that no one should be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. I am a realist and understand that sometimes abortions are necessary."
You're not pro-life, then--you're pro-choice.
Thanks for the post, Julie. I donated to MSFC in Dr. Tiller's memory.
Late term abortions are rarely frivolous things. Frequently it's about saving the life of the mother, not avoiding inconvenience for 6 more months.
I was a premed student, and yes, I am a person of faith. And yes, I planned to train in terminations just as any pharmacist should know about RU486 or Plan B. Why? Because if you choose to go into medicine, you leave your religious beliefs behind and focus on the patient's needs. If you can't do that, get out of the damn field entirely. You can't deny a philandering spouse antbiotics for syphillis because you "don't believe in infidelity" either.
This man was a physician bravely doing his JOB, his WHOLE job and not weaseling out because someone else's Sunday school didn't like the fact that the human body doesn't care what the latest public sentiment is.
This man quite likely saved a lot of women's lives and allowed them to continue to be wives and mothers and friends and coworkers to the people who knew and loved them...and quite possibly live to bear more children under better circumstances.
BTW- I am also pro-choice, but because I believe that means I support BOTH sides of that choice, I split my donations between abortion-rights activist groups and the local home for pregnant teens and Head Start programs (because supporting the choice to have a child doesn't stop at birth!).
I give to Planned Parenthood, and now I think I'll send something to Medical Students for Choice. Because I'm outraged too.
Oh, Julie, you expressed my feelings so crisply and forcefully. Thank you.
If you use the term 'pro-life' to describe yourself, there's no way you can justify this. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Julie.
I have to agree. Everyone should have the right to decide for themselves.
Violence and hate should never be used to try and fix an action you might not agree with.
Thanks for posting on topics that are so controversial. It's good to see and hear everyone's opinions.
Beautifully said, as always, Julie!!
I am PRO LIFE - I am for the lives of our soldiers and innocent citizens, doctors included! I am for quality of life for ALL children and women, all people.
I hate that this beautiful term has come to mean what it has, that because I believe in a woman's right to choose, I am considered "anti-life". It is a pretty wild and dramatic paradox!
It's too bad that the media isn't telling the full story about late term abortion. Like the pp's said-it is often the only compassion society can offer the fetus and the mom.
This is terrorism. Though, to the one pp it's not fair to say that all pro-life people are insane. There are nutcases that attach themselves to all movements.
Julie, I am so happy that you said something.
It is not incongruous. Just like it is not a contradiction for me to want to do obstetrics and provide abortions when I become and ob/gyn. Comprehensive women based reproductive care is the connection.
It's terrible, and I hate to say it, but I think that it's only going to get worse for a while.
The way that we watch TV and read news on the internet is so polarizing, so many people watch a few sound clips of not-very-smart people spouting off extreme views on one side or the other or read blogs spouting hate in some direction. There is no more room for intelligent conversation about the issues.
I was at the Florida Democratic Party fundraiser in Miami this weekend, and they had Gov. Tim Kaine as the keynote speaker, (pro-life). Just after he was introduced, a group of woman stood up with signs and started screaming, "choice, choice choice". It was just so stupid. He wasn't at the dinner to speak on abortion.
On the drive home, my husband and I talked about how our leaders need to start driving this discussion in a different direction, not "pro" or "anti" this or that, but a real discussion about helping women and providing decent health care and support services for mothers in need, and allowing women the right to make health care decisions.
Then this doctor gets shot the next day standing in front of his church while he's serving the Lord as a greeter for the service. Sick.
Things have to change, and I don't think it will change by supporting choice organizations, but by calling our leaders to change the discussion.
I don't identify as either pro-choice or pro-life. I realize that abortions are necessary at times and have saved countless womens lives, but I also feel that if you aren't preventing, you are planning, and abortions ahould never be used as birth control. Barring medical problems in the mother or fetus, I dont belive in abortion.
That being said, if these psychotic pro-lifers call abortion murder, how can they condone the murder of Dr. Tiller? It's the same thing if we're gonna go that route. If this person was sentenced to death, wouldn't he do everything he could to save his life, and claim that he was being "legally murdered"? Most late-term abortions are done for medical reasons, unfortunately people are too ignorant to realize that. RIP, Dr. tiller, my heart goes out to your family.
I feel torn constantly - I am anti-abortion as a basic principle, but pro-choice.
I feel that if you have sex, you have to accept the responsibility that comes with it. The logical part of my brain says "making that kind of choice isn't easy and IS taking responsibility". There's a part of me that still sees it as taking a life.
However, BOTH parts of me agree that it is ultimately the woman who lives with it.
Before I got pregnant, I always thought that if I got pregnant with a child who was severely disabled, I would abort simply because I feel if we know that the child will have a low-quality of life, it's unethical to bring that child into the world. Now that I'm pregnant? I'm not so sure anymore.
Shoes. Walk in them. It's amazing what it does.
All that said: Killing someone because you don't agree with killing people? Absolutely insane. I hope that guy is put in prison for life.
I actually had a similar feeling to what you described in your post about your D&C. As I was waiting for my first miscarriage to end, I felt so wronged and wanted nothing more than for it not to be true. And I thought about women who are pregnant with an unplanned pregnancy must feel like... and I finally had some understanding of what that must be like. The heartache, the desperation.
Anyway, it doesn't matter what you feelings on any issue are, it's never ok to kill someone in cold blood. I think that's something we should all agree on.
Julie,
May I have permission to copy/paste your entry (with full credit)?
Amen. Let's leave each woman to her own choice, each supporter or opponent to their own opinions, and everyone can someday face the consequences with his or her Maker---not at the hands of some crazy vigilante.
I cried yesterday when I read about the murder of Dr. Tiller. Thank you for this post.
For me, the issue isn't even abortion anymore. The problem here is that we have a group of Americans, namely those who identify themselves as Christian right-wing, who use inflammatory rhetoric and inspire certain of their number to take violent actions to make a political point. That's plain old terrorism. It's no different from militant Islamist organizations that preach about killing the infidels.
The underlying cause might be abortion, today. But tomorrow it could just as easily be something different. They won't stop because they want nothing more than to have their theology become law.
It is time for peace-loving Americans, and especially Christians, to speak out against these right-wing organizations that associate themselves with faith. It is the only way to shut them down.
Thanks for this post and thanks to many of your commentors who have provided much insight.
I will never understand why some people think their personal-religious values should become mine. Why shoud your religion be legislated? Don't believe in abortion...then don't have one. Simple. I guess I'm just not a fanatic...and if you think your religious values should be legislated then yes, I am think your are fanatical.
I also don't get being torn. I would not have an abortion by choice (life/death health issues aside). But just becasue I would not choose to have an abortion (and never say never...you don't know what kind of messed-up situations life can throw your way) I do not expect other people to share my values. I'm not "torn". I am pro-choice even if I choose not to have an abortion.
Terrorism, regardless of the cause, is abhorrent and must be denounced and fought.
Thank you for this beautifully written post and for introducing me to Medical Students for Choice. Because of you I have been able to back up my fervent abstract support of their purpose with a concrete donation. RIP Dr. Tiller.
After 4 miscarriages and in the midst of praying that pregnancy #5 grows, I'm surprised to find that I'm even more pro-choice than ever. Maybe I'm just too stubborn to change my political views or maybe I am just all too aware of the cold hard fact that all pregnancies don't end with babies. Whatever the reason, I don't understand how anyone can justify killing this man in the name of Life.