ABORTION PROTESTER:’WHY WE’RE THERE’
Cynthia Boaz’s letter, “To the pro-lifers on University
Avenue” (“Which Role Models?” The Mail, June 7)
deserves a response. As one who has been involved for 10 years in the effort to
reduce the number of abortions at Planned Parenthood on University Avenue, I
hope I can clear up some of her misconceptions about this activity. In doing
so, I don’t claim to have all the answers, nor do I claim to speak for everyone
involved in pro-life activities in Rochester.
Ms. Boaz objects to our signs, some of which show the
results of abortion at various stages. Unfortunately, we have to have the signs
to show the reality of abortion, because in this regard Planned Parenthood has
been less than forthcoming.
Women who have had abortions at Planned Parenthood have told
us that the staff did not show them any pictures of fetal development before
the abortion. Perhaps Planned Parenthood has since changed this policy. It is
difficult to understand how someone can make an informed choice without knowing
fully what is being chosen.
We are not trying to show these signs to children and often
turn the signs around if a child is walking nearby. However, some parents have
actually stopped their cars and asked us to show their children the signs so
that the children will know what abortion does to an unborn child.
Ms. Boaz accuses us of judging others. Actually, in asking
someone to reconsider a potential abortion, we are showing great respect for
the dignity of the mother and her child. We realize that in a moment of crisis
the abortion seems like a solution, but we’ve seen the evidence of what
abortion does, not only to the child but also to the mother.
Look up the “Silent No More” website at
www.silentnomoreawareness.org and read the testimonies of women who are speaking
up about their abortion experiences. We’ve had women and men thank us for being
there on the sidewalk as they share the pain of a now-regretted abortion
experience.
I should add here that I don’t think abortion is just a
woman’s issue, because often it is the father who is angry and regretful over
an abortion decision involving his child: a decision that he had no legal means
to stop.
The main purpose of our presence as pro-lifers is to offer
information. We give away at least 600 information packets a year. These
packets contain listings of doctors, pregnancy resources, post-abortion
counseling resources, and other information that Planned Parenthood chooses not
to offer.
We often are able to share this information with teenagers.
It is especially disturbing to see how many very young teenage girls without
their parents go to Planned Parenthood for birth control and sometimes
abortion. After leaving Planned Parenthood, these teens often stop to talk to
us on the sidewalk and hear from us a message of values, self-respect, and
self-control. Parents, be aware of where your teenagers are and what they are
doing, because if you don’t, Planned Parenthood will take your place, and you
may not like the results.
Finally, I encourage critics to come over and speak to us.
We respect those who disagree with us. Often we find that those who are most
angry about our presence as pro-lifers are those with a past unresolved
abortion experience. There is a path to healing for both women and men, but how
can it be found if so many keep pretending that abortion is nothing more than a
choice?
Rob Pokalsky, Five Mile Line Road, Penfield
AVOIDING ‘COLLAPSE’
Jared Diamond’s new book, “Collapse,” is not an easy read.
Although it is thorough and well written, it is extremely discomforting to see
how we are following the recipes for catastrophic failure that were followed by
the ancient peoples of Easter Island, the American southwest, Greenland, and
other cultures that disappeared entirely or were forced to abandon places that
had been their homes for centuries.
As the world’s supplies of trees, water, fish, and fertile
soil decline, an increasing population will put more pressure on the remaining
reserves. Booming economies and powerful armed forces will not save us;
Diamond’s historical record clearly shows that the richest were merely the last
to starve.
According to Diamond, there are two possible outcomes, one
of which our children will be alive to see: global environmental collapse,
followed by social and economic collapse, followed by chaos, unimaginable
suffering, even extinction — or coordinated global response to restoring and
managing resources, stabilizing population growth, and living at a comfortable
but significantly lower standard.
“Collapse” shows that not only has
the economy become global, but so have social and environmental problems, all
of which will eventually show up on our shores.
The good news is that Diamond believes that even though a
strong, coordinated effort could fail, the first scenario is not inevitable. He
believes that stocks of timber and fish can be restored and managed sustainably, and that farming can be done in a way that
does not ruin the soil.
The planet also has the most and best educated population it
ever has, informed by an amazing global communication network. We have the
ability to save the planet for our children and the children of other species.
All we need is the political will, the resolve to accept less so all will have
enough, and imagination.
What if the United States
did not spend half its federal budget on war? What if we did not waste half of
our scientists and engineers on military projects? What if two small families
shared one house, one car, and one computer?
What if six families shared one lawn mower, one snowblower, one pick-up truck or van? What if we all agreed
to work only 20 or 30 hours a week so that everyone could have a job?
What if we used our extra time to educate and mentor our own
children; grow some of our own food; create unique and beautiful clothing,
furniture, or art to be bartered among ourselves; plant trees; pedal bikes;
paddle streams….
Is it possible that a lifestyle of reduced consumption could
actually be more fun?
John Kastner, Ericsson Street,
Rochester
WRITING TO CITY
We welcome and encourage readers’ letters for publication.
Send them to: themail@rochester-citynews.com or The Mail, City Newspaper, 250
North Goodman Street, Rochester14607.
Our guidelines: We don’t publish anonymous letters — and
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publish letters that have been sent to other media — and we don’t publish form letters generated by activist groups. While
we don’t restrict length, letters of under 350 words
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brevity. And in general we don’t publish letters (or longer “op-ed” pieces)
from the same writer more often than about once every two months.
This article appears in Jul 5-11, 2006.
