(no subject)

[rozk]

Gakked from tsubaki_ny this piece from Rolling Stone documents the tactics being used by Operation Rescue against Tiller's clinic and its staff. Tiller's killer was part of this sub-culture; what worries me, though, is that I can imagine similar tactics being used by anti-abortion fanatics in this country as well as in the US. My admiration for people who stand up to this sort of bullying knows no bounds.

Some while ago, I had a row with some of my animal rights supporting friends and said that the tactics they approve of against fox-hunters or vivisectionists could be turned against minorities or pro-choice forces any time. I fear I was right - Operation Rescue have moved on from picketing clinics.

Comments

[rozk.livejournal.com]

Oh, come on. We are talking about an emotive and distorted view of what a nurse or receptionist in an abortion clinic is doing, about a crowd of people turning up in a suburban street to yell at people.

And do not forget that the sort of anti-abortionist who does this is perfectly capable of turning up in your street or mine to express to our neighbours their anger with us for the things about us they happen not to like - our sex lives or my blasphemous novel or whatever.

[hamsterine.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't you take to any relevant street and yell if you thought an issue was really, really important? I would, if I thought it would actually do some good.

It certainly is upsetting when people yell at me in the street for being or doing something they don't like. However, that's ultimately a price I'm willing to pay in order to live in a place where we have relative freedom of speach. Happily, one is equally entitled to yell back :)