SydLexia.com - The Forums :: View topic - So there was a massive abortion protest on campus today...

Posted: Feb 23 2009 06:47 pm

I got up for my noon class, and I'm walking to it when I see a sign that says "WARNING: Graphic Photos Ahead!" Now, with a title like that, I can't pass it up, so I walk a few feet ahead to see a GIGANTIC tower with a ton of huge photos of abortions and dead babies. I went over to take a closer look, and see a bunch of signs comparing people who get abortions to Hitler. It's a massive Pro-Life rally, and there are people with megaphones yelling at people. They were passing a mic around, inviting people to share their opinion, and if I wasn't late for class, I would have loved to grab the mic and say 'I got something to say..." and then start singing the Misfit's "Last Caress" (look it up). But I had to get to class, and by the time I went back, they'd retired the mic, but they still had "Free Speech Boards" with a bunch of stuff on them. The whole thing was pretty obnoxious, and, while they did warn us beforehand, this whole mess was pretty much unavoidable, as they did this right in the center of campus, so you couldn't avoid seeing aborted fetuses if you tried.
The worst part of this was that it was right near our Cafe, so it pretty much killed everyone's appetite for the day.
Anyone else had this happen at their school/campus? Or any other outrageous protest stories?

Posted: Feb 23 2009 06:50 pm

Never had that happen to me.

I am pro life, but I think it's disgusting how people have to cram their beliefs and valves down everybody's throats.

If it were me, I'd get a microphone and start yelling how abortion is awesome, just to piss everybody off.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 06:56 pm

No, and I hope I don't because they are obnoxious. I have my beliefs but you won't see me leading protests or even joining in on them because no matter my view I don't feel it's right to force it on those with differing opinions.

I myself am pro-choice, I would have had a thing or two to say as well. I would have been horrible and unbelievably offensive, not because I believe abortion is right but because these people force there beliefs on to others who are just trying to go about there day.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 06:56 pm

DarknessDeku wrote:

Never had that happen to me.

I am pro life, but I think it's disgusting how people have to cram their beliefs and valves down everybody's throats.

If it were me, I'd get a microphone and start yelling how abortion is awesome, just to piss everybody off.

With regard to abortion, I see both sides. I do say adoption the better choice in most cases save for rape or incest, but I can't really tell a woman that she has to go through with having a baby. Childbirth is a pretty big deal, after all. I will say, I'm a guy who doesn't intend on having kids, so it's not that big of an issue for me anyway.
And this is college, most people would cheer you on if you did that. Twisted Evil

Posted: Feb 23 2009 06:59 pm

Don't make rallies about some-

Okay, don't make rallies and force your opinions on someone else. It's fine to make rallies about abortion (I guess) but with all those stupid baby pictures and that microphone thing, that's annoying and obnoxious.

Joined: Sep 22 2008 Posts: 289

I swear that I'm the only person in the world who doesn't give a shit about abortion.

But yeah, those dead baby pictures are fucking disgusting. They still don't do a damn thing to sway my opinion.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 07:25 pm

...
Well regardless of class lateness, I would have fucked with them. Not because of my stance on the issue, but because they have the mindset that just because they think something they can fuck with other people in a place of learning and free thinking.

Sigh. And I will put down $100 saying that the leader is not only a unflinching wannabe christian woman, but probably ugly and rather large and mannish. Just in my personal experience, people who organize these things all look like that.

And furthermore, I'd punch her. And then get the shit beaten out of me and possibly die. BUT I'D DO IT FOR FUCKING WITH MY DAY!

And my buddy is head of some Palestinian protest group. He is popular enough in that circle they gave him the title of "Honorary Palestinian," He's got a plaque and everything. So I've gone with him to things. I am normally fine with peaceful, courteous ones. If they get nuts like that one... I get upset.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 07:28 pm

SevereFlame wrote:

Don't make rallies about some-

Okay, don't make rallies and force your opinions on someone else. It's fine to make rallies about abortion (I guess) but with all those stupid baby pictures and that microphone thing, that's annoying and obnoxious.

Do rallies and protests really do anything at all (aside from worker strikes and things of the sort)? I can understand trying to create awareness in regards to some overlooked issues. But for larger issues such as abortion, I'm assuming most people alreay have their minds made up. I would think that all a large rally would do is get people who are already sympathetic to the cause riled up and piss off those who oppose the cause.

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

I remember in the wake of 9/11, a student group entitled NOWAR or something arose at NU, and protested the Afghan war in very loud, annoying ways. The noise level actually interrupted some of my classes. I remember one protester was in a weird Uncle Sam outfit on stilts. If I had more time, I would have yelled at them or given them the finger, but I was always rushing to class or the protest crowd wasn't in my direct path.

I did find it funny that all the members were Arab. Seemed like they had a natural bias.

Regarding abortion, I've seen those posters along Lake Shore Drive while I'm driving occasionally. Very horrific, and I hate seeing the damn things. I don't like it, but the point is to shock people into realizing what is going on with abortions and what they entail.

Still, annoying as all hell though.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 07:44 pm

I don't know what pisses me off more. Women who spit out a new baby every nine months just to see how much money they can squeeze out of the government, or women who just trollop around town and keep getting knocked up without thinking twice because they can just get it "taken care of".

They should put a limit on both.

"You just gave birth to your 8th kid. Eight is enough. You will have to get your tubes tied."

"I'm sorry, you have used up all of your abortions for this lifetime. You will have to get your tubes tied."

Posted: Feb 23 2009 07:51 pm

That dead baby thing is disgusting. That's like putting up huge posters with pictures of shit, and saying "This is shit! You make it when you eat! Don't eat!"

Joined: Apr 14 2006 Location: Lake Michigan Posts: 3332

While that's funny, it's not a good analogy. Abortions are elective, bowel movements are not. And I don't think dead babies should be put in the same category as fecal matter.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 08:10 pm

If any tries to tell you that life begins at conception, ask them if they believe in the bible. If they do, point them to Leviticus 17:14.

"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life."

Fetuses don't have blood until week 5 or 6.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 08:47 pm

Valdronius wrote:

If any tries to tell you that life begins at conception, ask them if they believe in the bible. If they do, point them to Leviticus 17:14.

"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life."

Fetuses don't have blood until week 5 or 6.

ZAM!!!

Posted: Feb 23 2009 09:01 pm

What really pissed me off is that these people had brought their kids, some as young as three (guessing there). Would you bring your kid to an R-rated movie that had people getting dismembered? Ask them, they'd say no. Well, this was just as graphic. Fucking idiots.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 09:04 pm

Valdronius wrote:

If any tries to tell you that life begins at conception, ask them if they believe in the bible. If they do, point them to Leviticus 17:14.

"For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life."

Fetuses don't have blood until week 5 or 6.

That's a hell of a burn right there.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 09:28 pm

I for one welcome this. At most colleges, you get a leftist agenda crammed down your throat. I had an English teacher who mandated a fucking Howard Zinn lecture as part of the curriculum even though he's a "historian" and not a linguist. It's nice to see the tables turned for once.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 09:50 pm

Syd Lexia wrote:

I for one welcome this. At most colleges, you get a leftist agenda crammed down your throat. I had an English teacher who mandated a fucking Howard Zinn lecture as part of the curriculum even though he's a "historian" and not a linguist. It's nice to see the tables turned for once.

My point is not that the message was wrong, but the way they went about it presenting it was. Having building-sized posters of graphic images right near a student eating area, which is a significant area of campus that made the presentation unavoidable to most students, is just in bad taste. It would be the same if there were war protesters with pictures of dead soldiers in Iraq.
I do agree with professors forcing left-wing ideology on students is wrong, my English professor did that a fair amount. Even though I lean to the left, I still don't like forced ideology, be it from the left, right, or middle. I believe classes should be politically neutral.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 09:56 pm

Well Syd, I kind of agree. But damn it. Any form of protest where they shove shit down your throat is bad. Be it left, right, or even moderate!
I understand what protests are for and how they are run. But posting things like that and yelling loudly like that is not the way to go about it. A nice, organized, thought out and thoughtful protest goes along way, along with intelligent people giving thought out speeches highlighting points and discussing arguments in a rational way.

It doesn't happen ever. But still. That is the way to go about them. I don't care what you believe. I want to hit you when you call me names through a microphone.

Joined: Aug 24 2005 Location: Mount Holly, NJ Posts: 1062

Two come to mind:

1) Every week, a group of people from the surrounding community gather at the central intersection on campus holding up signs that say "Bring Our Troops Home," "No Blood for Oil," etc. That's all well and good, I suppose. There's one sign that really pisses me off when I see it though: "Honk for Peace." I have my own beliefs about the Iraq and Afghan wars, and have no problem with protests against them. But implying that you are actually doing of substance by having people honk for peace is retarded. You want to bring the troops home? Write your Congressman or go march on Washington. It's lazy and probably altogether pointless to protest a cause where 98% of the community agrees with you anyway.

2) Saw a protest in favor of a Palestinian state during the Israel-Hamas war a few weeks ago. People waving a large Palestinian flag, passing around a mic saying what they think about it. Again, that's all well and good, but a lot of the stuff I heard was pretty ill-informed.

I guess the trend here is that I don't give a crap what people protest for or against as long as they're educated about it, which more often than not, isn't the case.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 10:17 pm

Kubo wrote:

Two come to mind:

1) Every week, a group of people from the surrounding community gather at the central intersection on campus holding up signs that say "Bring Our Troops Home," "No Blood for Oil," etc. That's all well and good, I suppose. There's one sign that really pisses me off when I see it though: "Honk for Peace." I have my own beliefs about the Iraq and Afghan wars, and have no problem with protests against them. But implying that you are actually doing of substance by having people honk for peace is retarded. You want to bring the troops home? Write your Congressman or go march on Washington. It's lazy and probably altogether pointless to protest a cause where 98% of the community agrees with you anyway.

2) Saw a protest in favor of a Palestinian state during the Iraq-Hamas war a few weeks ago. People waving a large Palestinian flag, passing around a mic saying what they think about it. Again, that's all well and good, but a lot of the stuff I heard was pretty ill-informed.

I guess the trend here is that I don't give a crap what people protest for or against as long as they're educated about it, which more often than not, isn't the case.

Wasn't it Israel-Hammas? Just wondering because if I missed a conflict I have things to look up.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 10:48 pm

Yeah, protesters can be douchebags, especially the anti-abortion guys. That's nothing against their views, although I don't share them, but I worked in Balboa Park (a massive public park in San Diego) off and on for eight years, and we saw at least one major protest a month, and several small ones in between. Without a doubt, the pro-lifers were the most irritating, in your face, and violent.

A true story to illustrate: it was Earth Day in the park. While that should mean "lets educate people about recycling" or whatever, what it really becomes is "every group and asshole with an opinion get down to Balboa Park because their will be people their, bring giant boards and signs, and get into Hawk's way as much as humanly possible."

I fucking hated Earth Day.

Anyway, my second or third year working their on this day, its lunchtime to I leave the office to go grab some food. (If I had been smart I would have just brought it, but I didn't, hence this story.) So I'm walking down the street (which is closed to traffic on this day), and its chock FULL of people doing a pro-life thing. Which is normally fine, there were signs, but not even the gross ones that irritate me, so whatever. Problem is, this mass of people will NOT let me through. Not with several polite "excuse me"s, not with a "hey, do you mind if I get through," and not even with, "dude, let me through, I gotta get lunch and get back to work." (Keep in mind that this is a public thoroughfare for foot traffic, not a specified meeting or rally spot.) Finally I'm getting fed up and late, so I decide to just elbow through as lightly and non-confrontivly as I can. I'm making good headway (one of the joys of being really small), when this fucker grabs me by the arm and goes, "abortion is a sin against JESUS."

Me: yes, I'm sure it is. But I'm just gonna get some lunch. (at this point I pull my arm away. Fucker grabs me again)

Asshole: Do YOU believe its a sin?

Me: Stop grabbing me, now. I'm getting lunch, not thinking about this shit. I have to work.

Asshole: You CAN'T walk away from this!

Me: *starts to walk away*

At this point I see movement in his direction. I turn, thinking he's going to try and grab me again, and get my hand up just in time to stop the picket sign he was trying to whack me with from hitting my head. It wasn't heavy or anything, it couldn't have hurt me, but holy jesus it pissed me off. Since I had my hand on it from catching it, I yanked the thing out of his hands (he wasn't expecting it I don't think), and told him that if he tried to touch me again I'd shove the thing up his sanctimonious ass. (Probably wasn't a good idea to say that, but it sure felt good.) He didn't try to mess with me again, so I took the sign over to a group of cops who were trying to break the group up to make room anyway, and told them what happened. I don't think he got arrested or anything because I declined to file a report or anything, but yeah. Fucking weird experience. In retrospect I wish I had reported him, but I was like 17 and wanted lunch, so...*shrug*

Posted: Feb 23 2009 10:52 pm

I've had, um, negative experiences when discussing things like this with other people, so I'll try to be as neutral as possible when I voice my opinion:

This seems exactly like something that would be done at my school, but worse; at my school, the protesters would most likely surround a student who was known to be pregnant and having an abortion, and mob them with picket signs and expletives. I wouldn't condone people being loud and obnoxious about their opinions whether they supported or despised abortion.

Posted: Feb 23 2009 10:55 pm

Cameron wrote:

I've had, um, negative experiences when discussing things like this with other people, so I'll try to be as neutral as possible when I voice my opinion:

This seems exactly like something that would be done at my school, but worse; at my school, the protesters would most likely surround a student who was known to be pregnant and having an abortion, and mob them with picket signs and expletives. I wouldn't condone people being loud and obnoxious about their opinions whether they supported or despised abortion.

Yeah, I think we can all agree on that much. Who's given you shit for saying something that common sense?

Joined: Aug 24 2005 Location: Mount Holly, NJ Posts: 1062

anorexorcist wrote:

Wasn't it Israel-Hammas? Just wondering because if I missed a conflict I have things to look up.

You are correct, sir. That's my bad. I think I still had Iraq on the mind from my #1. In any event, I edited it with compliments to anarexorcist.