Abortion protest on the street corner
I was stopped for a red light at an intersection this afternoon. The occasionally protesting anti abortion group was there, covering all four corners of the intersection holding signs up for me to read. I am always curious about their real purpose when I see them congregate. I am also amused by the other signs that manage to slip in with the main protest signs.
Most of the signs being held by these folks have to do with abortion and the right to life. Signs are held up and out for me to read along the lines of, “Abortion kills children”, written on them. Obvious I think to myself. I understand this is the purpose of abortion. The killing of a embryo which will ultimately develop into a child is what abortion is. It seems to me this point has been pretty well covered over the last thirty to forty years.
There are other signs proclaiming some common christian slogans, and some…, well I am not sure why they are there at all…Maybe their own separate protest within the bigger protest?
I often wonder why people have such strong feelings about an unborn fetus, and so little interest in the welfare of young children and adults already here on earth? While raising awareness about aborting a fetus is perhaps a noble aspiration, how about taking care of the children already here that are hungry, homeless, and on their way to starting a new cycle of poverty? Raising awareness on abortion and fetus’ will not change anything. Perhaps focusing on problems we can influence rather than a federal ruling is a better use of one’s time?
It is easy to take the high road sitting at home, with food, heat, and electricity. It is quite a different problem when life is not as generous. Standing on a street corner holding a sign is not giving too much. Donating your energy, time, and money to directly help people you would rather not have to deal with is where things get tough. Holding a sign on a street corner is akin to swatting at a fly with a piece of straw.
There are also further unspoken ramifications to this protest. Either a woman (or man) have the right to do to their own bodies what they wish, or they do not. Protesting abortion opens a number of avenues about an individual and their body beyond abortion, although no one supporting the right to life movement would ever knowingly utter that thought. The second amendment is an example of the problem of hidden agenda’s.
Either those anti abortion folks holding their signs at the intersection are blindly following their emotions and doing what feels like the right thing, or they want to employ control of an individuals access to his or her own body.
Only they know what their true motives are. To me, standing on a street corner holding a sign is not the best use of ones energies for any issue that creates passion. Get involved at the bottom and work on that level. Make a difference by directly becoming a part of the solution instead of sharing your view from afar.
