It’s not often that I find something on campus so disturbing that I have to stop and think about it.  I’m not *that* type of conservative…

…oh come on.  You know what I mean – I’m not of the book-burning, poster-tearing, art-vandalizing ilk.  I believe that if something warrants such action, it’s worthy of discussion, and when someone tears/burns/vandalizes something, they’re trying to *stop* that discussion – liberals and conservatives alike.

These touchy issues – the ones that stop a dinner conversation or casual dialogue and make things “parents-having-sex” awkward, are the ones that deserve a proper forum.   With regard to abortion, I feel that I cannot be alone when I state that a party is certainly not that forum.

Abortion Party

So it goes that when I stumbled onto this sign several days ago (mind you, it’s still hanging on – no one, not even OneSource, has removed it), I was taken aback.  Surely even a pro-choice individual understands the complexities of an issue like abortion deserve more respect than… a party?

Now – my pro-choice friends, I can already predict your response.  ”But… it says Roe v. Wade Anniv. Party.”  Like that makes any difference…  Roe v. Wade was more than a trial – it was a woman, and her difficult decision.  Regardless of where one stands on that decision, it was a sobering one, evocative of (on the left) coat hangers, bloodied sketchy abortionists operating out of dark hotel rooms and alleyways.  On the right, it conjures images of tiny hands and feet, barely the size of a quarter, but still in the image of an unborn life.

I’m not trying to start an abortion debate right here, right now.  This isn’t about abortion rights, this is about good taste – class, decency, and understanding.  All traits that the host or hosts of this “party” certainly lack.

UPDATE: As it turns out, Lehigh’s own Women’s Center was behind this affair. Issues of political neutrality and teal and purple stars aside, this evidence only furthers my conviction that those who claim to speak for women’s rights and women’s issues at Lehigh have a cavernous disconnect from reality. Even Muhlenburg faculty who declined the invitation on Facebook noted that students should “celebrate for me.” Celebrate? Absolutely disgusting… Note that Don Cunningham was on the guest list.

Event Sponsored in part by Lehigh Women's Center

Regrets from Muhlenberg faculty member Peter Pettit

Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningam was invited.