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.
Was the abortion issue cover and the images of aborted babies in that issue in good taste?
From the perspective of the pro-life contigent, I would say, “yes,” seeing as every graphic in that issue was source material from abortion doctors. There was nothing light, airy or playful about the handling of the issue – from the conservative point of view, babies are essentially being disposed of like waste. From the liberal point of view, abortion as a legalized entity saves desperate women from the threat of harm through back-alley abortions, to discuss the cover. So the cover art, and supplementary medical photos were, in fact, demonstrative of the greater issue at hand.
To the contrary, the use of the word “celebration” in the same sentence as “abortion” is quite opposite, I would think.
I can’t decide if Willy Thode finally had a legitimate opinion on something or if it was just fluff question given to Trevor considering he responded less than ten minutes later. Of course the issue cover and images were not in good taste. The images were there distract readers from the actual discussion and debate by causing an emotional reaction because “THEY ARE SHAPED LIKE ME.”
Thom, that was not a fluff question. As someone with an article surrounded by those pictures, I has skin in the game.
And nice back-hand of a compliment.
Perhaps the British would feel the same way about the 4th of July. The historical victory for a woman’s right to choose is a legitimate cause for celebration, whether you like the Supreme Court’s decision or not.
While I did not personally attend the Roe v. Wade party, I highly doubt that celebrations included fetus-shaped balloons or M&Ms designed to look like the Plan B contraceptive.
If one’s delicate sensitivities are offended by such a celebration, maybe one’s sensitivities should be a little less delicate.
In Liberty,
Carl Mitchell