From: jfh@rpp386.lonestar.org (John F. Haugh II)
Newsgroups: houston.general,tx.general,tx.politics
Subject: Re: Houston Defending Choice Coalition needs you
Date: 26 Aug 92 02:07:25 GMT
Reply-To: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org (John F. Haugh II)
Distribution: tx
Organization: River Parishes Programming, Austin, Republic of Texas

In article <BtJt8v.G3K@rice.edu> gamble@owlnet.rice.edu (Ben Gamble) writes:
>That's okay, you wouldn't have seen the violence on the news anyway.
>It turns out that the only way to get the straight story is to go to
>the victims/eyewitnesses, who describe attackers:
>
>- headbutting defenders
>- stomping feet (this resulted in at least one broken toe last week)
>- charging lines at points of joined hands in attempt to break through
>- using usual assortment of kicks, elbows, etc., in the press of the
>  crowd
>- strapping a woman with cerebral palsy into a wheelchair and using
>  her as a battering ram (these people are SICK, folks) (actually the
>  woman was shown on channel 13, being nobly carried by an able-bodied
>  ally, but the wheelchair tactic was not)

It is very unlikely that what you are saying is true.  The popular
media is decidedly pro-abortion (Consider: CNBC, the NBC cable TV
network, discontinued the DeMoss Foundation pro-life spots after 100
workers signed a petition threatening to quit.  They tried the same
thing at Turner Broadcasting, but Ted realized he'd risk a scandal
if he caved in.).  If it could be shown that pro-life protesters
were acting violently, it would be front page news with 72pt
headlines.

Instead, we are stuck with the likes of you making up stories.  If
there is one thing that is true in the news media, it is that
violence sells.  But making up stories of violence doesn't mean that
violence is occuring.  It only means that the peaceful protests of
people you are opposed to aren't ``exciting'' enough to the people
you want to convert.

The heart and strength of non-violent protest, as practiced by
Operation Rescue, is showing that you are above the bully politics
practiced by your adversaries.  If people start making up stories
about you blowing up clinics, or attacking others, it means you
are having the desired effect - people are starting to see that you
have the kind of moral conviction that fadists lack.  The incredible
advantage that non-violent protest has over the violent kind is the
ability to produce martyrs that people can honestly relate to.  When
you start bashing peoples heads in with baseball bats and building
firebombs, you alienate all of the people who don't have a stomach
for violence.

You see, almost everyone can stomach peace.  But only a die-hard
fascist sees violence as the right means to an end.  In fact, it is
the ability of non-violent protest that enables Operation Rescue to
produce the never ending stream of martyrs.  Which is why I am so
opposed to their actions.  They have prostituted non-violence the
same way that Democrats prostitute charity.
-- 
John F. Haugh II                   | "The US Government has the Midas Muffler
Ma Bell: (512) 251-2151            |  touch: everything they touch turns to
UUCP: ...!cs.utexas.edu!rpp386!jfh |  shit."
Domain: jfh@rpp386.cactus.org      |                  -- Jay Maynard
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