From: ak45ldp@Texaco.com (Larry D. Pyeatt)
Newsgroups: houston.general,tx.general,tx.politics
Subject: Re: Houston Defending Choice Coalition needs you
Date: 27 Aug 92 14:27:03 GMT
Distribution: tx
Organization: Texaco

In article <21408@rpp386.lonestar.org>, jfh@rpp386.lonestar.org (John F. Haugh II) writes:
|> 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.

Bullshit.  If the media were pro-choice, then they would not come a-runnin
to every demonstration that the anti-choicers have.  They could simply
ignore them and eventually they would go away.  If the media were pro-choice,
they would have mentioned that the anti-choicers were outnumbered by 
almost ten to one.  If the media were pro-choice, they would have shown
the violence.  You were not there.  The media is walking a fine line.
They are trying to be objective, but they are also concerned about offending
anyone.  Therefore, they sometimes leave out some of the facts.

|> 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.

When you can support your position with first-hand experience, please
let me know.

|> 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.

While I agree that OR is the least violent of the anti-choice group,
the rest of your argument is pure hogwash.  Where have you been living
for the past ten years?  Several clinics have been bombed.  Bones have
been broken, assault charges filed.  Your so-called non-violent protest
is nothing of the sort.  There are too many fanatics in that mob for
non-violence.  They, like their fathers before them are more than 
willing to do violence in the name of God.  If you ever get a chance to
go to one of these demonstrations, I urge you to do so.
( I don't mean to imply that *all* anti-choicers are violent )

|> 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.
|> -- 

Idiotic!  What gives them the stream of martyrs is their own violence!
They bomb clinics, assault clients, destroy property, and generally
make a nuisance of themselves.  When they break the law, they go to
jail.  Our job as clinic defenders was to minimise the number of martyrs.
we did that my minimizing the possibility of violence.  Just look at
the history of Christanity and you will see just how non-violent a 
true believer is. (sarcasm)

|> 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

-- 
Larry D. Pyeatt                 The views expressed here are not
Internet : pyeatt@texaco.com    those of my employer or of anyone
Voice    : (713) 975-4056       that I know of with the possible
                                exception of myself.
Xref: sparky houston.general:964 tx.general:661 tx.politics:4753