Every time I write a new blog, it engenders a lot of conversation. Indeed, it seems that lately there are more and more people responding to my stuff and, honestly, my head starts spinning as I try to keep up with the threads and the incessant questioning. You see, for the most part we have one anti-abortion person who is gutsy enough to put himself out there and to respond as well as he can to the numerous questions posed by those who support abortion rights. But over the last week or so, a question has been posed that I want to highlight today.
It seems that this anti-abortion activist spends a lot of time protesting at various clinics in the Allentown/Reading area of Pennsylvania. He also, however, spends every third Sunday of the month standing in front of the house of a young woman who is the Director of the Allentown Women’s Center. I don’t know exactly what this guy does outside the house, but I picture him holding some kind of sign designed to bring attention to her neighbors that she works in an abortion clinic. Now, let’s think about this…
First, there is a very good chance that her neighbors already know that she works at a clinic. Indeed, in my experience most abortion clinic workers, owners and doctors usually tell their neighbors about their work, especially if they are expecting some kind of protest. Generally, the neighbors react very well, no matter what their position on abortion. While they may not support abortion rights, they also do not want their neighborhood disrupted, especially if someone is holding up an ugly or graphic sign.
Second, and perhaps most important to me, is the question of what does this anti-abortion activist expect to accomplish? His ultimate goal, his lifelong dream, is to stop “the American Holocaust,” to “save babies.” Fair enough. That’s his right and, indeed, I defend his right to be outside someone’s house in protest.
But let’s take this scenario a step further. Let’s say that this person succeeds and one morning the young woman announces that she cannot take it anymore and that she is leaving the clinic. Praise Jesus! The protestor has succeeded!
Upon hearing the news, the owner of the clinic gets very upset. After all, the young woman has been at the Allentown Women’s Center for many years, has done a lot of good work, has helped thousands of women in need. She has been a voice not just for the clinic but for national abortion rights groups as well. She will be sorely missed. The going away party will be a sad occasion.
And minutes after the clinic owner gets the word, he or she will put the word out that the Allentown Women’s Center is looking for a new Director. Within a month or so (perhaps shorter in this economic climate), the owner will find a new person to run the clinic. During this time, however, the assistant director will take up much of the load or the owner might even come in and help out. Meanwhile, the patients will have no idea that the young woman has left. They really don’t care, to tell you the truth. And the number of patients that use the clinic in a regular basis will not be affected at all. In other words, NO BABIES WILL BE SAVED. The protestor will not be one step closer to his goal.
So, exactly why is this person standing outside of this young woman’s house?