Two protests, one bench

“They sit there and pray for people affected by abortion.”

Which they could do at home or in their church, God has pretty good coverage, much like Telstra, and can pick up your signals from anywhere…. so they say.

“I’ve never seen them be loud or obnoxious to anyone around.”

Some people may find being prayed for obnoxious (I know I do) and under the circumstances of what may be a traumatic experience the religious group and their prayer vigil may increase this stress and trauma.

#40. “intentionally make anyone “uncomfortable” by our presence”

Hogwash! I think that sounds dubious and to me shows a lack of empathy for others.

chewy14 said :

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Couldn’t come up with a rational argument in support of pro-choice, so went the ad hominem, huh? How’s that working out for you?

Funnily enough, I don’t think a bunch of people arguing on the internet is more obnoxious than a group attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society. Anyone who thinks that way, IMHO, has some pretty serious mental issues.

Jim,
other than your strawman descriptions of these religious people and their beliefs, can you explain how they people are trying to enforce their religious views on the rest of society?
They sit there and pray for people affected by abortion. I’ve never seen them be loud or obnoxious to anyone around. If anything, the pro-choice people have brought more attention to them and their protest.
Abortion is a moral issue and there are legitimate arguments as to where life begins and whether we should allow abortions. I personally would fall just on the side of allowing choice but to denigrate these people because they have a different belief than you is childish.

+1. Having a small group of oldies saying a quiet prayer is hardly the stereotypical crusader.

Wow, that really is pro-life campaigning Canberra-style. Things like these just enforce the view that Canberra has no soul, if even the pro-life campaigners don’t seem to show any real passion!

“We have available for anyone to take, reliable informative literature concerning the adverse health risks associated with abortion.”

Talk about someone downplaying their convictions.

I would implore rioters to offer these statements to the anti-abortioni protestors politely if you happen to walk past:

“Abortion means the kid won’t need to worry about a Priest…”

“Prayer for all the people hurt by abortion? What about the crusades, the kiddie fiddlers and the knows best for aborigines policy?”

Or how about “Why is it that a rapist can gain absolution by holding some beads and hailing Mary but a woman who has a child resulting from that rape is the one forced to endure what follows?”

If you can work AIDS in Africa and Galileo into it, that’s good too.

bryansworld said :

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

Do you honestly think 2 random people on the street is going to make you feel guilty? they don’t even know if you’ve terminated or not. And they’re hardly “imposing their views on you”. It’s two old guys, silently standing there, with a small A3 sign thats hard to read.. oh better call the riot police.

Skidbladnir said :

shadow boxer said :

“Religion” and “rational” are mutually exclusive,

I’m going to guess you’ve never tried to argue with a Jesuit. Seriously, its the possibly most fun you will ever have while debating.

debating en masse, i assume you mean?

Veritity said :

For those who have read the message of ‘professorpitts’ on 12th August when advertising the pro-choice rally but have not witnessed the prayer vigil that appears to be the object of this rally, I would like to correct the untruthful assertions made therein.
As one who has been associated with this prayer vigil of at least ten years, I can truthfully state that we do not hand out “anti-abortion propaganda”, in fact we do not hand out anything. We have available for anyone to take, reliable informative literature concerning the adverse health risks associated with abortion. We do not spread “religious paraphernalia around the entrance to the Health Building”. We do display some religious images and some small placards around the Health Building signage that is some distance from the entrance. We do not ” heckle passers-by” or intentionally make anyone “uncomfortable” by our presence. We do not approach anyone, but will talk to anyone who wishes to engage in a rational discussion.
Our presence over the years has been tolerated by both the Police and the Building Management. We have been directed not to impede pedestrian traffic not impinge upon the building footprint. These directions we accept and respect.
We respect the right of anyone to publicaly express their views but we do object to falsehoods being spread about how we express our views.

Thanks for the reasonable comment on your protest. Perhaps some other commenters here should re-read their own comments in this thread and then take a leaf out of your book.

Veritity said :

For those who have read the message of ‘professorpitts’ on 12th August when advertising the pro-choice rally but have not witnessed the prayer vigil that appears to be the object of this rally, I would like to correct the untruthful assertions made therein.
As one who has been associated with this prayer vigil of at least ten years, I can truthfully state that we do not hand out “anti-abortion propaganda”, in fact we do not hand out anything. We have available for anyone to take, reliable informative literature concerning the adverse health risks associated with abortion. We do not spread “religious paraphernalia around the entrance to the Health Building”. We do display some religious images and some small placards around the Health Building signage that is some distance from the entrance. We do not ” heckle passers-by” or intentionally make anyone “uncomfortable” by our presence. We do not approach anyone, but will talk to anyone who wishes to engage in a rational discussion.
Our presence over the years has been tolerated by both the Police and the Building Management. We have been directed not to impede pedestrian traffic not impinge upon the building footprint. These directions we accept and respect.
We respect the right of anyone to publicaly express their views but we do object to falsehoods being spread about how we express our views.

Veritity, I applaud your courage.

Keep standing up for what you believe in and ignore all the intolerant nonsense that will no doubt be directed your way as a result of your post.

For those who have read the message of ‘professorpitts’ on 12th August when advertising the pro-choice rally but have not witnessed the prayer vigil that appears to be the object of this rally, I would like to correct the untruthful assertions made therein.
As one who has been associated with this prayer vigil of at least ten years, I can truthfully state that we do not hand out “anti-abortion propaganda”, in fact we do not hand out anything. We have available for anyone to take, reliable informative literature concerning the adverse health risks associated with abortion. We do not spread “religious paraphernalia around the entrance to the Health Building”. We do display some religious images and some small placards around the Health Building signage that is some distance from the entrance. We do not ” heckle passers-by” or intentionally make anyone “uncomfortable” by our presence. We do not approach anyone, but will talk to anyone who wishes to engage in a rational discussion.
Our presence over the years has been tolerated by both the Police and the Building Management. We have been directed not to impede pedestrian traffic not impinge upon the building footprint. These directions we accept and respect.
We respect the right of anyone to publicaly express their views but we do object to falsehoods being spread about how we express our views.

sarahsarah said :

the title of this post cracked me up.

+1

I think it’s great that we finally have some balance in the views outside the health building on Fridays – an interesting photo and it demonstrates the extreme age difference between the two camps – apart from a bloke in a motorised wheelchair I have never seen anyone aged less than around 70 years old in the pro-life camp.

The clinic has been there for at least 10 years, but as has been said having many health services means that its customers can’t be targetted as such – they may just be going to get a coffee from the cafe inside.

shadow boxer said :

You should see the breast feeding zealots move in after after the birth, they make the anti-abortion people look like puppy dogs.

great comment!

s-s-a said :

Plus, they’re outside the Health Dept building and last time I checked, that’s not where one would go for an abortion

You might want to check again.

If someone I knew was visiting there for that purpose, I would suggest they enter the building through the side entrance in the lane. And offer to go with them for support.

I am glad though that a variety of health service providers and other functions also occupy this building, since if it were an abortion clinic only then the protestors would be likely to harrass every woman between 15-55 entering the building. I am in that age bracket and have had cause to visit that building for four different purposes in the last year or two, none of which have anything to do with pregnancy termination.

Just googled. There’s the ‘Dr Marie centre’ in that building offering abortion services indeed. Well blow me down! Haven’t had any reason to check fortunately. But if I were to go into that building for an abortion, I would feel somewhat intimidated regardless of how low-key the protest was.

Nevertheless, I do think they are entitled to their opinion.

Plus, they’re outside the Health Dept building and last time I checked, that’s not where one would go for an abortion

You might want to check again.

If someone I knew was visiting there for that purpose, I would suggest they enter the building through the side entrance in the lane. And offer to go with them for support.

I am glad though that a variety of health service providers and other functions also occupy this building, since if it were an abortion clinic only then the protestors would be likely to harrass every woman between 15-55 entering the building. I am in that age bracket and have had cause to visit that building for four different purposes in the last year or two, none of which have anything to do with pregnancy termination.

Jim Jones said :

Funnily enough, I don’t think a bunch of people arguing on the internet is more obnoxious than a group attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society. Anyone who thinks that way, IMHO, has some pretty serious mental issues.

So people aren’t allowed to have their own opinion of something? Just because it’s different from your opinion, it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. The only one arguing obnoxiously here is you mate, I get the feeling your the posterboy of a ‘keyboard warrior’.

I don’t really expect a rational response to this – you’ll either attack me personally, try to lump me in with others you don’t agree with, or pretend to ignore this comment altogether and make some off the cuff remark about it in reply to someone else’s post to make it look like you are banding together with others.

In the meantime, dwell on the fact that those people with ‘serious mental issues’ who are ‘attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society’ have the same voting rights as you do. Your opinion isn’t worth any more than theirs. Because there are more of them than you, one might even suggest that their opinion is more valid because it represents more than one voter’s opinion. That is assuming that everyone else who disagrees with their opinion (such as myself) does so in a rational way, which is how nearly every other comment in this thread has approached this issue.

But hey – rational debate and intelligent comments aren’t really accepted on the internet, so perhaps just disregard everything I’ve said and continue to make yourself look like a tool. Have a good weekend 🙂

shadow boxer said :

“Religion” and “rational” are mutually exclusive,

I’m going to guess you’ve never tried to argue with a Jesuit. Seriously, its the possibly most fun you will ever have while debating.

shadow boxer said :

“Religion” and “rational” are mutually exclusive,

Better watch out or the “Oooh, you’re a closed-minded bigot rah rah rah” crowd will get you with their withering repartee.

“Religion” and “rational” are mutually exclusive,

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Couldn’t come up with a rational argument in support of pro-choice, so went the ad hominem, huh? How’s that working out for you?

Funnily enough, I don’t think a bunch of people arguing on the internet is more obnoxious than a group attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society. Anyone who thinks that way, IMHO, has some pretty serious mental issues.

Why would I want to argue a point? So you can make yourself feel clever with your cries of “medieval”, or claims of “mental issues” for people who think differently than you? All the rational arguments in the world are wasted when they are presented to individuals like yourself. You hide your ignorance, and pitiful intolerance for different beliefs, behind the guise of being open-minded and progressive. In reality, you’re just as close minded and bigoted as any of the people you criticise. I’d ask you how that’s working out for you, but it’s pathetically obvious.

Jim Jones said :

Mysteryman said :

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Couldn’t come up with a rational argument in support of pro-choice, so went the ad hominem, huh? How’s that working out for you?

Funnily enough, I don’t think a bunch of people arguing on the internet is more obnoxious than a group attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society. Anyone who thinks that way, IMHO, has some pretty serious mental issues.

Jim,
other than your strawman descriptions of these religious people and their beliefs, can you explain how they people are trying to enforce their religious views on the rest of society?
They sit there and pray for people affected by abortion. I’ve never seen them be loud or obnoxious to anyone around. If anything, the pro-choice people have brought more attention to them and their protest.
Abortion is a moral issue and there are legitimate arguments as to where life begins and whether we should allow abortions. I personally would fall just on the side of allowing choice but to denigrate these people because they have a different belief than you is childish.

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

Does terminating a pregnancy have to be traumatic and emotional? Does it cause imbalance of hormones in your body causing bad mood swings or something??

Mysteryman said :

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Couldn’t come up with a rational argument in support of pro-choice, so went the ad hominem, huh? How’s that working out for you?

Funnily enough, I don’t think a bunch of people arguing on the internet is more obnoxious than a group attempting to enforce their medieval religious point of view on the rest of society. Anyone who thinks that way, IMHO, has some pretty serious mental issues.

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

You should see the breast feeding zealots move in after after the birth, they make the anti-abortion people look like puppy dogs.

Mysteryman said :

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Asking to be left alone and forcing one’s views down another’s throat aren’t really the same thing.

chewy14 said :

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

How are they imposing their views on you and how did they try and make people feel guilty?
Have they force anyone not to have an abortion?
Just because they disagree with you doesn’t make them moronic bigots and as far as I’ve seen both protests have been fairly well behaved.

Plus, they’re outside the Health Dept building and last time I checked, that’s not where one would go for an abortion.

The Secretary said :

Be thankful that we live in a country where it is legal to have an abortion AND to protest about the pros/cons of the issue.

Extra special thanks that no one has brought firearms into the equation…

JB chasing them off with his juiced-up Nerf gun?

Be thankful that we live in a country where it is legal to have an abortion AND to protest about the pros/cons of the issue.

Extra special thanks that no one has brought firearms into the equation…

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

How are they imposing their views on you and how did they try and make people feel guilty?
Have they force anyone not to have an abortion?
Just because they disagree with you doesn’t make them moronic bigots and as far as I’ve seen both protests have been fairly well behaved.

I find protests like the ones pictured to be far less obnoxious and ignorant than the idiotic comments posted in threads like this.

I also find it ironic that the people bitching about “god botherers” trying to force their agenda are usually the loudest and most arrogant when it comes to pushing their own views on everyone else – as clearly evident in this thread.

Well done, everyone.

Brandi said :

China? Plenty of abortions there, and Russia too. Likely less repressive than Australia currently is when it comes to choice and family planning.

China birth rate is ~20 million, abortions 13 million, abortion pills 10 million sold, per annum.

But I agree, the anti-abortion lobby can f*** off back to Mississippi.

Not sure you could say China’s less repressive, ever heard of the one child policy?

Jim Jones said :

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

+1

+2

Demanding you take the post down? :\ Good grief.

Also: not going to lie, the title of this post cracked me up.

johnboy said :

Not yet Damien.

Please, please publish!

I’m sure Rioters will treat the authors with the gentle good humor this site is known for!

bryansworld said :

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

+1

Henry82 said :

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

I care. Terminating a pregnancy is traumatic and emotional enough without some moronic bigots trying to impose their views on you and trying to make you feel guilty.

Who cares? – Just let the 2 old people protest. it gives them exercise and vitamin D

China? Plenty of abortions there, and Russia too. Likely less repressive than Australia currently is when it comes to choice and family planning.

China birth rate is ~20 million, abortions 13 million, abortion pills 10 million sold, per annum.

But I agree, the anti-abortion lobby can f*** off back to Mississippi.

DUB #10

You mean Russia and China (who have reputations for having repressive regimes whether or not it is actually true they have repression?) are actually as free as Australia and others in the “free world” where you at least have the right to choose what happens to your own body without prejudice?

Anyway back on topic, indeed — rape is the most aggravating circumstance that calls for the most protection for the individual to make her own choice to get rid of the waste matter that has formed as a result of the rape, otherwise it’s like denying someone the right to go to the toilet because what comes out is considered also to have “rights”, like the bacteria’s “right to life.”

Mr Gillespie said :

Religious fascists can f*** off back to Russia or China or some other repressed regime and go “pray” there, for their own “rights”. They aren’t welcome here.

Abortion is nobody else’s business but the woman having the operation in question.

Lol, both countries mentioned have no strong religion followers, may I add more-I have lived and worked in BOTH countries mentioned.Shows your knowledge, Mr. G.
However, I will agree with you on the point of “nobody else’s business”- what if a woman was raped and does not want child?These protesters seem narrow-minded to me.

Religious fascists can f*** off back to Russia or China or some other repressed regime and go “pray” there, for their own “rights”. They aren’t welcome here.

Abortion is nobody else’s business but the woman having the operation in question.

Jim Jones said :

A bunch of old god-botherers who want to remove freedom of choice and return us to “the good old days” when women died of internal haemorrhaging after botched backyard abortions.

Bill Hicks said it best: “You know, and even amongst my friends – we’re all highly intelligent – they’re totally divided on the issue of abortion. Totally divided. Some of my friends think these pro-life people are just annoying idiots. Other of my friends think these pro-life people are evil f%^ks. How are we gonna have a consensus? I’m torn. I try and take the broad view and think of them as evil, annoying f****.”

Your post is both funny and original.

…pro and anti abortionists…

You can’t anti-abort, and while they’re against abortions and support the concept that fetuses may have rights, they havent gone so far as to be openly against abortionists.
And the side which supports abortion are not “Everybody must have an abortion” as much as supportive of women\couples having options from which to choose.

Whatever label you want to put on either group depends on your reference frame, but the ones you’ve used above managed to misrepresent both sides.

Bill Hicks FTW

A bunch of old god-botherers who want to remove freedom of choice and return us to “the good old days” when women died of internal haemorrhaging after botched backyard abortions.

Bill Hicks said it best: “You know, and even amongst my friends – we’re all highly intelligent – they’re totally divided on the issue of abortion. Totally divided. Some of my friends think these pro-life people are just annoying idiots. Other of my friends think these pro-life people are evil f%^ks. How are we gonna have a consensus? I’m torn. I try and take the broad view and think of them as evil, annoying f****.”

What were the reasons given for wanting these articles removed?

Not yet Damien.

“RiotACT can also report we’ve started getting emails, from the anti side, demanding we remove stories relating to this issue.”

Publish them.