To think men have no right to stand outside abortion clinics and do this.

[QuestioningStuff]

Posted before about my pregnancy. I am having a termination today. This is not a decision I've made lightly.

I've arrived at the clinic and there is a middle aged man and his young teen son standing outside with camp chairs and flasks. Putting up awful pictures and signs. Trying to hand out leaflets.

I think women who do this are also scum but how on earth could a man think he has any right to do this? Turn up at a place where women are at their most scared and vulnerable and try to bully them?

It's really really upset me. I hate them so much right now.

I want to go and tell them exactly what I think of them but don't think that would be helpful at this time.

ok, lets look at it another way.

I am anti War and i wish to protest which is my right.

There is a world of difference between protesting outside of parliment and protesting at a funeral of a dead solider.

If I want to stand outside Canterbury Cathedral saying God's a C**t, and passing out leaflets I do so, no matter the millions of christians (and others) who disagree. Ban me from saying it, or move me to Hyde park corner and you are stopping a fundemental human right in this country.

You would almost certainly be arrested for causing a breach of the peace or similar. Your arguments in support of these detestable people are full of holes.

posted too soon.

One is protesting and voicing a opinion.

The other is delibratley choosing to voice that opinion on to others at emotionally fragile time and place

x-post

You make a good point, Misti. The main thing that would stop me doing it if I felt moved to, would be that there are lots of people in that situation who it would not be appropriate to try and sway, people who don't have that much of a choice.

We have to be careful about weighing up the ethical validity of other people's right to protest and put arguments, though. If a rational person has concluded that there is a loss of life or similar involved, that they subscribe to this line or that as to where a life begins, then by all means I think they should be allowed to say something about it. I would make no secret about my position on this one if asked, but wouldn't ask for special treatment, I'd see it the same way if I disagreed on the ethics.

I agree op.

I always felt that it was easy for a man to judge abortion as it is never going to have to be a decision they have to make.

Thinking of you op. I'm
Sure there is a lot of support from people who have been through similar, if you need it

The mob outside the clinic that I cycle past regularly are Catholic (rosary beads, pictures of Mary etc).

I often feel an impulse to stop and suggest, given their clear devotion to the sanctity of life, that they put their energies into helping some of the thousands of children and adults who have been abused within the Catholic Church.

Then I remember that their arguments have no coherent or rational basis and cycle on.

"I'd like to see a way it could be done where only people who have much of a choice encountered it. but I can't see a way of doing that."

I think people may have missed this breathtaking gem......

I'm thinking of an abortion clinic with two doors - marked "Deserving" and "Undeserving" perhaps?

Agree that it is completely indefensible.

The pregnant woman who worked for Kids Company who was filmed remonstrating with these "protestors" outside another abortion clinic last year said everything that needs to be said on the subject.

I believe the link is posted on this thread. Anyone with any doubts at all should watch and learn.

@Bertrand that was exactly my point.

Yes, missed that bertrand.

But people arguing for eg buffer zones often do use the 'you don't know what a woman's been through' argument (see the video clip upthread), which is a slippery slope into this sort of perspective.

What someone has or hasn't been through is irrelevant imvho.

People should be able to access legal healthcare without being harassed and intimidated. It's as simple as that for me.

twofingers Where did I say I supported them. I don't I just respect their right to peacefully protest, nothing more.

They're not 'protesting' bobby.

'Protest' involves an appeal to law makers, the government or other powerful bodies to change the law.

People harassing individual women outside family planning clinics aren't doing this.

""I'd like to see a way it could be done where only people who have much of a choice encountered it. but I can't see a way of doing that."

Fucking hell.

I'd like to see a way it could be done where only people who have much of a choice encountered it. but I can't see a way of doing that

I don't want to live on this planet anymore.

@Ovid - see Bertrand's comment and my response.

"
@Bertrand that was exactly my point."

I think you have rather missed mine.........

I haven't. The only person who can judge for that woman, is herself. such protests are bound to be totally indiscriminate.

Okay Bobby... Your arguments in support of the actions of these detestable people are full of holes.
Better?

Let's face it if the op was going in for an appendectomy and someone was holding up gory pictures of appendixes she wouldn't be upset.

What's your point, mummy?

Much of a choice ???? Is that the poor raped pregnant 13 year old v the older woman whose already had 2 abortions?

Virgin versus prostitutes like the rape victims who 'asked for it?'

Who the fuck has the right to judge here or indeed offer any opinion on or why any woman wants an abortion.

Every woman should have the absolute right to a safe termination at any stage of her pregnancy and for any bloody reason.

Until we have that we are denying women's autonomy over her body.

As for these bastards outside clinics. Of course they should be excluded. And in my opinion tarred and feathered.

Yes, Mummy. What is your point?

@Mummy... really?

My point is that posters making out that it's just another medical procedure are being disingenuous.