Is it appropriate for a university to give out pro-life leaflets

[StealthPolarBear]

I genuinely don't know. Was a bit disappointed

No, as I said the baby was in the pram so a bit late to push me into an abortion. I take it you support people who harass and bully a young mother, refusing to let her pass, distressing her and her children and yelling abuse at her when she finally managed to get away from them.

They did tell me I should support their petition, that if I didn't I was responsible for other women dying from back street abortions.

Personally I object to being told what I should support and I certainly don't sign petitions without actually reading them, they didn't seem to think I had a right to decide if I wanted to sign and they certainly weren't allowing me to read what they wanted me to sign.

Unreasonable people come in many varieties.

He has said that babies with Down's Syndrome should be aborted, no question about it, based on the kind of judgements around value that the PP suggested would be a good basis for deciding whether abortion can happen

No he has not. He has never said anyone should do anything.

“Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.” This is what he supposedly said to a woman about the dilemma of ending a pregnancy if screening revealed Down's.

He said he understood why trying to respond in 140 characters on twitter meant it came across as heartless and callous to some.

He did go on at some length to explain how he felt. It is on his website.

Supposedly being the word there.

I take it you support people who harass and bully a young mother, refusing to let her pass, distressing her and her children and yelling abuse at her when she finally managed to get away from them.

No I don’t, I fully support a campaign to help women access safe and non judgemental terminations. This mob you speak of sound as bad as the people who picket clinics offering terminations with their inflammatory and distressing harassment of women.

I don't think they do sound as bad, and I have never seen any prochoice people act like that. Where was this and when?

I think there are always people who go too far when campaigning on any issue. Just think of the May Day demonstrations. Intimidation is never ok regardless of the issue.

“No, as I said the baby was in the pram so a bit late to push me into an abortion. I take it you support people who harass and bully a young mother, refusing to let her pass, distressing her and her children and yelling abuse at her when she finally managed to get away from them.”

No, I do not support that sort of behaviour-it is outrageous. And not something I have ever heard of about pro choice groups before.

However, if you do not condemn SPUC you are endorsing that sort of behavior and worse directed at pregnant women on a daily basis.

And not something I have ever heard of about pro choice groups before

I have to say I haven’t seen it either. Surely any reasonable person, pro choice or not, can see that harassing women who are seeking a termination is an extremely cruel and unacceptable thing to do?

Of course they are allowed to have the leaflets available. Or would you rather free speech and freedom of thought be suppressed?

The problem is that some forced birthers characterize the pro choice campaign as pro abortion, rather than pro choice.

Of course they are allowed to have the leaflets available. Or would you rather free speech and freedom of thought be suppressed?

You didn't bother to read the thread, did you?Since when was lying to people covered by free speech? And how is arguing against leaflets antyhing to do with THOUGHT?

try harder.

Supposedly being the word there.

Are you doubting that he said it or that he said it to a pregnant woman?

I think that many things he says are misquoted and misinterpreted.

Not sure exactly why people are being asked to be Dawkins apologists. Or why he is remotely relevant to the thread.

He did tweet it.

Hes's not relevant at all, just people trying to derail.

I thought all the forced birthers were in favour of free speech, hence their defense of the SPUC leaflet. In which case, they should also be supporting Dawkins saying what he thinks.

DrMarthaJones, I did say it was on his website. I'm not sure why he would lie about it.

However, if you do not condemn SPUC you are endorsing that sort of behavior and worse directed at pregnant women on a daily basis. I've never been harassed by SPUC, even though I have been to abortion clinics a couple of times, once for myself and once supporting a teenager who worked for me. I was harassed by the pro choice group and so that was what I posted about.

Re people not having heard or seen similar from pro choice groups, this was 40 years ago so might not happen now. It was very unpleasant and hence I remember it vividly. I don't think anyone should be harassing other people. Just think it is important to remember that both side can be unreasonable.

I commented about Dawkins tweet as DrMarthaJones said, No he has not. He has never said anyone should do anything. So I googled it to find out if he had.

I was a young activist 40 years ago- I would not have acted like that- and I am very sorry that others did. But I honestly don’t think 40 year old experience from either of us is relevant in this discussion. SPUC and other forced birth groups harass women going to abotrion clinics now.

Glad to hear it BertrandRussell, I didn't imagine every pro choice activist would act like that. I'm usually well able to stand up for myself but it was one of the first times I went out after second child was born and it was upsetting.

As I said I have been to abortion clinics and never had a problem, or even an encounter, with SPUC activists. It doesn't mean I don't realise it happens.

I think I have seen SPUC people on the High St with stand but never been approached by them or stopped to look so I honestly don't know anything about their attitude when they approach people but realistically some will be more aggressive than others.

I commented about Dawkins tweet as DrMarthaJones said, No he has not. He has never said anyone should do anything. So I googled it to find out if he had

He didn't say anyone should do anything, he said what he thought was the best option, to a hypothetical dilemma. He did not tell anyone who was actually facing the decision what they should do.
He's fully entitled to that opinion anyway, and to say so.