Controversial jumbotron returns to the March for Life
(Poll at bottom of post)
Last year the pro-life group Created Equal debuted its jumbotron showing the reality of abortion at the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Here is some of the poignant reaction of pro-life marchers…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVwYxOr7U-E&feature=share&list=PL0497077824B6A955[/youtube]
As Created Equal noted, “If the victims are not represented at their own march, where will they be represented?”
This year CE has again reserved space along the March for Life route for its jumbrotron.
In addition, CE’s jumbotron will make an appearance in San Francisco on January 26 at the Walk for Life West Coast.
There has been some fallout. This year a March for Life VIP attempted to talk CE out of bringing the jumbotron back, expressing concern for children and finally asking CE to have “specially trained psychiatrists on hand to deal with the emotional stress of the marchers” (the same position taken against pro-life activists by a pro-abortion church).
After the March last year, CE received several letters thanking the group for showing the reality of abortion. One letter CE received to the contrary is noteworthy:
I am very disappointed that you will be showing such a graphic film at the March for Life. We are trying to build a tradition of Marching for Life in our church and were starting with a small group of 16. Your display is mis-placed. –T. D.
CE’s president, Mark Harrington, pointedly responded:
We don’t want to return to Washington, D.C. next year. We don’t want children to die so we can “build a tradition” of going to the March for Life. Maybe some remedial education is in order as to the reason we march. We march to end the marching.
Here is the tragic but true 2:22 minute video CE will be looping throughout the March and Walk on its jumbotron:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aMWxDtRdm0&feature=share&list=PL0AED242A7A6C2310[/youtube]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Every year I hear people gasping in shock at the pictures of dismembered unborn children. They really should know what they are protesting against.
Good grief.
We are marching to END what is being shown on the JumboTron!!
SHOW THE TRUTH!!
I don’t understand the point of showing the graphic video of abortion at the march. Are they hoping counter-protesters see it? Or politicians? The marchers already know that abortion is an atrocity, that’s why they’re there.
Many years ago I was more-than-disturbed by a photo of abortion. But it was not one-of-the-usual-baby-parts & blood. No, it was the picture of a pretty model wearing a single earring. Closer viewing revealed a whole (but-very-dead) fetus WAS her earring.
nearly got sick! …. people – BE ENTHRALLED WITH LIVING and not images of the dead. An image is an image. Abortion is not THE boogyman for ‘adults’. We LOVE LIFE.
Dead BABY, John. Not dead ‘fetus’. Fetus is the ‘clinical’ term…that’s why THEY (pro-aborts) use it. They seek to dehumanize pre-born BABIES.
They’re too ignorant to know that ‘fetus’ is a Latin word meaning ‘little one’ or ‘young one’.
We should say BABY…always.
right you are, Pamela.
I was considering just that, but chose ,fetus’ because that’s the word that this model used. We PL do too (but in a backward way).
Life (and death) are not about ‘types’. Most words are about a ‘type’, except names. Humans name people as a sign of living, and uniqueness. So we do not ‘have an abortion’, but the killing of Fred, Henry, Nadia, Heather, Blesiing …etc. if you say ‘baby’ or ‘fetus’ or ‘young one’ you are still in the frame-of-mind re ‘type’ (BECAUSE THESE HUMANS ARE PRE-NAMING).
Lrning, sadly it seems that many marchers do NOT really know why there are there. Abortion is terrible and gruesome. The pictures will hopefully move some marchers to a more passionate fight once they see what abortion really is.
Why do you say many marchers do not know why they are there?
“Why do you say many marchers do not know why they are there?”
Because they don’t. I’ve seen it. I’ve heard them gasp in amazement at the pictures and the speeches. They may be anti-abortion but they don’t have full knowledge. Their limited understanding isn’t good enough. It makes their devotion to the struggle lukewarm and makes them vulnerable to abandoning the pro-life movement. They need to understand what we’re up against.
Jill,
Many years ago, I went to a pro-life march at the capital of our city (which is itself the capital of the state) with my church. On the bus ride there, I was shocked and stunned to overhear two elderly women exclaim to each other how excited they were to attend the march, and how they looked forward to going each year.
I realized that they didn’t understand what they were doing or why, and that they were probably not the only ones. Mark is correct. This is not something to look forward to…it is something to try to end by making people aware of why it needs to stop.
“Choice” (Murder) doesn’t become more palatable each year…only more abominable. If all people think they need to do to end abortion is attend a sanitary, gore-free march without realizing the reality behind what abortion means, nothing will change. It is when they come to grips with the horror of what has been done for nearly the past 40 years, and continues today that, just maybe, they will start crying out to God in confession, repentance, and begging for His solution.
So no one can be a passionate pro-lifer until they’ve seen the gruesome photos. Got it.
Even those fighting for the unborn HAVE to understand FULLY what these children go through. Once you know, REALLY know, you HAVE to act. I have three beautiful kids, and while seeing children torn apart breaks my heart, it also makes me want to FIGHT for them.
To the extent that the March for Life motivates further activism throughout the year, it is good. If it is just an event for people to participate in to show their support of the pro-life movement, it is inadequate. We do not honor Nellie Gray by just marching for life. I agree with Jennifer’s comment. To the extent possible, we need to understand what the unborn children experience as they are being aborted and then resolve to devote the entire year to ending this atrocity – not just a couple days.
How about images of the babies (and moms and dads) that pro-life efforts helped to save? These images sure motivate me to do more. A testimonial of a real mom and baby had me in puddles of tears recently.
People who actually go march don’t already know about the horror of abortion?! Hmm … Never been to The March, but that’s surprising to me.
The only reason I say “no”, is because I know so many women who have dealt with infertility and miscarriage who cannot look at such graphic images without terrible (and unfounded, no less) shame, guilt, and sadness at their situation. As a woman dealing with such issues myself, I have a really hard time both going to abortion clinics (knowing the reality of what is going on, and the question of “why can’t I conceive?”), OR see graphic images of that which I most desire being terribly destroyed. It sends me into a major depressive state and it’s TRULY traumatic. I wish it weren’t, but it is.
I think graphic images are useful and necessary for the argument — but I believe they have their place, and it belongs in an environment where people both choose to see it (because if they do not choose it, their hearts are either hardened and they will not see the Truth; or they would not choose it due to trauma, in which cause seeing the images would only be detrimental to conversation) and have open hearts.
I’m not sure what the solution is, but I know that I will have to avert my eyes to the best of my ability, because I am leading a group there, and I just can’t take it. I REALLY hope that they have trained psychologists (and not just random pro-lifer X) on hand to help people dealing with trauma.
“So no one can be a passionate pro-lifer until they’ve seen the gruesome photos. Got it.”
In my experience? No, they cannot. ”America will not reject abortion until America sees abortion.” -Fr. Pavone
Lifejoy, don’t be surprised that some march attendees don’t understand. In DC, many Catholic high schools make a day of it by sending their students to the march. These kids just think it’s more interesting than being in the classroom (I live here, I know). So yes, they really do need to know. Moreover, there are those who attend – and then do nothing for the babies the rest of the year. Do they need a dose of reality? You bet they do!
What about the young children going to the March with their parents? Having been in that situation years ago, I can tell you it’s difficult. These photos and movies have their place and are important but you really are not showing it to the people who need to see them the most.
“Lifejoy, don’t be surprised that some march attendees don’t understand. In DC, many Catholic high schools make a day of it by sending their students to the march. These kids just think it’s more interesting than being in the classroom (I live here, I know). So yes, they really do need to know. Moreover, there are those who attend – and then do nothing for the babies the rest of the year. Do they need a dose of reality? You bet they do!”
Yeah, I can see what you mean then, Janet.
I was imagining passionate pro-lifers making the pilgrimage there. Whatever the strategies, what you describe does sound like a venue ripe with opportunity for informing and inspiring attendees.
“So no one can be a passionate pro-lifer until they’ve seen the gruesome photos. Got it. ”
Lol I know, it’s just like it’s impossible to be strongly opposed to child abuse unless you see pictures of children beaten and bloody or videos of them being sexually abused. Oh wait…
Aimee,
I am sorry that you are struggling.
I have had an abortion and miscarriages and when you deeply grieve and walk through that grief you can see those precious bodies as individuals. God made each and every one and their deaths were horrifying and excruciating. And we long to END the killing of the innocents.
We show the truth of what abortion does to an innocent human being.
If photos of what abortion does cause unfounded guilt and shame(and I am not sure why they would because abortion is the INTENTIONAL killing of a child)to a mother who has miscarried then she needs to continue on her journey of grief and avert her eyes from the images.
I understand the grief. I do. Miscarriage is the death of a precious one. And so is abortion.
I am sorry but I don’t understand the logic of trained psychologists to help others deal with the truth of what they are marching to END??!!
Do they not know what we are fighting? Do they not understand the evil and gruesome nature of what abortion does to a child?
I go back and forth on their use in other situations, but I think the March for Life is by far the most valuable and reasonable place of any to display these pictures
Carla, I very well know what I am fighting. I have worked since high school to fight against it. But there are people with serious emotional traumas and psychological disabilities (like depression & anxiety) who are in this fight, too. It doesn’t mean they can’t fight it.
I have seen my fair share of graphic images, and it definitely helped to convert me to the pro-life cause at 16; but now I can’t handle it. Does it mean I’m any less pro-life? NO.
I do understand what people are saying, that it’s necessary to show the people who don’t understand. But if I do end up seeing the pictures, I will probably end up in a fit of tears. It’s because I *do* understand so deeply that it affects me. I don’t find it to be insensitive, because I know what they’re trying to do. I’m just saying, that there might be this reaction, and if they’re going to have the images, I do think they should have someone on hand to deal with women (and men!) who deal with such trauma.
Maybe I’m wrong, I’m just trying to help each side understand.
I always knew abortion was wrong. I always knew it was ending the life of a child.
But my whole life changed course when I SAW. When I SAW what abortion was. It grieved me to my core. I truly do not believe I would have become so involved in the pro-life movement if I had not seen those images.
The images of tortured and murdered victims are powerful and should be displayed carefully. I think having trained counselors on hand would be a good idea for young children and teens, or anyone still sensitive enough to be disturbed by the photos. Why not provide this for them? By doing so, it’s another way to acknowledge the real horror of abortion. Many people need help to process it- and that’s NORMAL.
People gasp in shock and sadness- not necessarily because they don’t know why they are marching. Please! God help any prolifer who can calmly view the carnage without wincing, tearing up, gasping, or getting nauseous.
There really should be such horrible images on billboards in every city and town across the nation. When something this egregiously wrong is going on, there literally should be no way to ignore or avert your eyes. Killing kids by dismemberment is such a big deal, it must be opposed by the most intrusive tactics possible. No justice. No peace.
If you don’t want to see, then work with us to outlaw it. But don’t come whining to us that you don’t like seeing what the butchers are doing with your express consent.
Seasoned prolifers can cope with the images of preborn victims. But a good percentage- a majority?- of people on the walks are young prolifers, even future prolifers. They are kids anywhere from 3-18 years old. Their innocence and levels of understanding need to be respected and provided for if we are to have another generation of people to fight the horror of abortion.
I’m not saying the images shouldn’t be used. I am saying that older, tougher prolifers need to consider all prolifers at megamarches. The ‘if you can’t handle it- get out of the way’ approach would be counterproductive.
Children don’t need trained counselors. They need their parents. I didn’t “choose” to see a photo of an aborted baby’s head when I was 8 but I am SO GLAD I did! I was very very upset and I ran to my MOTHER who comforted me and explained the image to me. And the impact of that image has never left me and is the reason I stand in front of the clinic and why I try to talk about abortion wherever I am. I want to END that evil!
If pro-lifers can’t deal with the images then why is it okay to make pro-aborts look at them? That seem highly hypocritical to me. We need to show these images wherever we can. Expose this work of darkness to the light!
Parents come first, and usually parents are more than enough, to be able to cope with the reality of abortion.
There is still a place for counselors. Consider all the kids that go to marches with schools, and their parents aren’t there.
I think CE has nothing to worry about in providing counselors. Why wouldn’t we support the efforts of trained, prolife counselors? As a side benefit, couldn’t we understand more about the wider net of abortions’ victims if we were to study more closely the emotional impact of abortion on youth.
Someone over 40 might look at pictures of aborted babies differently than someone under 40, who may suffer a bigger loss and percieved threat considering how abortion has impacted their generation.
“Someone over 40 might look at pictures of aborted babies differently than someone under 40, who may suffer a bigger loss and percieved threat considering how abortion has impacted their generation. ”
Maybe so. It’s also more difficult on those who are well aware that their mothers wanted them dead just like the babies in the pictures. I can’t go to big pro-life events for the most part (if I could even afford to get there and take a day off work) because there isn’t any way for me to escape the pictures, which make me much less able to work to end what made those pictures happen. I don’t know how people are supposed to work through major recurring panic attacks.
Jack, my point was simply to allow prolife, trained counselors (I mean actual licensed therapists) to come and help people if need be. I’m trying to show those resistant to that idea how it could be a win/win thing.
I remember what you’ve said about your mom wanting to abort you before, and I can only say I’m truly sorry. Put me on the list of people who are sincerely glad you made it to your birthday- and glad you’re here now. :) And, just to encourage you, remember what you already know: you don’t have to go to the megaevents to make a difference. I’m sure you’re doing other good things.
Also, I like your point about not needing to see pictures of child abuse to know it’s wrong. I think part of what’s happening is that after 40 years of legal feticide, many in the prolife movement want actions that will end this atrocity asap. They want to wake up the comfy American who would rather not face the millions murdered since 1973.
Will the pictures do that? I don’t know, but I say let people pursue the strategies to which they feel called, while respecting others in the movement and working with them. Over and above any silver bullet to end abortion, I’m more of the
opinion that we need to do *everything* legally possible, and be more faithful to God as a nation.
Thanks Mary Ann. My didn’t just want to abort me, she pretty much tortured me with those photos (and everything else she could think of too). Suffice to say it’s a sore spot.
It’s not that I don’t respect people’s right to use the photos (though I doubt their effectiveness in a lot of cases), it’s that there’s a pretty blatant bias that people are displaying as if you can’t be passionately pro-life if you aren’t all gung-ho about graphic photos and don’t like them being used. And I don’t think the argument that “it’s terrible, so everyone should see it”. Like I said, I don’t see people wanting to showing horror scenes of child abuse to work against it, or other things like that. I don’t know. I just want to make it clear that you don’t have to like graphic photos or think they should be used at every opportunity to be *really* pro-life and work to end abortion.
Good points, Jack, especially the child abuse analogy.
If child abuse were legal and the march was being held to end child abuse then pictures of child abuse on the jumbo-tron would be appropriate. We cannot back down. We are marching in protest and these photos are one way for us to show the inhumanity that will continue happening, silently every day, if we back down and allow them to keep killing unborn children in peace.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say people who are against using graphic signs are not pro-life. I would say for whatever reasons they are the ‘non-confrontational’ types.
Bursting into tears seems an appropriate response to seeing these images.
I cry all the time at them. That never changes.
I will be praying this week for ALL of you going to the march. That you feel the weight of importance for why you are there, that you feel the strength in the thousands that march with you and that you are more committed than ever to end this evil and go back home continuing to fight the good fight!
God speed to all my marching friends! I love you!!
PS If you can please stop at the Supreme Court steps and listen to the Silent No More stories of men and women hurt by abortion. Witness after witness spoke of their regret for more than 3 hours when I was there.
The pictures are not a huge issue to me, but I’ll make a few points. Among those on our five buses that we send to the are 50 or so 7th and 8th graders and, often, many younger children. Many parents of 7th and 8th graders are less likely to allow their kids to go to the March for Life if they know they will be exposed to these carnage photographs. Right, wrong, or indifferent, the pictures ensure that FEWER people will be at the March for Life. Virtually no one at the March is so ignorant that they have not seen abortion pictures before — unless they are very young. What is the point, then: awareness about abortion or awareness about the organizations that specialize in aborted baby pictures? The very best places for the pics are on college campuses and at the Democratic National Convention — and every single place Emperor Obama sets foot.
History proves no great social change happens without seeing the carnage. Today we honor Dr. king who gave the ultimate sacrifice for social change. Do you remember the pictures of the murdered students in Mississipi? William Wilberforce showed people the slave ships. War is Hell. 55 million dead. If you think its gonna pretty you might not be in it to win it. Dr. King predicted the price he would pay but he did not turn back!!!
Parents who think they can shelter young people from the blood and gore of abortion are not living in reality. When I was in 6th grade, I collapsed in gym class and was bleeding from the hemorraging after my forced abortion. This happened to a couple of other girls at my middle school in 7th and 8th grade. The girls nowadays are taking RU486 and the morning after pill, not knowing what they will see.
Young people can handle more than what their parents think–because they HAVE TO–the world has changed with legalized abortion.
We are trying to build a tradition of Marching for Life in our church and were starting with a small group of 16.
Building a tradition? Wow. It’s not a vacation or a mission trip! Statements like this are perfect examples of why these photos need to be shown.
But a good percentage- a majority?- of people on the walks are young prolifers, even future prolifers. They are kids anywhere from 3-18 years old. Their innocence and levels of understanding need to be respected and provided for if we are to have another generation of people to fight the horror of abortion.
For real? Abortion needs to be stopped if we are to have another generation at all. Do you know of anyone who saw abortion photos as a child and refused to become prolife because these saw the photos?? Abortion is killing their classmates, spouses, neighbors, relatives. Let everyone be shocked and in tears! Everyone should be for crying! This isn’t a parade! SOME OF US DON”T WANT ANOTHER GENERATION OF PEOPLE TO HAVE TO FIGHT ABORTION! WE WANT IT TO STOP WITH MY GENERATION!
What has been done has obviously not worked. Show the graphic videos. If you disagree with your kids seeing these pics, keep them home. If you can’t handle seeing these pics as an adult, stay home and let the real work up to the grownups.
Sorry for raising my voice but enough is enough. Can we have some righteous anger, please?!
Also, I like your point about not needing to see pictures of child abuse to know it’s wrong.
If our country legalized breaking open children’s faces, I would hope we wouldn’t wait 40 years to show everyone the pictures!!
Okay, I’m done now.
“If our country legalized breaking open children’s faces, I would hope we wouldn’t wait 40 years to show everyone the pictures!!”
Well, we didn’t wait 40 years, I remember graphic abortion photos when I was a kid, that was like twenty years ago.
Would you be okay with showing kiddie porn if child sexual abuse was legalized? Not trying to be crass, just trying to make the point that sometimes the imagery might not be appropriate, in some or even many situations.
I remember graphic photos too, Jack. Just not everywhere in public other than the mills. My mom had a book at home. These were not reaching the general public though. It’s good to know that your seeing those graphic photos didn’t cause you to become a proabort so maybe that is a positive that came out of it. I am sorry your parents used these photos to further hurt you but that doesn’t erase the fact that these photos are effective. If they didn’t have those photos, I believe they would have found other ways to torment you.
The apathetic need to wake up. From the looks on some of the faces on the video above, they might have seen the images for the first time. Hopefully they will go back home and get their friends/family involved and find them pictures to show on the internet.
If child sex abuse were legalized, I would not be opposed to showing discreet photos (unidentifiable without genitalia shown) of bruised/beaten children. You may not be trying to be crass, but I think referring to such an atrocity toward children as “kiddie porn” is crass in itself.
Well I respectfully disagree with your view of graphic photos, but I can see your point.
I will say though, if child abuse was legalized and graphic photos of children started to be used like the photos of aborted babies, if I found out that pictures of me as a kid were being shown around in public like that I would sue everyone I could. I just think it can be disrespectful and inappropriate to the victims as well as my other concerns with kids seeing them, etc etc.
I used the word ‘unidentifiable’ in regards to child sex abuse and want to clarify that I would not support showing pics of any abused children that could be identified. I figured saying “breaking open children’s faces’ would make it clear that only pics that could not identify the child could be used.
Unfortunately, the children in the jumbotron videos cannot sue anyone for using their images.
Nobody “likes” the pictures. They make me sick, yet I have witnessed and talked to countless people who did not realize the horrible violence that is involved in an abortion. Post abortive women and men have confronted and been healed from the shame and pain that no one wants to talk about, so they suffer in silence. Women and men have decided not to abort after seeing the graphic pictures. The truth truly sets them free. People have become activists or renewed their resolve to fight to end this tragedy. The pictures are horrible, disturbing and sad because abortion is all of those things. I have had pro-life and pro-aborts both yell and threaten me for holding graphic abortion pictures and pictures with cute living babies on them. It is the subject that triggers them and sometimes playgrounds, live babies, pregnancy. Healing is the answer and the pictures provoke that for many people.
What are we willing to risk to save lives and stop abortion? Our own discomfort, pain, sadness? Abortion hurts more than a babies feelings. For all of these reasons I will be in S.F. tomorrow helping Created Equal with the Jumbotron display.
Thank you for what you are doing to save lives, Karen!
God Bless You!
I want to know who the VIP is who told CE to have “specially trained psychiatrists on hand” There is no record of anyone in the history of viewing pro-life images have ever been harmed. I hate to say it, but that VIP has to be fired.
Hi DoW, my name is Jack and those images harmed me. Nice to meet you.
JackBorsch says:
January 18, 2013 at 6:02 am
“So no one can be a passionate pro-lifer until they’ve seen the gruesome photos. Got it. ”
Lol I know, it’s just like it’s impossible to be strongly opposed to child abuse unless you see pictures of children beaten and bloody or videos of them being sexually abused. Oh wait…
I just want to respond to this…..people know both of them events are horrid and wrong without the imagery. But There have been images out there that have shown what both of those abuses look like..As far as abortion goes though, right now as our society stands many don’t know or realize that abortion is wrong because its been made legal and so much deception has happened to make people think..that its just cells,a product of conception,just a fetus not really a baby, under developed and doesn’t qualify as human, hasn’t been born doesn’t deserve its chance at life..the list goes on at the justifications of and for abortion…I believe these images need to be shown….and if I was at the march and these were shown my kids were there I would surely explain..although even without the march my 9 and 7 year old know about abortion and have been around me when I am on facebook an come across similar pictures and I explain if it happens to catch there eye…… I too like you was almost aborted by my mother…that is what gives me the drive to fight for the unborns right…..to think of my life….my kids.my family…and to think with just one choice how much would have changed and not have been brings tears to my eyes..but it also awakens something within me that says Abortion needs to stop….and I want to be part of that….
“If the victims are not represented at their own march, where will they be represented?”
The images did not in and of themselves harm you, Jack. Your abusive, psychotic parents who used the photos to further harm you are the ones responsible for your hurt.
There are many images, smells, and objects that remind me of the years I was abused as well but only one person responsible for the harm done to me. I cannot expect every object and image that takes me back to those years to be banned just because they bring up flashbacks for me.
I have yet to meet anyone who says that graphic abortion images caused them to become prochoice. However, we hear the opposite often. Proaborts are threatened by the graphic images and ultrasound photos for a reason; they know these images are working to change hearts and minds.