Things were a bit ramped up here recently – an adult couple arrived at the clinic with a young person. One of the protesters – Ron – decided the young person must be a 10 year old girl who’d been raped. Yes, he just made that up, but he was sure that was the story, because protesters know these things, right?
He decided that meant that we – the escorts – were protecting the perpetrator of the crime. Yes, I know that’s an astounding leap outside the bounds of anything resembling logic, but there you go. It went downhill from there.
From the comfort of my own home now, I can see that it might have been more helpful if I had ignored him, but he was all ramped up and raving and I might have gotten a bit ramped up myself. So when Ponytail guy said it was probably one of the escorts who raped her – well, I might have said something a bit inappropriate. Yep. I did.
I know, it wasn’t helpful, just like it wasn’t helpful to ask Ron to explain how it would be better for a 10 year old to actually have to be pregnant and have a baby. He didn’t answer that, and I didn’t expect him to. He just kept asking why we would protect the perpetrator.
Such nonsense.
I need to make sure I’m wearing my cloak of disengagement from now on. I need to remember that Ron, and the other forced birthers, don’t have any actual power, which is why they spend their time trying to bully other people.
On the other hand, wasn’t there some state that tried to pass a law making it illegal for someone to help a minor who who was a rape victim get an abortion? Some stuff about it “destroying the evidence?” Good grief, do they not realize you can get DNA evidence from the aborted fetus if they needed to? Oh, that’s right, science is not their strong suit.
Plus, as someone pointed out at breakfast, this is one more example of the way the antis distrust women. It’s not enough for someone to say they were raped and name the person who raped them. No, they need to have the rapist’s baby so we can make sure who did it. Really.
Oh, but wait – if you get raped, you can’t even get pregnant, right???? Don’t we just “shut that whole thing down??” Hmmm, this forced birther logic is so hard to follow!
Oik, enough of that, it’s not really funny, although we laughed about it a bit later. At the time, it was ugly, and next time I’ll try to walk away sooner and ignore them harder. Like Servalbear’s button suggests, I’ll ignore them so hard they’ll start to wonder if they exist.
Last week I posted the video of Chad preaching and said there was another video that gives a good perspective on what it can be like up by the door. I transcribed it this week – actually the last couple of minutes are the same as last week’s videos so you don’t need to watch the whole thing.
There are three people talking/preaching at once, so I’ve used different type for each one – Chad is regular print, another preacher (I think he’s one whose nickname has the initials RFN, but I’m not sure) is in all-caps, and a third anti, a man in a red jacket, is in bold (which is ironic, because he’s talking really softly.)
Here’s the video:
And here’s the transcript:
IT IS YOUR CHILD
… that they may live.
AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
That’s the book of Deuteronomy.
FOR THIS CHILD.
And not only does he want us to choose life,
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE TODAY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE MOTHER OF THIS CHILD
he has given us a way to choose life eternally, Eternally.
SIR THIS IS YOUR CHILD, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE FATHER…
Jesus said he comes to bring life and life more abundantly.
I ENCOURAGE YOU THIS MORING TO CONSIDER THE FACTS. CONSIDER THE TRUTH TODAY.
DON’T BE DECEIVED. THIS IS A CHILD. YOU ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHILD.
Jesus said that. Jesus said he comes to bring life and life more abundantly.
Not abundantly in the sense that you get to have riches and wine?YOU MAY SAY, “WE’RE IN A TOUGH SPOT, WE CAN’T HAVE THIS CHILD”
Abundantly in the sense that you can live and worship him in eternity.
IF YOU CAN’T HAVE THIS CHILD, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO ADOPT IT, IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR IT
Live in the Glory of God, in the light of his son Jesus Christ for eternity.
AND YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ALLOW IT TO GROW AND DEVLOP AND THE ABILITY TO BE BORN. JUST LIKE YOUR PARENTS GAVE YOU THAT SAME ABILITY TO GROW AND DEVELOP AND BE BORN.
Folks, that’s good news, That’s what the gospel means. You and I deserve eternity in hell. Eternity in hell and the fires that will never quench. That’s real friends. It exists. It is real, more real than our existence right now.
MA’AM AS YOU WALK THROUGH THAT DOOR, PLEASE CONSIDER SIR YOU HAVE TO OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN STILL THIS MORNING.
Hell is real. Jesus preached about hell,
Do you want to make a thousand angels in heaven rejoice? (This is the man in the red jacket. He’s talking to some young people who are escorting today, particularly a couple of young women.)
Jesus warned us about hell more than he preached about the Kingdom of Heaven.
How do you get a thousand angels to rejoice? How do we get a thousand angels to rejoice?
So friends, be prepared,
Anybody wanna rejoice?
he wants us to avoid that place
you know how to do it?
and the way to do that is to repent and be saved. believe on the Lord Jesus Christ today. Believe on him. Put your faith and trust in the Lord who is worthy to save
All of the lambs who (something) is worthy to be saved
Who wants to get saved today?
Repent.
You’ll make the angels rejoice…
This is the lie you guys are believing.
(Can’t tell what Red Jacket is saying…)
This is what happens to those babies. Period.
A thousand angels will rejoice…
Sir, but that’s exactly what happens. a lot more children That’s what you’re supporting, you’re an accomplice to this. And that’s what you’ll stand and be accountable for on judgment day. Unless you repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ and your sins are washed away. That’s what you’re going to have to stand up and face. This is true. This is what abortion is. This is what (something)It’s the murder of an unborn child. The massacre of babies and it looks just like that. I hope you’re happy about that, because that’s what happens.
you need to repent. You all need to turn from your sins and believe the truth about abortion. Here’s what it is- plain and simple – here’s what abortion is – here’s the truth of abortion – death destruction killing and destruction. That’s of satan that’s what god hates and he wants you to repent he wants you to turn from your sins – to choose life, he wants you to choose life so your children will live He commanded us to go forth and multiply and to fill the earth…
And that’s where the videos I posted last week start, so I won’t add those transcripts here. I can’t promise I got all the wording right, but it’s close enough to give you the idea.
It’s interesting how their words overlap sometimes, as if they’re bouncing thoughts off each other, but really each person is intent on his own presentation. Red Jacket is brand new to our sidewalk and I hope he won’t be back. He really was only talking to the young female escorts who were standing on the property line. Yep, just a bit creepy.
This week’s post is strictly a “for my own emotional well-being” one – I just needed to describe what it was like that particular Saturday morning at the clinic. There’s no particular point – no point in trying to reason with Ron, no point in getting upset with Ponytail Guy, no point in lots of things happening on the sidewalk.
But the whole point is being there for the client. That’s the point of escorting. When I remember that, the rest of this really does fall away. And I’m ready for another day on the sidewalk.
Thanks for listening…
Louisville Clinic Escorts 
I don’t know how you can stand to listen to that all day. Please, tell me nobody came forward to be “saved” that day. I don’t know how a whole group of people can be so damned ignorant. Its maddening. I’m afraid I wouldn’t have near the restraint you do. But there’s a special place in hell for people like that. Thank you, for protecting those women. Your service is appreciated.
Thank you for being out there making sure all women are able to access legal medical assistance. I don’t know how you and the escorts can do this week after week and keep your cool. You definitely deserve recognition for doing this necessary job in a safe manner. I don’t know that I could do this and not say something I’d regret to an anti.
Thanks for the support and kind words, 47of74. We don’t always succeed in keeping our cool either, but we sure try to. Thanks again.
i think it’s terrifying how close they are allowed to be to the patients and escorts.
FACE was some of the most balanced legislation passed in decades.
the rights of both the protesters as well as the patients and clinic staff were kept in mind.
but buffer zones should have been part of it for the sake of safety.
i have heard about the protesters at your clinic and this video proves that what i heard was no exaggeration.
Thanks for the feedback and support, Rogelio – I can’t tell you how much I agree. I know you called yourself an “anti,” but clearly, being anti abortion and a protester are two different things. Thanks for reminding us of that.
Sorry to blow up your comments section this week, but I just have to ask: Is that really a life-size statue of Mary kneeling surrounded by candles on the sidewalk? Do they haul that thing in every week?
Lol, KyBorn, you can “blow up” our comments section any time – we love comments. And um, yes, that is a close-to-life-size statue of Mary kneeling surrounded by candles. And maybe not every week, but many weeks. I don’t even think about it anymore – I guess it is a bit odd… 🙂
“Hell is real. Jesus preached about hell”
That’s the Good News, huh? Wonder what the Bad News sounds like?
Lol, Jules, right?
Well, if these antis actually read all those words in red print in the New Testament they’d see that when they referred to hell the people going there were the ones who mistreated the poor and defenseless. Not one of those red words said anything about abortion. (Unless there’s some weird translation of the bible they use that I’m unaware of).
IT IS YOUR CHILD AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHILD. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE TODAY YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE MOTHER OF THIS CHILD.
Well, this mother is going to tell you in no uncertain terms that my child is NOT your religious, political, and moral pawn to play with. This isn’t a game, and my family is not your prize. You don’t get to tell me what to do with my children. You don’t get to tell me what’s best for my children. You don’t get to tell me shit unless I ASK you for it.
Antis refuse to hear it and they are incapable of understanding it, but when I chose to have an abortion, I cared extremely deeply about that little black blob growing inside me. The future of it was my primary concern. I wanted ONLY what was best for it (I have to say “it,” it wasn’t even old enough to have developed a sex yet) and for everyone else in my life including myself. I don’t regret my decision in the slightest, but even today long after the fact, I still get defensive about perceived threats to that embryo…being forced to be born into what would have been a very crappy life makes all my “Momma Bear” hackles-raised “You can’t have my baby!” fight to the death feelings arise.
I’m glad there are sane people to talk to about it. I’m tired of being forced to keep quiet because some psycho might come and kill me for an imagined event.
Dear Longtail, –
I’m glad you shared your feelings here – it’s obvious that their nonsense raises emotions in all of us, and it’s good that we can be here for each other. I can only imagine how distressing their crap is for you.
Thank you as always for the support – and hope you can feel the waves of support I’m sending back your way!
A New Mexico lawmaker has drawn fire for proposing legislation to classify an abortion after a sexual assault as “tampering with evidence.”
Critics pounced on House Bill 206, introduced Wednesday by Republican state Rep. Cathrynn N. Brown, of Carlsbad, saying victims of sexual assault could be charged with a felony if they sought an abortion after rape or incest.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/24/new-mexico-abortion-evidence-tampering/1862767/
Pretty sure this law failed spectacularly and did not get passed.
Thanks, Oubli, that’s exactly the bill I was thinking about. And thank goodness it didn’t pass!
(So how bad is it that I knew I could make that vague reference to some bill and you’d comment with the facts about it? Thank you very much!!)
LOL, I think of myself as the Credible Hulk, I always back up my outrage with facts and documented sources!
You know, fml, I deeply admire your ability to not engage and think there are times when, even at the risk of escalating the chaos, shit must be called out. This was one of those. If this was any other place except the clinic, in any other circumstance where client passage wasn’t the goal, these incendiary taunts would generate lawsuits. Hell, in a barroom, there’d be a big ol’ fashioned beat down if this shit was spewed at random strangers, much less folks with whom there is history of agitation.
So give yourself props for not suing Ron or setting PonyTail’s hair on fire. Normal people in normal settings would do much worse than verbally retort.
Thanks, Kescort, I appreciate those kind words. You’re right, none of this would be tolerated anywhere else. And I’m not really beating myself up for stepping out of disengagement (well, not much anyhow) I just wish it weren’t so pointless.
Thanks for your comment.
Some of your screaming preachers remind me of the touring “preacher” who showed up every spring and fall when I was in college. He was VERY concerned about whores and women who dressed too slutty. All the whoring and slutting it up led to fornication, which led to “bastard” children, which led to abortion. And it was all the woman’s fault. The most amusing was when he would point out the specific women he deemed sluts. He would point and say something like “you in the red shirt and brown shorts, repent of your whoring ways, women are to be modest blah blah blah.” He always got really mad when we made a game of it and cheered if we got pointed out.
Omg, Kyborn, yes, absolutely, it is JUST like that. They even do the same technique – call out people by what they’re wearing – Angela does that all the time – you in the blue shirt, you with the red hair. Yep. I wish we could make a game of this…
Of all the horrible things y’all have posted here, I think this one takes the cake. It is bad enough that grown men and women gang up to pick on other grown men and women. But a child? How cowardly, and so were all the people in his herd who stood by and watched him do it. The thing is, people like this don’t really care about children. They vote for people who want cut the programs that investigate and help abused children, including those who are sexually abused. They fight age of consent laws because they are overly concerned about all those slutty slut 14 year olds who look 25 and lure innocent to jail (and frankly, I always found it creepy that some men seem to think this happens a lot.) Sadly, I have even known of cases where people used religion to rally around an abuser and obstruct an investigation in the name of religion. As everyone has already said, rape victims of any age do not need to have a baby to stop the abuse. DNA can be taken from fetal tissue if needed, or people could just get all crazy stupid and actually believe children. Some people are just nasty, hateful people who either get of being a bully or feel so badly about their own lives they need to find a way to feel superior to others. Or both.
You’re right, Kyborn, this scenario really taps into emotional responses in all kinds of way, on all kinds of levels. If caring for children were really the goal, these folks would be out there helping some already-borns. The reality is they like bullying people and – well, what you said!! Thanks for commenting!
I just wanted to echo that statement. Sometimes you just lose it and I can’t blame you. I think you do wonderful work and this is another example of it.
Thank you, Mn Girl, I appreciate the kind words and support!
First of all, I would like to say that you can’t be perfect all the time! Remember that and move on. But I do get it. Sometimes, when someone is being particularly egregious, it triggers a nerve of indignation within.
We, also, have antis shouting about us covering up rape when a young person comes in. They accuse us of cohorting with child traffickers, as well. They are so damn sure that they understand motivation (always selfish) or that the client has been duped by us and only the antis know the truth.
It’s amazing to me when the anti will plead for them not to go in, that they love the client and want to help them. But when the clients are walking in the door or when they come back out hours later they are calling the clients murderers and sinners. Then it’s “we can help you heal”. Sickening.
Unfortunately, with ignorance often comes cock-sure attitudes. And the sidewalk is full of them.
Keep doing what you do, but give yourself a break. You’re only human! 🙂
Dear Kittybrat –
WHAT? I can’t be perfect all the time? Why didn’t someone tell me that??? LOL…
No, I know you’re right. And the sidewalk is full of invitations to lose it and go into a rant on people, so I’m glad that I don’t do it more often. It’s interesting to me though that antis everywhere come up with the same stuff. They must go to the same anti-trainings…
Thanks for commenting and being so supportive!
Of all the many ugly arguments they make, the only one that really gets an emotional rise out of me any more is the “evidence” one. You know, must not abort progeny born from incest or rape, because it’s just covering up the crime. I think their thinking goes: because it’s only when the pregnant woman’s belly starts swelling and her pregnancy starts showing that people will realise she had sexual intercourse and ask the right questions… whereas if they really cared about rape victims they might, you know, agree that rape is an actual crime and not something made up by women.
Hi, Bodycrimes – you’re right, it’s a particularly nasty argument and triggers emotional reactions in many of us – just look at the comments on this post. I can’t decide what offends me more, the idea of a woman being a receptacle for evidence and a fetus merely a DNA sample, or the idea of being forced to carry a fetus after already being violated or just the nastiness that the antis express. Thanks for sharing your thought here.