Claire and I attended a neighborhood meeting yesterday dealing with the opening of a "full service" Planned Parenthood facility in northwest Omaha. "Full service," by the way, means that Planned Parenthood will use the building to count the money they get from taxes, foundations, United Way and gullible individuals; hand out immoral advice; enable promiscuity; encourage undesired pregnancies through their sales of ineffectual "birth-control" pills and the lousiest condoms on the market; and, oh yes, kill preborn babies using various chemical concoctions as well as blades and the ripping power of suction machines.Nice business to have across from a day care center, huh?
The meeting was called by the State Senator from the area, Bob Krist. It was held at Hope Evangelical Free Church which is just a block away from the Planned Parenthood site. The place was packed. We didn't know most of the people there but there were a few pro-life veterans we spotted in the crowd: John & Barb Malek; Jim Baxa; Rev. Eric Olsen and his wife, Elaine; Bruce Prenosil; Vic & Jane Stevinart; Mary Roberts; Mary Jane Ziola; Pat and Carol Eberly; Bill Lindsay; and a few more.
Senator Krist presented the facts as we know them now as well as a few possible courses of action. They all involve what I think are long-shots (petitions, zoning issues) but they still must be attempted. And we really appreciated the call to fervent prayer that Eric made. That is, of course, our best chance of all.
We were very pleased to see the turnout from the neighborhood and we are very grateful to Senator Krist, Nebraskans United for Life, Brent Myers and the others who put the thing together.
But there were a few things that occurred at the meeting that we found disappointing. There was, for instance, the response of a few people that made very clear their concerns were for property values and comfort rather than moral values and the sanctity of life. One fellow, referring to the abortion mill in Bellevue, actually said, "I don't care about what happens in Bellevue. I don't want this kind of thing in my neighborhood just like I don't want a junkyard or a stockyard." A bit more crass and calloused than the way others put it, perhaps, but it was a sentiment that was shared by a few. True, they usually opened their statement with "I'm as pro-life as anybody but" they soon got round to property values and not wanting to be discomfited by the reminders that abortionists were at work in our city.
I understand the concern for property values. I have them too. But it was sadly unsettling to see how bold some people were in letting it be known that they were more agitated, more willing to do something because of the danger to property values than they were simply by the imminent danger abortionists pose to unborn boys and girls.
A related bother was the suggestion that people protesting abortion posed as great a social nuisance to the neighborhood as did the abortionist going about his barbaric wickedness! No kidding. The heroes who peacefully stand for holiness, compassion and the sanctity of life presented as some kind of trouble-makers who you want to make sure stay out of your neighborhood? That was downright weird.
Even the petition itself which was, remarkably, drawn up by pro-life advocates mentioned this. Indeed, it was presented as almost a threat. Sign this petition if you don't want an abortion clinic in your neighborhood because...yipes...that will bring in those protesters with their "graphic signs."
Thanks, friends. Thanks for contributing to the feared stereotype and thanks for creating a sense of alarm among the populace -- even before we get there! Our sidewalk counselors happen to carry signs of beautiful babies and colorful banners with kind-hearted entreaties ("Mom, We Care About You and Your Baby" or "Every Heartbeat Is A Gift From God").
But given the introduction this petition provides as well as hearing the attitudes of some of the people present at that meeting yesterday, we will certainly have our work cut out for us in winning the neighborhood over -- to show them that we're the good guys; the pro-lifers who are peaceful, principled and quietly prayerful; the Christians who are on the side of the angels rather than ominous, repulsive miscreants.
And finally, we appreciated Senator Krist's saying yesterday that though it was an election year, he wasn't engaging in this effort because of political opportunism. Now, I certainly can't speak to his motives but I appreciated his honesty. Even more, Senator Krist went out of his way to point out his challenger in this fall's race, Tim Lonergan, who was sitting in the crowd. He called him by name, thanked him for his presence, assured the crowd that Tim was a good pro-life guy and even asked him to give his input on at least two occasions. We left early so it could have been more. Very commendable.
But, unfortunately, it was an ironic contrast to the actions of his challenger for when we scooted out for our next engagement, we saw that every car in the parking lot had a Lonergan for Legislature placard stuck under the windsheild wipers. Bad form. I do not live in District 10 (though the redistricting coming this fall could change that) so I have not thoroughly studied the positions or the backgrounds of either Bob Krist or Mr. Lonergan. And so I won't say that yesterday's unpropitious politicking would necessarily keep me from supporting Mr. Lonergan in the future. But it certainly didn't create a good first impression.
Next on the agenda will be the specific steps for further petitions (better ones, I hope) as well as the procedures for who to contact about zoning regulations and legal action. Senator Krist will be posting those ASAP and they will then be passed on through such places as this blog and other pro-life organizations.
