The controversy of the Genocide Awareness Project returned once again this semester, making the path between Hodges and Humanities a bit uncomfortable for some. Both the GAP and Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood had displays set up on the pedestrian walkway this week to share their differing views on abortion with the passers-by.
Most students who have attended UT for more than one semester are familiar with the GAP. The GAP is a non-profit group developed by the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform that travels to universities across the United States. Once a semester, the group displays large, graphic photos of aborted fetuses in one of the busiest sections of campus.
"Our goal is to educate students about the reality of what abortion is. A lot of people talk to us about how graphic the pictures are, but that's the reality," said Lisa Wilmoth, a GAP volunteer who came from Oklahoma to help with the display at UT.
The children have a voice with these pictures. Lisa Wilmoth, GAP volunteer
The definition of "genocide" from Webster's New World Encyclopedia is "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, racial, religious, political, cultural, ethnic, or other group defined by the exterminators as undesirable." The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform's Web site cites this definition, saying the "national group" being targeted is unborn American babies. In order to show this connection, the photos of aborted fetuses are juxtaposed with photos from the Holocaust and other genocides throughout history.
The group's volunteers follow a strict policy to treat everyone who approaches the displays with respect.
"Yelling at people is not effective. We want to respect everybody, and our photos do the yelling for us," Wilmoth said.
The GAP does, however, encourage people to engage with them in discussions about abortion. "If everyone comes to the table with respectful attitudes, we can have good dialogue," Wilmoth said.
The displays always elicit strong reactions from students.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the GAP displays their opinion in a hostile and distasteful way," said Mari Bland, a senior in journalism and electronic media. "My biggest problem with it is that they compare aborted fetuses to various genocides through history."
Next to the GAP displays, Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood set up a booth to share information from the other side of the issue.
"Our goal is to show people that these are scare tactics to intimidate women. The appeal of it will run out. People will become desensitized to the photos," said Stephanie Adams, a junior in political science and a Vox member.
Vox maintains groups at college campuses across the country that educate students about reproductive health and rights. They encourage people to support access to all reproductive options: motherhood, contraception, abortion and adoption.
Vox believes the GAP exploits genocide victims for political purposes. "Comparing abortion to genocide is wrong. The terminology is wrong," Adams said.
Both groups were set up on campus on Sept. 13 and 14.
Comments
Brother Donald commented, on September 15, 2007 at 7:25 a.m.:
The GAP people are doing a good job telling people the truth about babies killed by abortion
James commented, on September 15, 2007 at 10:26 a.m.:
I don't think these people have a notion of genocide. Displaying signs like these here when in other countries real genocide is taking place is incredibly absurd. But of course, here, where we are all save and don't have to look beyond the border, it's a very easy thing to do. How about a little more curiosity about the rest of the world? It's about time people send close-mindedness into retirement.
Jane commented, on September 16, 2007 at 10:38 p.m.:
I don't think you can judge what "the truth" is until you go through that particular decision-making process yourself.
Adrian Horien commented, on September 17, 2007 at 7:42 a.m.:
James and Jane, you speak as if you're a couple of freshmen. As a former fetus, I object to the implication that people, just like you and me, are being killed for no other reason than they are an inconvenience to mommy and daddy.
The atrocities that occur around the world are second to the atrocities in our own yard. As long as we, as a people, commit atrocities, we lack the moral authority to address anything abroad. Your problem is that you deny the humanity of those not yet born. That is the bottom line question and the issue GAP raises.
GAP and the other groups like them are doing a good thing. They make you think, if you know how, which is dubious by these two posts.
Jael commented, on September 17, 2007 at 9:57 a.m.:
If being Pro-choice is so good for America, then what's the problem with displaying the aftermath? Spread the "pro-choice" message, and show the bloody pictures.
Amy commented, on September 17, 2007 at 11:27 a.m.:
An inconvenience to mommy and daddy?
You speak as if being raped is something that a mommy has no other choice but the deal with. Mommy has already lost her choice by being forced into the lude act.
How about giving her some choice in the matter when she has already lost so much
Jael commented, on September 17, 2007 at 3:02 p.m.:
Peggy, talk about misinformation! If you did your homework,most abortions pre 1973 ,were done in "sterile" doctor's offices, or hospitals under the auspices of a D&C. Yes, there have always been women who have attempted do it at home abortions, and they are still doing them in spite of the "legalization" of baby killing. Vacuum aspirators are available on the net, along with herbal concoctions. But the whole notion that thousands died in back alley abortion clinics prior to legalization is a myth. Anyone can easily find out this information via former abortionist Dr. Bernard Nathanson, the founder of NARAL.
lifer commented, on September 17, 2007 at 5:27 p.m.:
Amy,
Rape is the justification for only 1% of the 1.3 million abortions occruing annually in the US. (1% are for life of the mother and 1% for fetal abnormality)...the remaining 97% of abortions are for reasons that are subjective and amount to birth control. Regardless, those concieved from an act of violence instead of an act of love and no less alive or human. Would you advocate killing born humans that were a result of rape? Does the abortion erase the memory of the rape or does it simply make it easier for the rest of us to pretend nothing happened? The woman will never forget, but if there is no visible evidence, the rest of us will not have to feel uncomfortable...do I give her a shower? Do I congratulate her? How should I act? What should I say? Further, research the reaction and feelings of women who abort after rape. They say they can have counseling to work through the rape, but feel guilty and cannot seem to recover from the abortion. They feel they went from victim to victimizer. These are not hypothetical human beings. Every single one is innocent of the crime of his or her father and every one real, alive, and human. I know because my daughter's birth mother was raped at 13 by a man of a different race. The clinic told her at 20 wks, her baby wasn't formed yet, that no one would want a "bi-racial rapist's baby", and if she didn't consent to the abortion, she would die. All 3 of the "hard cases" plus very young, no education (8th grade), no money, no job, no family support...the poster child for legal abortion! They actually started to manually dilate her cervix with metal rods for the D&E live dismemberment abortion, but she was awake and in pain so they rescheduled so her mom could get more money to cover general. She learned the truth, learned her options and risks (info denied her by the clinic) and chose adoption...her baby WAS wanted! Now she can watch her daughter grow up and she is very thankful that her daughter is alive...and so are we!
James commented, on September 17, 2007 at 6:04 p.m.:
Adrien, I may not be smart enough but I don't get your comment about me talking like a freshman. (But in case it matters, I'm not:)))
sure, every human being on this planet has his or her opinion, and should be able to express it freely. Trust me, I'm not from the U.S., and may look at that issue differently than most people here.
And sure, why should they not talk to people, defend their opinion, etc?
It's the WAY they do it that could be a little different. Since WE humans are reasonable beings, should we not be able to discuss issues and deate issues WITHOUT such gruesome images or words such as genocide? Why not post signs saying: We think abortion is morally wrong, or, what about the lost lives etc?
No, it has to be brought to an extreme? Why? If people would look at many things more critically in this society, and show interest for all the many things that go on in this world, they would be able to debate this issues without these signs and choices of words.
That was my point, and yes, it might not have come across they way I wanted it too. But hey, it's so easy to do all of it in a, let's say, more reasonable way. Putting together a montage of a bloody hand next to a coin, is that really pushing AWARENESS? Hmmm...
Adrian Horien commented, on September 17, 2007 at 10:37 p.m.:
Amy, pardon my use of base language, but it seems fitting: when a woman is raped, the proper action is to hunt the bastard down who did the crime and make him pay - not the baby. That a woman is a victim in a rape, isn't changed nor solved by making the baby pay for the crime of the father. Again, the child in the womb is a human being, and is what the GAP display shows in clear terms. Yes, consiudering this human, it is an "inconvenience" to mommy.
Adrian Horien commented, on September 17, 2007 at 10:48 p.m.:
James, your comment about "real genocide" in other countries presumes that GAP display's a fake, or something less than, genocide. The reason for the full color and graphic display is to prove the humanity of the preborn. "A picture speaks a thousand words." They aren't shown for the shock value. They are shown because they are proof of the subject/thesis.
If the fetus in the womb is a human being, then killing it is genocide. Therefore, we show the proof of the preborn's humanity.
Mikka commented, on September 18, 2007 at 3:24 p.m.:
Well yeah, how can you say that what GAP dislays is real genocide?
Oxford says: "the deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation."
So, you might argue that unborn babies is also a large group of people? Then, killing people on death row can also be considered genocide? Murder victims throughout the nation also? Soon, every killing will be called genocide...that's what just does not sound right to me.
lifer commented, on September 18, 2007 at 10:59 p.m.:
Mikka,
The definition of "genocide" from Webster's New World Encyclopedia is "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, racial, religious, political, cultural, ethnic, or other group defined by the exterminators as undesirable." Abortion is deliberate. It doesn't happen by accident. It is on purpose. Is is also systematic. Women enter a clinic, are prepped, the abortionist enters room #1 and performs the abortion then goes across the hall to room #2 to perform the 2nd abortion while patient #1 is put in recovery and the room "turned" and patient #3 is prepped. Dozens of girls can get abortions in a single Saturday morning using this process. There is obvious destruction...see the photographic and video evidence. The national group is "unwanted, unborn" humans. Pol Pot had fellow Cambodians killed based on percieved education, which was an "undesirable" threat. There is the racial/ethnic and religious "undesirables". In the US, Blacks had the labor Whites wanted. The Native American had land the Whites wanted. We legalized the killing of such humans and declared them legal non-persons. The unborn, as other victims of genocide, are unwanted and that status is determined by those in a position of power based on totally subjective opinions. Why not base the laws on what we can prove and, in the US, our founding documents that state ALL (humans) men are created EQUAL...with the right to life. Since medical science has proven that the unborn offspring of 2 humans is completely alive and completely human from fertilization based on human DNA and chromomsomes, then legal abortion is discrimination against a fellow member of the human species. The unborn is a legal non-person...just like the Blacks, Jews, Native Americans...even women were denied many basic rights of personhood. Yet, just like the other victims of genocide and discrimination, the unborn is completely human.
Finally, abortion is an evil so horrific, word simply fail us. When people hold signs that say "abortion kills a baby", pro-choicers still get ticked off and whine. However, when people read those signs they think "well, that is her opinion" and go about there business. Without the facts and evidence, why would anyone think anything else? When you show the reality of abortion and people see with their own eyes the detailed development of the human while still in the 1st trimester, they don't see a blob or a clot...they see fingers, a hand, a foot, a face, a rib cage. They see a dead baby and they realize that abortion was the cause of that death. Now it isn't the opinion of a sign holder...it is the belief of the viewer of the photographic evidence which is based on facts, not opinion. This is the reality...it is ugly. You cannot make abortion beautiful.
Jess commented, on September 18, 2007 at 11:52 p.m.:
Sigh. I wonder sometimes if these people believe that making abortion illegal will stop it? Also, what should happen to women if they have an abortion?
Quinn commented, on September 19, 2007 at 2:03 a.m.:
Look, you Christ-hating leftist bigots.
[And I say that from my experience of leftists on the UT campus]
Don't pretend as if you care whether or not the "terminology" of words that are being used is accurate or not. You are the same people who are trying to RADICALLY RE-DEFINE MARRIAGE! You want to take the universally recognized concept of marriage as being between ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A FAMILY and RE-DEFINE it to include a man and a man or a woman and a woman who are unable to create a family.
News commented, on September 19, 2007 at 10:50 a.m.:
Woah, guys.
If you want your comments to be seen and heard, we need to keep it to peaceful debates.
So no name-calling.
Doyle Chadwick commented, on September 19, 2007 at 12:01 p.m.:
Peggy Loonan of "Life and Liberty for Women" tells us that they display two photos and several drawings of women who have had illegal abortions.
The ironic thing about that is that Pro-Lifers don't do abortion, legal or illegal. That means that those who support abortion "rights" must be doing the illegal abortions.
So what she's telling us is that if abortion is made illegal again, those who favor abortion "rights" are going to be injuring and killing a lot of women.
That's like the "Send me money or I'll kill this dog" scams. Pro-Lifers oppose abortion, legal AND illegal.
Mikka commented, on September 19, 2007 at 6:59 p.m.:
True. In today's world, making something like abortion illegal is like opening the door and say: come on in, don't do it, but everybody knows you'll do it anyway. In Europe, many countries have banned it. What happens? People flock to countries where it is still allowed and have it done there. So, awareness or not, legal or not, it's not gonna stop it.
Adrian Horien commented, on September 19, 2007 at 10:28 p.m.:
Well, let's just get rid of the thievery laws...people are still gonna steal with or without them. Let's get rid of the rape laws....people will still rape with or without them. ad-infinitum........
If the preborn are people, it is wrong to kill them, period!
Uncle Raisin commented, on September 19, 2007 at 10:30 p.m.:
At www.UncleRaisin.com we expose local leadership that violates their public trust, just like the people from GAP intend to do regarding the babies that are aborted. Come and check us out and chime in on a blog or two.