(no subject)

Some group or other came to campus this week. On monday they set up these huge, two story displays in one of the main thoroughfares consisting mostly of large stomach churning color pictures of aborted babies. Honestly speaking, I think that babies in the womb are living, innocent people, and though I know not at what point exactly life starts, I do believe it's pretty much murder except for those rare occasions, such as tubal pregnancies, when both mother and child would die anyway. That said, I have had to think rather hard about these displays. I have a pretty iron stomach as far as most things go, but even I get queasy when looking at some of those pictures. Then again, I can completely see the point of displaying such a thing, pictures speaking louder than words ever can. They may cause some consternation, and I saw like two or three picketers, but the effect on my campus is really positive overall. Some people are incensed to the point of raising their voices, but I am truly appreciative that everyone for the most part seem to be willing to at least open up and talk about it, if even for a few minutes. Loud or violent protestations never really solve anything, and such bickerings never change minds. This sudden weeklong thing has nudged open the doors to some small degree of actual conversation, so I am grateful.

On a side note, I know people have a right to protest and make picket signs and whatnot, but people should at least be intelligent when doing so. I saw a girl with a sign that read something about this campus not being their soapbox, and I just laughed. Campuses are, and always have been, great big soapboxes for anyone who wanted to use them, and furthermore, her very sign meant that she was making this campus into her own soapbox. The irony amused me. There were a few others of the same caliber of whit that made me laugh, but also made me just a bit sad. If you're going to say something, at least say something that will motivate others to do something other than to laugh at you.