Dr. Tiller is Dead

 

I grew up in Wichita and Dr. Tiller was well known to our community. I really came to grips with the issue of abortion during a particularly protest filled summer. Prior to that time I had a pretty self centered view of the whole issue. My view was that I am a male and I am sexually abstinent until marriage, so this won’t really matter to me. As I said, pretty self centered.

 

During a particular summer, the community galvanized into two pretty distinct camps: the self proclaimed “Pro-Life” group, and the equally self proclaimed “Pro-Choice” group. Both groups asked tough questions as abortion protesters engaged in non-violent civil disobedience at Dr. Tiller’s clinic (and other’s also).

 

You see my grandfather was a full blooded German immigrant. I couldn’t help but ask him, “Where were you when they were killing the Jews?” His answer: “I was serving in the U.S. Army.” But, because of the times he lived, I still think it was a fair question. During that summer, I began to imagine my grandkids asking me, “Where were you when they were killing the babies?” I know, the issue is not quite so cut and dried, but the question haunted me. It was then that I “joined” the Pro-Life crowd. 

 

I feel wholeheartedly that Dr. Tiller’s actions of performing third-trimester abortions on demand were evil, pure and simple. I can only imagine the impact the 60,000 abortions had on the women who underwent the procedures, much less the impact those children may have had. However, his murder is inexcusable.

 

I hope you don’t need an explanation from me as to why vigilante violence is both inappropriate and immoral in our system. However, let me make it clear: The stain of abortion on demand is one our country bears, and must wrestle with and against. We must answer for the blood of the innocent. To somehow think Dr. Tiller is the end all of the system is not only naïve, it is also cowardly. Furthermore the murder of a man is clearly on the soul of the individual committing the murder. I condemn the action, as did just about every Pro-Life group I know of.

 

However, I am also saddened at the result for the cause of ending Abortion on Demand. Dr. Tiller was under investigation for crimes in his business. It would seem to me that much more would have been accomplished had he been charged, tried, convicted, and shamed for his activities, then to become the heroic martyr many Pro-Choice people now see him to be.