November 15, 2007 6:24 AM

Yes, the continuing persecution of intolerant, anti-choice Christians continues unabated

Oakland city message to pro-lifers: Shut up! ‘This is the biggest threat to free speech in a generation, and that’s not hyperbole’

A proposal moving swiftly toward approval by the Oakland City Council would tell Christians and others who offer an alternative to abortion to “shut up,” a public interest law firm says…. “If we assume there is a right to choice as it is alleged ‚Äö√Ѭ∂ if there is the right to choose an abortion, there must also be a right to choose birth,” Cyrus Johnson, an attorney affiliated with Pacific Justice Institute, told WND after the council gave initial approval to a new speech restriction on pro-life protesters. But Johnson said a new “bubble” law en route to passage by the council simply ignores free speech issues and clamps down on one side of the abortion argument…. “If reproductive rights include the right to choice, and one of those choices is abortion, then another one of those choices is to give birth,” Johnson said. “If they claim, on the one hand, that the law guarantees the right to reproductive rights counseling on the matter of the choice of abortion, it must necessarily also include the right to receive counseling about another choice. This ordinance effectively wipes out that second alternative.

Interesting how anti-choice zealots want to have their cake and eat it, isn’t it? They insist that they be granted their “right” to protest at abortion clinics and harrass women seeking reproductive health services…and yet the see no contradiction with doing everything short of kindnapping women to “save babies”. They want to be able to do whatever they think will enhance their chances for success (defined as denying a woman her right to an abortion if that’s he choice). This includes harrassing those seeking care and those providing it- and in some cases this harrassment turns violent. In short, they want their rights while they work to deny women theirs.

What Would Jesus Do? I think he’d be kicking Cyrus Johnson’s ass right about now…and deservedly so. Hypocrisy is not a Constitutionally-guaranteed right…nor should it be. Of course, if you’re one of those who thinks that God is on your side, you could probably care less about the Constitution. You answer to a higher authority, no?

While I’m all for the right to free speech and expression, providing what anti-choice types refer to as “offering alternatives” often crosses the line into harrassment, insults, intimidation, and proselytizing. Why must a woman be forced to run a gauntlet of intolerant, judgemental anti-choice zealots in order to avail herself of a medical procedure guaranteed and protected by Roe v. Wade? There’s no Constitutional right to harrass and berate those who make decisions different than what you might. There’s nothing in the Constitution than guarantees your “right” to intimidate those who don’t share your narrow, ignorant intolerance.

I don’t necessarily know that Oakland’s ordinance is the answer to this question, but I do think it’s a step in the right direction. Women deserve to be able to avail themselves of protected medical procedures without being harrassed, intimidated, or preached at. Being a Christian and an anti-abortion zealot may be your right, but that doesn’t connote a corresponding right to harrass and harangue those who happen not to share your narrow beliefs. There is no “right” to be an insensitive, intolerant asshole, and it’s time these maroons recognized that their attitude and behavior besmirches a perfectly good religion and belief system.

Then again, if you believe that God is on your side, you’re not listening to anything but your swollen, hyperactive ego, anyway….

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on November 15, 2007 6:24 AM.

Coming soon to a male fantasy near you was the previous entry in this blog.

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