Tuesday, June 2, 2009

In Loving Memory




Dr. George Tiller
August 08, 1941 - May 31, 2009
Wichita, Kansas
I am dedicating this post to a wonderful man who never got the support he deserved in his lifetime. Dr. George Tiller, was gunned down in his own church Sunday morning. He was my doctor once and I am not ashamed to say so. I do recall driving at least a half a dozen women to his clinic over the years. Dr. Tiller stood up for my rights and took the heat for those of us who were too afraid to stand up for ourselves. I remember watching the people stand out there and protest, never once did I or any other woman who used Dr. Tiller ever stand up and be a voice for him.
I had a wonderful weekend with my family and then I came home and read the terrible news. I remember there was a get together in Topeka this past weekend that prompted people to put giant banners on their homes that read "god hates america". It is so very sad to see the cycle of hate being taught to our children. This is such a very volatile topic and I am still going to voice what I need to share on this blog. If I receive any negative feedback I will simply delete the comments. That is the power of blogging. I cannot go into a meeting here in town and discuss my issues on this topic because there are just so many open minded people here in Wichita, where they gunned a man down in church, that I don't feel safe. There are "friends" I don't feel safe talking to about it either. I talked to my sponsor, I cried to her actually, I just don't understand why you would kill a doctor. Don't you see it was not him who wanted the service done, it was me, and every other woman who CHOSE to use his clinic of our own free will. His services made it so I may have the beautiful children I have today. People called him an animal and compared him to Hitler calling him a mass murderer. He never chose to have this procedure done, he has 4 children and 10 grandchildren. He simply made sure to be there for those of us who needed his services. Why did no one ever get angry with us women who chose to do this? Why did we sit in the shadows and never speak out for him, why were we always afraid to even mention this. We sit here and use this man for his services and let him put himself in mortal danger and do not speak out for our own rights.
My only shame is in not speaking up for Dr. Tiller when he needed me to. If every woman who had his services stood up to the hate mongers, I am not talking about the peaceful protesters I am talking about the people who incite hate and fear, the local terrorists, if we stood up to them we would probably out number them 1000 to 1. Today I am crying because I am sad that women will not be able to find help when they need it. Because of this there will be more babies born addicted to crack, more babies killed at the hands of their mothers who were forced to have children when they were not spiritually ready to have them. But I guess that is better than abortion, to kill your child after it is born. Then you will simply be found insane like Andrea Yates, who chased her babies down one by one and drowned them in the bath tub.
I live in a town as open minded as it comes, with bigots who hate gay and lesbians, hate mexican immigrants and hate womens rights. If people in my town had their way we still wouldn't be able to vote. I hope the Tiller family may find peace knowing Dr. Tiller died fighting for womens rights. Because when it comes right down to it, that is what this is about, a womens right to choose. this country is built on hope and I hope to help end the cycle of discrimination, intolerance, and hate. The only way to do that is to keep an open mind and to see both sides of every debate.
If you don't like this post, please do not leave a comment, it will not be published. This is a memorial to a man who I believe dedicated his life to help women everywhere.
today's thought;“An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.”
“My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.”- Mahatma Gandhi

12 comments:

Syd said...

Thanks for speaking out about this. Dr. Tiller has been a target of anti-abortion vitriol for years and had been shot before. I do believe that he was killed for providing a legal, and much needed, service for women.

Anti-abortion extremists have already done their best to make it frightening to go to a clinic to have an abortion and to escort patients into those clinics. The culture of silence around abortion means that most of the 43% of women in the US who have abortions don't talk about it openly. And now, for the first time in a long time, they've upped the ante and engaged in an overt act of terrorism.

Dr. Tiller was working according to the law. I don't understand humans who hate killing yet will kill another human. It makes no sense at all, other than they are zealots of the worst kind.

Tolerance, understanding, and walking a mile in the other person's shoes would do everyone good.

cw2smom said...

Excellent commentary on this issue! I too was horrified to hear that this man was killed, and in church...of all places when he was gunned down! It's terrorism on the homefront...plain and simple. If the extremists continue to behave in this manner, there won't be any doctors willing to perform abortions and that will be very sad. May he rest in peace and may his family be comforted at this difficult time.

Wait. What? said...

Definitely something that needed to be posted about - I am a firm believer that I can dislike what people do or believe or think - but I have no right to take a life to change things...

this is America's own form of terrorism...alive and well in the homeland

Busy Bee Suz said...

This is a great post in tribute to a good man. He was trying to help, I understand this. I don't know why so many people have such hatred in their hearts...I will never get it.
The anti-abortion activists are insane...
Take care, Suz

Lou said...

If people stand up for what they believe in, bigotry will be squashed..by one brave and honest person, like yourself, at a time.

Dad and Mom said...

Thank you for your post. As a fellow Kansan I know that not all the people from our state are haters. It is a shame the Fred Phelps and his like are able to gather so much publicity that tarnishes the good citizens in our state. Now we have another blemish on us from a man that not only commits an atrocity but but drives half way across the state to do it.

Shadow said...

we are all allowed to honour those who made an imprint in our lives. i'm sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for speaking out. We have a long way to go in human society before the full moral agency of women is recognised.



Mary LA

Patrick said...

Thanks for writing about this, a post that needed to be written. A sad story, indeed.

G-Man said...

R.I.P. Doc....

Sage Ravenwood said...

Thank you for posting about this dear friend. You are so right he stood up for a woman's right to choose. As everyone has said, if we all stand up for what we believe in - sooner or later the hate will end. I'm so sorry you're living among people who don't believe in woman's rights, nor respect those of gays. (Hugs)Indigo

CJ said...

This was a lovely and heartfelt post.

I don't understand those who say they hate killing and then choose to kill.