Home › Forums › Open Discussion › NARAL Barred from Summer Fest
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July 8, 2010 at 1:02 am #698508
kParticipantit’s all very disappointing. i was so excited to attend this year’s fest after having been away last year. too bad.
July 8, 2010 at 1:04 am #698509
JoBParticipantDP..
I have personally made the profound moral choice regarding abortion myself… and i chose to give birth to a child i gave up.
I want you to understand that this was not an easy choice to make. Aside from the profound affect going through with that birth had on my educational opportunities in the late 60s… i got to live most of my life without knowing whether my child lived.. and if so.. was the life I sacrificed so much for him to have.. the one he got?
But the fact of the matter is that even though abortion was illegal at the time i gave birth.. i had a doctor who gave me a safe and legal choice.
I don’t believe anyone else has a right to make moral choices for another human being…
especially when they are not willing to take full responsibility for the consequences of the “choice” they have forced upon another person.
I don’t believe the radical “pro-life” movement has anything to do with morals… i believe it has to do with judgments and with retribution.
killing abortion doctors to prevent them “killing” unwanted children sort of takes the moral high ground out of the debate.. as does plastering our billboards and community events with images of the mutilated bodies resulting from the antiquated partial birth abortion practices… abortions that are only legal now if the life of the mother is threatened…
I know there are those who would like to separate the two.. but the simple truth is that a mother who can not carry a child full term without dieing is not likely to give birth to a child with much chance of survival… and i have a difficult time with those who would choose the life of the unborn child over that of the mother.
If you want to talk about morals… who gave anyone the right to make that decision and how willing are you to hand your life and death decisions over to complete strangers who know nothing about you or your circumstances and whose priorities don’t favor your life?
Where are those highly moral people when it is time to vote funds for feeding, sheltering, educating and nurturing unwanted babies? where are those highly moral people when it comes time to vote funds for education programs for the teen mothers of those unwanted babies? Where are those highly moral people when it comes time to vote funds for sexual education (including abstinence) to help prevent unwanted pregnancies?
Those billboards with the picture of a fully developed infant and slogans like he had fingers at however many weeks say it all…. they don’t picture the embryo at that stage of pregnancy because the reality of an embryo wouldn’t inflame passions and induce guilt…
The “pro-life” movement has nothing at all to do with life.. unless life is only precious before birth.
The ultimate goal of the pro-choice movement is to have every pregnancy end in the birth of a healthy child with parents who are willing to take the responsibility of creating a nurturing environment for that child…
That’s what choice means. Abortion is only one of several choices for a woman faced with an unintended pregnancy.
July 8, 2010 at 1:07 am #698510
CarsonParticipantKeep in mind, “The Junction” assoc that puts on the event is not in business to serve the community. Its an organization who’s first function is to serve its members. The business owners. If you want to affect change, then that who you need to work.
July 8, 2010 at 1:27 am #698511
angelescrestParticipantAnd, for every female we know/love, the choices must be available to her. It feels like those choices are under attack.
From NARAL today:
You are not going to believe this. Our fight for strong Pharmacy Board rules that protect access to needed medications, including emergency contraception, is facing an alarming setback.
As you may remember, back in 2007, thanks to an outpouring of letters, phone calls, emails, and public testimony from pro-choice activists, the Washington Board of Pharmacy passed two rules that expressly protect patients’ access to medications at the pharmacy counter. Under these rules, a patient cannot be turned away due to the personal, non-medical beliefs of a pharmacist.
However, a pharmacy owner and two pharmacists filed a lawsuit against the rules. That case has taken a series of twists and turns, including a Ninth Circuit ruling in support of pharmacy access, and a trial on the rules has been set for the end of the month.
Then, last week the Pharmacy Board called a last-minute meeting and voted to re-open the rulemaking process, potentially to weaken the pharmacy access rules we worked so hard to pass.
And today, the State of Washington, joined by the anti-choice plaintiffs in the case, filed a motion requesting a delay in the trial to allow time for a new rulemaking process.
It is outrageous that the Board of Pharmacy and the State are jeopardizing our hard-fought victories for women’s health. We cannot afford to lose ground on this important fight for access to needed, time-sensitive medications.
Stay tuned for updates on this case and how you can get involved. Be prepared to stand up and protect access to essential health care for women and for all Washingtonians.
Thank you for all you do to protect women’s rights and health.
July 8, 2010 at 1:29 am #698512
JoBParticipantLibertybell
and Junction Association…
I realize you are a private organization.. but you are holding a public event in a public space..
choosing to bar an organization simply because you are uncomfortable with the possible subject matter without creating guidelines that would also bar other organizations whose agendas might also be controversial is likely illegal.
This is a textbook definition of discrimination.
I would like to remind you and the other members of this association that many of us vote with our pocketbooks.
I am not comfortable supporting a function that promotes discriminatory practices or businesses who condone discriminatory practices.
I won’t be attending the festival if NARL does not have a booth.
I won’t buy anything from any festival vendor if NARL doesn’t have a booth.
I won’t patronize any Association member’s business if NARL does not have a booth.
This might be a good time to take a good look at the demographics of those who choose to pay more to support local businesses
and canvas your members to see if they are willing to risk financial censure for this controversial decision…
July 8, 2010 at 1:30 am #698513
CarsonParticipantYou hit that one right on the head JoB, nothing speaks louder than your pocketbook!!!
July 8, 2010 at 1:37 am #698514
kParticipantthank you JoB for your words. poignant and honest.
July 8, 2010 at 2:14 am #698515
dhgParticipantSo if we protest the Calvary chapel by holding signs of aborted fetuses then they’ll be barred next year?
July 8, 2010 at 3:07 am #698516
HelperMonkeyParticipantdhg, maybe we should hold up pics of Ted Haggard.
July 8, 2010 at 3:57 am #698517
WSBKeymasterJuly 8, 2010 at 4:13 am #698518
kParticipantthank you!
July 8, 2010 at 4:14 am #698519
JanSParticipantI really like the provision that WSJA has to approve handouts. I firmly believe that Naral and Planned Parenthood handouts would be tasteful, informative. While the other side handouts may be informative, I don’t think ( and this is just me), that they give a d**n about “tasteful”…they’re in it for the shock value.
It will be interesting to see how close in proximity they are to each other. I, myself, if I go to Summerfest, will steer clear of any “political” anything. We get that enough in our regular lives…Summerfest is about fun, in my book :)
July 8, 2010 at 4:27 am #698520
angelescrestParticipantAnd, thank you k for having brought this to our attention. Talk about affecting a change, JoB!
July 8, 2010 at 4:29 am #698521
JoBParticipantLibertybell
and Junction Association…
Thank you for making this decision. I really would have missed this festival and shopping in the Junction. I think it is really important to support local businesses and it matters to me that they are responsive to the community they serve.
I also want to thank you for monitoring signs and handouts. Graphic images.. where relevant.. belong on the inside of handouts at family friendly functions.. as does anger.
I am really looking forward to this event.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
July 8, 2010 at 5:01 am #698522
charlabobParticipantThank you to everyone who uncovered this story and effected the change.We’ll be there with bells.
July 8, 2010 at 5:42 am #698523
jonfredlundMemberThe local political spin on the story
July 8, 2010 at 1:59 pm #698524
anonymeParticipantJoB, you rock!
July 8, 2010 at 4:42 pm #698525
JoBParticipantJuly 8, 2010 at 4:47 pm #698526
kParticipanti hope to meet you someday JoB!!
July 8, 2010 at 7:26 pm #698527
JoBParticipanti plan to be at the bar at the heartland cafe today for happy hour.. 4 ish…
we will see if i make it.. it’s hot out there.
July 9, 2010 at 6:48 pm #698528
blackwatchMemberI’m with Mike Healey on this one. Free speech is always the best way to go no matter how uncomfortable it can be a times. Lack of free speech is greatly responsible for the fix America is in right now.
It’s just unfortunate that some groups don’t know how to act in public, and just because you have Profound Moral Issues doesn’t give you the right to be an ass.
July 10, 2010 at 5:07 pm #698529
yeah-meParticipantIs Calvary Chapel the group in the black T-shirts? They surrounded my little girl and I the three times we walked by their booth. I said “no thank you” to their little hand-outs — but I did feel they were WAY to aggressive. If I am interested I will step up to your booth. If not, let me walk by…
July 10, 2010 at 6:46 pm #698530
ws4everMemberThanks to all who made sure this event includes all viewpoints. That’s why I love WS!
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