I’m at a loss of words, to be honest. Part of me isn’t surprised by this language, particularly because its coming from Ann Coulter, and especially because it’s on the O’Reilly factor.
What was particularly disgusting for me was the fact that she referred to Dr. Tiller’s death as a “late term abortion.” It’s scary to think about the direction that the conservative party is going; inciting acts of egregious violence through rhetoric that fuels hatred towards pro-choice advocates. What state is our world in when people, on national television, gain popularity by spewing words of hatred and whom condone acts of domestic terrorism against women’s health care providers.
Listening to Ann Coulter makes me sick.
She claims that the “pro-life” movement is peaceful. If a feminist needed a laugh for the day, there’s one for you. Apparently if only “five abortion doctors” have been killed in 35 years, “pro-lifers” must be a handful of Ghandi’s. Well for starters, thats a very bankrupt interpretation of what constitutes as violence. Women face harassment on the regular when trying to seek out an abortion and on top of that face incredible amounts of stigmatization and verbal abuse afterwards. Secondly, five deaths is enough. In this country there are very few doctors who are either medically knowledgeable or willing to provide abortion services, and to label the death of five doctors “a small amount,” is trivializing and seeks to create widespread apathy.
She claims that she is “personally opposed to killing abortionists, but doesn’t want to impose her moral values on others.” In other words, as long as you aren’t pulling the trigger you’re not responsible for others acts of violence. Its reprehensible, and I hope one of these days they’ll throw in someone like Samantha Miller to take her right-wing banter on.
On a better note, pro-choice activists are certainly not taking this kind of rhetoric lightly, and they are working tirelessly to create resistance against anti-choice violence. In fact, NARAL Pro-Choice America, in honor of Dr. Tiller, have created “Trust Women” wrist bands. Donate to their services and get a couple of these wrist bands.
If this video should serve as anything, it is an indication that this is just the beginning. Our efforts, as feminists and activists, are needed now, more then ever, to build resistant strategies and disseminate information to keep choice available for all women.
