Killing Dr. Tiller Again

I just got this statement from the Abortion Care Network about last night's truly awful Law & Order show. They say it better than I could (actually I had to turn it off!).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/24/09

Murdered Again
When the Independent Abortion providers who make up the Abortion Care Network learned that an episode of NBC’s Law and Order was going to be based on the May 31, 2009 assassination of Dr. George Tiller (a founding member of our organization), many of us were upset. We felt that no matter how his murder was ‘ripped from the headlines’ it was much too soon and too raw to turn it into a piece of popular culture. Now that we have seen it we are furious and deeply offended.

For many of us George Tiller was mentor, teacher, friend---he was known in our circles as ‘St. George’ because he embodied principles of goodness, kindness, respect, and faith--the best in us. He was a man of extraordinary principles and generosity. In a field in which courage and dedication in the face of hatred, violence, and terror are almost expected, Dr. Tiller stood out. He had been firebombed more than once, mercilessly harassed by legal officials who over and over came up with nothing, and survived a previous assassination attempt in which he was shot. He continued to do his work because women needed him.

So we are justifiably protective of Dr. Tiller’s reputation and honor. NBC concocted a dreadful hybrid that bears no resemblance to this truly amazing doctor. And they concocted a story that bears no resemblance to the complexity of the issues involved in abortion, let alone late abortion. NBC cannot hide behind the words, “The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event when they begin their story by having a doctor murdered in his church. Their disclaimer should have read, “This story purports to be balanced but we are about to insinuate that a doctor who was assassinated was, himself, guilty of homicide, and thus to blame for his own murder.” This is particularly egregious because Dr. Tiller was the repeated victim of politically motivated investigation and was repeatedly found innocent of any wrongdoing related to his medical practice. This “fiction” casts doubt on his integrity, and gives the impression that abortion is homicide which U.S. law is clear that it is not.

No one knows the complexity of abortion more than abortion providers.  Independent Abortion providers provide 80% of abortions in this country---and an even higher percent of late abortions. We sit with women and hold their hands and listen to their stories and support them as they make the best decisions they can for themselves and their families.

This Law and Order episode was called “Dignity”. It treated us to the heart wrenching testimony of a woman whose values told her that the best way to honor herself and the doomed life she was carrying late in pregnancy was to bring the pregnancy to term and be there as her baby died. What was left out was the equally compelling, equally real, equally heart wrenching  testimony of real women whose values told them that the best way to honor themselves and spare suffering to the doomed life they carried late in pregnancy was to end that life. These women sought care from Dr. Tiller in the care of a compassionate physician and staff---a physician and staff who understand more than the writers of law and Order ever could what it means to want a baby and then lovingly let it go. The point of choice is that the woman herself gets to define what a death with dignity means to her. She and her family get to honor their own beliefs and values.

There is no balance here. We are shown the character of a woman D.A. who used to believe in Roe v. Wade, but was thrown into confusion by hearing of someone else’s experience. If we know anything it is that one person’s opinion or experience doesn’t tell us much about what we would do in that actual situation. A pro-choice perspective makes room for each woman to come to her own truth. Any other perspective forces someone to compromise their own integrity.

The Abortion Care Network brings the experience and voice of Independent Abortion Providers and the women we serve into the national conversation. This kind of truly fictitious television reveals just how needed that voice is.


       

Comments

[bonnie moss-rhodes]

I am so grateful. I also want to than-you and this site for the good work you do. It is so good to be reminded that there are good caring people out there.

[Julie]

Good news, Bonnie. I just read on the Daily Kos that Ebay rejected the "Domestic Terroist Support Network" Telethon, er, auction.

[OperationCounterstrike]

If Scott Roeder does not get put to death, then other right-to-lifers should be killed in his place.

It's time to start answering right-to-lifist terror in kind, with COUNTERTERROR against right-to-lifers.

[bonnie moss-rhodes]

Actually I was not working at the clinic when Christine died. I came back to work for the good Doctor several weeks latter. So no I did not donate to the cost of her funeral. Did you?

Not that it is anymore pertinent to the original subject of this disscussion than your question,but I can say that among other groups I donate to special olympics and I have a Grandchild with disabilities I try to help as offten as possible live independently.

Other things I did not do regarding the tradjedy of Christines death: I did not put up a web site begging for people to send me donations. I did not suggest that this young woman was deliberately killed to cover up incest (how horrible for her family that this accusation was posted on a web page and then spread about the web as the truth with out a single grain of truth in it.)by people who claim to have some sort of moral highground.

I did take the time and effort to read the entire autopsy report. I researched the ability of yeast to become systemic. And I read the report by the grandjury.

I also got the first hand experience of seeing a broken hearted staff grieve for the death of this young woman. You see unlike the folk at the gate the staff actually get to know the patients and their families. We did not have to guess at their situation or motives.

While the patients were under our care real friendships developed. That is why patients continued to write letters for years after they had been in our care to let us know how they were doing and catch us up on their lives and families.

Now back to the actual subject of the disscussion. You did not take the time to read what I wrote. I did not say The Good Doctor testified she was raped. I said he presented evidence that convicted rapists. He presented evidence that showed who did and who did not rape this young woman as he did so very many times.

as to the auction, do you support all terrorists having the best private defense possible or only those you agree with? Actually I think any defendent should have the best possible defense. I also think that the auction is a gimick for a group of folk who want the attention and pubplicity. It has less to do with raising defense money than getting in the news. Like the phelps group these folk crave attention and negative is easier to get than positive.

[Pandora]

So you didn't help with Christin's funeral expenses?

Tsk, tsk, tsk ..... the sole contribution made was Tiller the Killer telling some Texas grand jury Christin was raped? Whooopee ... Thought that had already been determined before she was brought to her unfortunate meeting with Mr Tiller.

Hopefully the funds raised will pay the killer's attorney's fees. Better that than have the state have to pay a public defender.

[bonnie moss-rhodes]

I hope e-bay does not allow this. It is no different than if some fringe group sold stuff on e-bay to raise money for the 9/11 zealots.

As for those folk such as pandora. I just see them as poorly informed by choice and not very original either in their arguments or thinking.

Perhaps pandora should take the time to read the whole autopsy report along with aquainting herself with some basic microbiology and then she might have some notion of what she seems to be attempting to disscuss.

The prolifers went all out raising money on this poor girls body. Their only concern for her or her family was on how to turn a tragedy into a profit (either politicaly or monetary). I'm sure pandora is aware that Dr. Tiller was under a grand jury investigation and cleared. Perhaps she is not aware that Dr. Tiller provided evidence before a Texas jury investigating Christines rape. Or that he provided evidense in hundreds of rape cases that ensured the rapists were convicted.

The only time I ever heard a prolife group mentions this activity was on one web site they were condeming Dr. Tiller for assisting in the conviction of a preacher who had impregnated a fourteen year old.

[Pandora]

Now you fans of Tiller the Killer had a chance to demonstrate some class. Did you sell any of your stuff to help pay for Christin Gilbert's funeral?

[Julie]

It gets worse, Bonnie. I have read at Slate that anti-abortion protestors are selling stuff on ebay to raise funds for Tiller's murderer. Real classy, like Pandora who graces this site with her poor debating skills.

[bonnie moss-rhodes]

I worked for Dr. Tiller. I worked nights and had the honor of many late night conversations with this brave man. We had talked many times about the danger to him. Several times he told me that he knew it was said he hoped if they did it would be a clean head shot.

He lived with the constant harassment, the threats, the vandalism and the misrepresentation. He fought back against the numerous lawsuits, a grand jury investigation brought by petition (kansas you only have to have so many signatures on a petition to force a grand jury)the insults for thirty plus years.

He did it for his patients whose welfare and lives he placed above all else. He was a man of monumental courage who lived with dignity and honor. He was a man who gave of his own time and resources every day to help others. He was a man who loved his family, bragged about his children and grandchildren. He was a man proud that he had served in the Navy. He was good to his staff beyond just being a boss. I remember him going to the hospital following a ambulance that held one of our staff who had become ill. Of course the antis immediately had pictures all over the internet that it had to be a "botched" abortion and that the patient probably had died. He knew they would harrass him as he walked through the parking lot and of course there were the pictures of him parking his car that somehow proved he had done "something". He did not even hesitate becuase he was concerned his staff member be looked after.

Shame on a show like this to use the assasination of a good man, a real man with real live family and friends. It makes them no better than those in the "pro-life" camp that attempted to make points and donations on the death of this good man while also claiming to be not advocating the violence that lead to his death.

As to the former comment about "a killer decided to kill a killer" how sad that anyone could be that simple minded. "Tiller the killer" was not his name but rather a slogan that was part of the rethoic that was used to incite the violence. His name was George Tiller, one of the best men I ever knew, and I miss him dearly.

[Pandora]

“This story purports to be balanced but we are about to insinuate that a doctor who was assassinated was, himself, guilty of homicide, and thus to blame for his own murder.”

Yes Dr Tiller was guilty of killing. Homicide, no, as that is a legal term for a criminal act, and I don't believe Mr Tiller was convicted of the crime of homicide. But his name of Tiller the Killer was well deserved.

To blame for his own murder? Well, no. His killer is responsible for his own actions, as was Tiller the Killer. A killer decided to kill a killer.