Celebrating Tiller’s Memory with…Free Abortions?

By: Nina Jones

Let’s be honest here. A man was murdered. This is a victory for no one. Even so, George Tiller’s death has led to some very unusual and reprehensible behavior. But blaming Fox News or blatantly underreporting the murder of an American soldier is almost run of the mill and routine in comparison to the actions of many pro-choice zealots. This type of reckless and socially irresponsible behavior seems to have exposed the raw, unedited, and un-prepackaged views of many in the pro-choice movement. The latest morality fiasco carried out in Tiller’s name took place in Philadelphia.

LifeNews.com reported that on Tuesday, June 9^th, The Philadelphia Women’s Center gave away free abortions “in honor of slain late-term abortion practitioner George Tiller.” This was the first and, by all accounts the last time this center will do this.

Really? Is this really happening?

The first wave of disappointment hit me when I realized this was taking place in Philadelphia. My city. My home for 10 months out of the year. It was my understanding that this type of radical demonstration was left for the West coast. Or New England. It really is a disgrace wherever it took place, but it stung a bit more than expected being this close to home.

The second wave of confusion slapped me across the face as I wondered how this is a proper way to celebrate a man’s life. Why free abortions? Just because he gave away free abortions from time to time? Is it really proper to use something as serious as abortion to “honor” Tiller? You honor someone by saying a few kind words. By carrying on the importance of his or her legacy, and, as much as it makes me cringe to say, many people considered Tiller an important man with an important purpose. I don’t think that temporarily giving out free abortions carries out his supposed legacy. Instead it just reminds people how frivolously many pro-abortion activists treat such a crucial and life altering procedure.

It was that thought that wafted in the third and final wave of disgust. It should not matter on what side of the pro-choice/pro-life debate you stand; this type exploitation cannot be excused. To think that just by taking the monetary value out of the equation somehow makes it easier for these women to get abortions is despicable. The price of an abortion should not influence a woman’s decision to obtain one. This isn’t a sale on purses or a discount on pet fish; this is human life, that of both the mother and child. The consequences of an abortion mentally and emotionally on women are not factors to be taken lightly and cannot be washed away by allowing these women to keep their wallets full.

Some may argue that this gave underprivileged women an opportunity to have abortions that they could not receive otherwise. Under that line of thinking, isn’t it also fair to say that by flashing a “free abortion” sign to them under the condition that it can only take place within a 24-hour window (though the window was probably smaller considering working hours) is a hollow incentive coaxing those women to hastily make a decision based on something as arbitrary as money? The Philadelphia Women’s Center, under that line of thinking, was preying on their financial hardships by putting pressure on them to end a life and forever change their own in desperation and fear, cloaked beneath the guise of heroism. Now, I cannot claim to know of the goings on behind the doctor’s door, but if this was Tiller’s legacy, then these devoted followers established it as one of immoral and shamelessly unconscionable misdeeds.

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