Yes, I realize how pretentious this sounds, I do. But I don't say this because I'm so much better than the heathens in this decade, I don't think that our music is all terrible nowadays, and I'm not writing this listening to Frank Sinatra as I lay draped over my bed wearing a poodle skirt and saddle shoes. I say this because I'm grumpy, frustrated by loud children, slightly afraid of teenagers, and my joints hurt.
As for the title of this post, I want anyone reading this to know that while the heading of this post combined with the name of this blog, may lead you to believe this is going to become an angsty, whiny diatribe, I hope it will not. I have a lot of ideas and opinions, and to avoid getting punched out, I'm posting them here, at a safe distance from anyone reading.
(Aside: It may become pretty clear that I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to anything technological, so I apologize. My sister told me that adding pictures will break up the monotony of a my onslaught of words, and I have no pictures to post so..here are some inexperienced selfies.)
I don't even know what this is. |
Now, to the issue I want to write about today. I attend a high school, as most people my age do, and I was running late to school today, as most people my age often are.
As I was hurrying along the sidewalk, trying to walk fast while not harming myself or anyone around me (which can be embarrassingly difficult for me sometimes), a pair of adults shoved a packet of papers in my hand, and I didn't think much of it. Homecoming just happened, and for some reason, I thought it had something to do with that.
But then, I opened the pamphlet. And my eyes were absolutely assaulted with horrible, graphic pictures of babies (or fetuses, if you prefer, but a baby is a baby.) torn to shreds. I closed it immediately and threw it away, but the damage was done. I spoke to others at the school, and no one else was prepared for the material of the pamphlet either.
Now, I am a vehement pro-lifer, and believe people should be able to express their opinions. But to stand outside of a high school, full mostly of minors, and pass out disgusting, horrible, disturbing photographs like that without warning is inexcusable, and it is, in my mind, a form of assault. I felt angry, disgusted, and powerless to erase the images now imprinted in my brain.
And, another reason this is so awful, if someone is so upset over the death of these children, why in the name of all that is holy would you exploit their little broken bodies so horrifically? It's such a sensationalized tactic, it's sting is lost to those whose minds they're trying to change, and to those, like myself, who already hold the beliefs they are propagating, it's a total sucker punch to the stomach. So what are they trying to accomplish, and what have they managed to do?
If they were handing out simple, earnest facts, more minds would be changed, or at least would listen. People usually see those images, presented with no warning, and throw the pamphlets away. Nothing is accomplished, besides alienation.
Okay... so mood swing now, back to Tentative Teenage First Time Blogger. I hope to continue this, and if you have any questions, comments, or thoughts (and I'm cool with constructive critisism. I'd appreciate it actually. :)) So... Whoomph there it is. Hopefully, I'll be writing again soon, and you'll be wanting to read it.
I totally agree, Hailey. I'm so sorry you had to experience that. I hate sensationalism. Let me base my opinions on what is real, and let's be mature about it. You're amazing, keep it up.
ReplyDelete(Suzanne Bree)
Thank you! We miss you, Sister Bree!
DeleteI totally agree, I too am a pro-life but when I dropped off my girls at MO I saw a stranger handing a pamphlet to kim and I called the school and reported it. Great job, keep it up. You will one day become a great writer.
ReplyDeleteThank you! :) And I told the vice principal, too, but they said if they were on the sidewalk and not on the school there was nothing they could do.
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