GrodsCorp

Anti-anti-abortion protest in Melbourne

Friday 25 April 2008, 10:18 pm

Bron

Categories: GrodsNews

Tags: anti-anti-abortion

At this stage, it’s looking like 24 May is the date pro-lifers will be campaigning their offensive anti-abortion agenda, using revolting pictures to (erroneously) make their point.

After being outraged and extremely annoyed by some stupid letter spotted by The Editor in The Melbourne Times, it was widely agreed that Grodsters and other supporters of the — let’s give it a name — pro-choice movement should give these schmucks a bit of a rumble, The Outsiders style.*

So as I said, it’s looking like the date is 24 May. Mark your calendars.

Persons interested to attend are invited to email me at general_bron AT hotmail DOT com **

(It’s not my usual email, so stalkers and trolls, don’t bother doing whatever it is you normally do. And if you try to send a fake email pretending you’re someone else, I’ll be able to tell. Creeps.)

All names and details kept confidential. Suggestions on placards, slogans, info for blogdom distribution etc will be shared.

Please note that this will take place in East Melbourne.

*Not really, but it will be a protest — a peaceful anti-anti-abortion protest, in case any nutjobs are reading this.

**Kudos to Chuck A Spear for giving me the inspiration to think of a new email address name!

UPDATE: If you can’t attend the rally, but have some ideas for placards, spreading the word, etc, please let us know either in email to me or in the comments. It would be much appreciated!

82 Comments

Chuck A. Spear (Friday 25 April 2008, 10:38 pm) #

Great e-mail address General. There was another great Australian General whose name began with the letter ‘B’. His name was Blamey.

I think you should have the honorary title of General Bron Blamey.
Bron (Friday 25 April 2008, 10:44 pm) #

He looks just like me too!
Chuck A. Spear (Friday 25 April 2008, 10:55 pm) #

He was the only Australian soldier (officer to be precise) to reach the rank of Field Marshal. You too Bron could reach such dizzying heights of Blogdom.

I am at your service.
Bron (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:01 pm) #

Oh dear. I could take advantage of you, Chuck.
magic bellybutton (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:02 pm) #

Awesome email address.

Sadly, I’m in Brisbane so won’t be there to rumble. I will in spirit though.
Bron (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:09 pm) #

I won’t be there either, mb, but like you, my spirit will be there. And since my spirit will be in Melbourne, my body will be in Sydney lying comatose.

Perhaps someone can make a placard for mb with a message of her choice and wave it around? Hmm. There’s an idea.
Chuck A. Spear (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:12 pm) #

Oh dear. I could take advantage of you, Chuck.

I’m drunk, you can tell that to the judge.
Bron (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:15 pm) #

I’m a General, I don’t explain to judges.
Ant Rogenous (Friday 25 April 2008, 11:29 pm) #

I haven’t decided yet what my placard is going to say, but whatever message ends up being on there will be swimming in semicolons.
albi (Saturday 26 April 2008, 12:06 am) #

How about.

Attention God botherers. Abortion is your fault.

Countries with the most fervent religious faith have the greatest number of abortions. This stems directly from one of the primary aims of organized religion: the control of women, especially their fertility.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 12:12 am) #

Excellent point, Albi. Someone will make that point at the rally, I’ll make sure of it!
Jeremy (Saturday 26 April 2008, 9:25 am) #

I’ll be there.
Tom (Saturday 26 April 2008, 9:35 am) #

24th of May-but what time and where?
keri (Saturday 26 April 2008, 10:15 am) #

I’ll be there also.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 11:04 am) #

Tom, time and where will be distributed in an email (and maybe on Grods closer to the date).
keri (Saturday 26 April 2008, 11:55 am) #

Bron, do you have my email address to send the details?
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 1:26 pm) #

I do indeed, Keri!
Love life (Saturday 26 April 2008, 1:38 pm) #

Here’s a good slogan;

“IT’S A CHILD NOT CHOICE”

Much needs to be done to stop the wanton slaughter of children by selfish mothers. Young women today need to consider adoption as the valid option if they feel they need to abandon their parental responsibility.

There is no need to murder just because it is the “easier” option.

The fact that this website is encouraging violence against those who try to raise awareness to the plight of the most vulnerable in society, highlights how morally bankrupt the left is today.
albi (Saturday 26 April 2008, 1:51 pm) #

Nice parody there, ‘love life’.

Speaking of moral bankruptcy, anyone noticed that the most fervent ‘pro-lifers’, the religious right(sic) are also the most excitable pro death penalty?

Moving right along,

Here’s a placard idea.

“10-15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage - stop the carnage!!! sow up women’s vaginas NOW!”

source
Tom (Saturday 26 April 2008, 2:51 pm) #

Love life, is that a parody? Or have you been brought up on a diet of Jerry Falwell, Randall Terry and the Army of God?
E Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:06 pm) #

Love Life did you ever consider that women who get an abortion are perhaps being the LEAST selfish that they can possibly be. I don’t think ending a pregnancy is a particularly indulgent affair… perhaps the woman getting the abortion has valid reasons.

Would you want to continue a pregnancy if it was the product of rape, highly likely to have a genetic disorder or other disease (e.g., AIDS, HIV), or was likely to have suffered already from activities undertaken while the woman did not know that she was pregnant. Or what if the woman knows that she will not have the resources to support her child?

A child that is not wanted could potentially suffer neglect or abuse. Are you saying that this is the way forward?

You need to get a grip on reality Love Life.
E Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:10 pm) #

Oh… and Baby Rogenous and myself will be joining Ant Rogenous at the protest!

Anyone want to recommend a slogan for Baby Rogenous to wear?
Love life (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:12 pm) #

No. No parody.

I am an everyday non religious citizen who happens to love life in all it’s forms. Nothing Christian or fanatic about me.

I was brought up on a diet of scientific thinking and was taught to look at things logically.

I have come to the conclusion that life begins at conception, (hence the separate DNA structure for the child), and that termination is a barbaric practice, that should be replaced with adoption.
Love life (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:34 pm) #

Good point about the rapist E.

The vast majority of all abortions are the result of rape.

How about for your placard;

“KILL THE RAPIST, NOT THE BABY”.

This is not something I condone however since I “Love Life”.

More ideas could be;

“ABORTION; ONE BEATING HEART STOPS, ANOTHER ONE BREAKS”
Chuck A. Spear (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:40 pm) #

How many babies have you adopted Love Life?
Love life (Saturday 26 April 2008, 3:48 pm) #

Thanks Chuck,

Great to see someone engage in the adoption debate. I myself have one adopted child and one natural child.

I also have two children I sponsor in Africa through World Vision. (However I spare them the Christian propaganda).

Young women need to understand there are other options than just sucking the brains out of their child. If they don’t want the child or cannot afford him/her, fair enough, there are plenty of loving homes that will.

Adoption is not something that has to be decided immediately and can be dealt with a great deal of grace.
Chuck A. Spear (Saturday 26 April 2008, 4:04 pm) #

Good for you Love Life, but drop the bullshit about brains being sucked out. The “emotional terrorism” that you are trying to force on people has been discussed here before.
albi (Saturday 26 April 2008, 4:04 pm) #

I’m being honest when I suggested that you were being a parody, Love life. Sorry about that.

What you say about life beginning at conception is really the sticking point, isn’t it?

I don’t think that anyone would advocate for a woman’s right to an abortion if this could be clearly demonstrated. The fact is, it simply can’t. I think that up until the point where a baby can survive outside of the womb, the fetus can only be described as a ‘potential life’. In fact, the world health organisation suggest the loss of the foetus prior to the 23 week mark of pregnancy is a miscarriage. Post 23 weeks is a considered a still birth.

Oh, and the extreme far right-wing libertarians are entirely pro-choice, so your broadside at ‘the left’ (whatever they are) is disingenuous.
Tom (Saturday 26 April 2008, 5:27 pm) #

Some interesting ideas there, LL (and sorry about the psycho-Christian references as well). Several questions though:
- In Africa, where there is little chance of the mother’s child being adopted by a Westerner, what would you consider abortion to prevent the birth of children who can’t be sustained?
- If, hypothetically speaking, the number of children up for adoption outweighed prospective parents, would you consider abortion?
- What if the child would be mentally or physically disabled, and the parents knew they couldn’t raise it? Because adopting parents most likely won’t be wanting a disabled child (unfortunate but true).
- What if either the child’s or mother’s lives were in danger if she gave birth?
- On sex ed, what do you rather-abstinence only or more comprehensive?
Ant Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 5:29 pm) #

Love Life,

By attending this rally on May 24, I am neither condoning nor condemning abortion; I am protesting the acts of terrorism the pro-lifers outside the East Melbourne clinic use to get their message across. I’ve written about them before, but they include:

* Carrying placards emblazoned with images of maimed foetuses, and distributing similar pictures as literature indiscriminately mailed out to people’s homes
* Terrorising the kind people (patients) who need support and understanding rather than condemnation, religious zealotry and judgement in their time of crisis.

I’m disgusted precisely because most of these terrorists are undertaking their crusade under the guise of Christianity, but Jesus Christ himself would be appalled by their uncharitable, contemptible conduct. There’s nothing remotely “Christian” about it.

And your shot at “the left” is idiotic — to suggest my views are dictated by some broad political ideology is absurd; it’s the kind rubbish the intellectually bankrupt indulge in to bolster facile arguments.
Lang (Saturday 26 April 2008, 6:04 pm) #

As someone who is closely associated with fostering neglected/unwanted children, Lovelife, I suggest you do your homework on the dire shortage of people willing to foster these kids and get your act together.Adoption and fostering are a world apart,in fact, to give you some ammunition to use against me on this, I’d say that in a lot of cases that adoption is self serving, and fostering is caring.It’s been stated above reasons why abortion should be always the carriers choice,there’s more, people like you have no compassion, just self interested bigotry.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 6:34 pm) #

Ah. After I posted this post last night, and after I’d gone to bed, I stayed awake for a bit and thought perhaps I should have added a disclaimer: “THIS POST IS NOT A FORUM FOR PRO-LIFERS TO COME AND SPREAD THEIR PROPAGANDA. GO ELSEWHERE.” Or something like that.

However, I’m glad I didn’t, because as much as “Love life” is causing discomfort/annoyance/outrage/etc, to see the responses to his/her comments has highlighted just how narrow-minded and uncompromising the pro-lifers are, how rigid and inflexible their mindsets are.

So, really, thanks for dropping by, “Love life”. You have only served to make me, and others I assume, even more determined to send a message out to you and your ilk that your hideous tactics on emotional terrorism are just not on.

Baby Rogenous needs a slogan. God, it’s a tough one. I’ll ask the dinner table tonight when my friends arrive.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 6:35 pm) #

That is, I’ll ask my friends sitting around the dinner table. I won’t be asking the dinner table itself.

OK?
Iain (Saturday 26 April 2008, 6:39 pm) #

“Lovelife” shows his/her true colours by claiming that life begins at conception (an the basis that the DNA is different) and then peppering his/her responses with the usual emotive bollocks about beating hearts and brains being sucked out. No brain or heart at conception matey.. and surely life has more to do with conciousness than different DNA.

I would come to the protest if I was in Melbourne, nothing makes me sicker than people trying to use other peoples bodies as incubators to satisfy their own particular faith-based beliefs.
Ant Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 6:47 pm) #

Hey Bron, E and I just polished off a quarter of that poppyseed cake. Je-sus, was it delicious! I’m in the matrimonial good books because of your recipe. Thanks!
Lang (Saturday 26 April 2008, 7:04 pm) #

And Love life, how many kids have you fostered, you know that when mummy/daddy ‘get their act together’ that the kids you’ve looked after, and that could be for a long time,get to go back to the same old same old?.Oh, and then you may have DOCS begging you to take them back,been through that?. Good for you on the World Vision feel good fiscal attention, out of your daily care though, isn’t it.Ever thought that with giving women a choice and an option as to their situation, you feel good monies (that’s if you actually do)would be less required?.
Bron, have a great dinner, you deserve it. People like Lovelife deserve all the attention that they crave, just not here.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 7:28 pm) #

OK, what does everyone else think? Start deleting the comments from pro-life nutters? I think “Love life” has said all there is to be said, and in hindsight (whilst pulling out my poppy seed cake out of the oven just now), this post is really not the time or place for such a discussion with pro-lifers. This thread wasn’t created for that purpose. Lang’s comment just confirmed that for me.

So, see you later, alligators. I’ll delete pro-lifer comments should any pop up later on.

Ant, so glad to be of assistance with your matrimonial harmony!!
E Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 7:41 pm) #

Excellent points Lang! There are so many children that are born into less than ideal circumstances that, in Love Life’s ideal world, would be adopted out to loving families… but they’re not. They stay with their inadequate parents in abusive or neglectful conditions.

** And Bron… YUM YUM YUM! Best cake Ant has ever made (it’s the first one he’s made, but really it’s absolutely delicious!).
Ant Rogenous (Saturday 26 April 2008, 7:54 pm) #

Bron, don’t delete any comments. The debate isn’t out of hand; Love Life isn’t exactly “trolling” (just providing facile arguments), and he/she is being handled well (and pretty politely) by the people here who’ve chosen to address his/her points.
Bron (Saturday 26 April 2008, 8:09 pm) #

OK, your wish is my will. Or something like that. Back to my guests! (So glad you liked the cake, E. Wait till you see what Ant’s got in store for you!!)
John Surname (Saturday 26 April 2008, 9:56 pm) #

Just to let you know, The Editor does have a no deletion policy when it comes to comments.
Bridgit Gread (Saturday 26 April 2008, 11:54 pm) #

Like Lenin, The Editor is now ‘away’.
Like Stalin, Bron is now in charge.
Viva la revolution!
Bron (Sunday 27 April 2008, 12:00 am) #

Ah, okay then. Thanks for telling me. That I did not know, John boy. Grazias.
Bron (Sunday 27 April 2008, 12:02 am) #

Bridgit, as usual, you crack me up! камрад!
THR (Sunday 27 April 2008, 12:12 am) #

Like Lenin, The Editor is now ‘away’.

Hopefully unlike Trotsky, he can avoid being the recipient of any icepicks in Mexico, courtesy of Bron’s agents.

Да здравствует революция!
Bron (Sunday 27 April 2008, 12:22 am) #

сплоченность!

Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns; why should we let them have ideas?
THR (Sunday 27 April 2008, 12:43 am) #

Sometimes history needs a push.

Борщ и Водка!
Love life (Sunday 27 April 2008, 1:53 am) #

Iain, I think you misunderstood me. While there is no heart or brain present at conception there most certainly is at termination.

Sure you may find details of the “dilation and extraction” procedure nauseating (http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_pba1.htm see here), however it is a bit of stretch to call, bringing this procedure to light, “terrorism”.

I don’t know how you know that conciousness is not present in the child before birth. A baby’s kicking in the womb and responding to external stimulus seems to suggest otherwise.

However since you can’t prove the baby is not concious is it not ethical to err on the side of caution? To err on the side of life?

albi. you claim that until a baby can survive outside the womb it is not a life. Does a new born baby not need constant attention lest he/she dies? They certainly can’t fend for themselves. Is it fair to say that your definition of self sufficiency extends as far as say, 18 years of age?
Evil Bill (Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:28 am) #

Love Life,

I’d still like you to answer Tom’s questions.

Also what puzzles me about your apparent concern for life is the fact that by taking away the option of abortion you are just making sure that more women are risking their lives by sticking a coat hanger up their jacksy. Why are these lives of no concern to you?

Why is this any of your business? Religious nutters have the option not to have abortions and not to benefit from stem cell research, but leave others to make their own decisions.
THR (Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:29 am) #

LL, I don’t think that anybody on this thread is presenting abortion as a fine and wonderful thing.

The point of the proposed demonstration, as I understand it, is to protest the manipulative bully-boy tactics employed by some of the more extreme Christian sects. The behaviours of these sects includes distributing gory propaganda, which is offensive to many people, particularly those who have lost a baby for any reason. Secondly, the behaviour of these people outside the clinic in question is nothing short of the most cowardly bullying.

The fact is, most Australians accept the right of women to have an abortion. Granted, consensus does not equal truth, this fact should lead anti-abortion activists to address their issues with legislators, and not demonise women themselves. I don’t see how the behaviour of these groups is any better than those (few) who literally spat at Vietnam War vets.
Evil Bill (Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:34 am) #

And almost forgot, I’ll be there on the 24th. I know you said peaceful protest, but if we get the chance can we smash their porcelain Jesus? I hate that cunt.
John Surname (Sunday 27 April 2008, 11:09 am) #

“I don’t see how the behaviour of these groups is any better than those (few) who literally spat at Vietnam War vets.”

You are a disgrace as a leftist, GET OUT.
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 27 April 2008, 11:23 am) #

LL, I don’t think that anybody on this thread is presenting abortion as a fine and wonderful thing.

Indeed not, and quite frankly I loathe those who use abortion as retrospective contraception. The procedure itself is physically and emotionally wrenching. And while your nonsense about foetuses in the first trimester being sentient conscious beings is baloney, most of us still feel uncomfortable about abortion. We see it as a painful but necessary decision. It’s this emotional nexus that religious extremists and pro-life propagandists prey on.

As unpalatable a procedure abortion is, it must be the right of any woman who becomes pregnant. Woman cannot simply be slaves to their biology; entire lives cannot swing and fall on the accidental seconds of conception. The right of a foetus to live should not be outweighed by the right of a child to be born into a situation where they are wanted, supported and loved.
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 27 April 2008, 11:24 am) #

…if we get the chance can we smash their porcelain Jesus? I hate that cunt.

But Bill… ‘Jesus was an unplanned pregnancy’!
Jack Dorf (Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:01 pm) #

But Bill… ‘Jesus was an unplanned pregnancy’!

Yep especially for Joseph!
Lang (Sunday 27 April 2008, 2:22 pm) #

If any or several of you happen to bump into LL at the rally,thats fine by me.
krypto (Sunday 27 April 2008, 5:36 pm) #

wouldn’t it send a clearer message to have a few cars roll up full of guys with bats to clear these vermin off the street for good?
Maybe scourge and crucify one so they can be “closer to Jeebus”.
I know a guy…
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 27 April 2008, 5:37 pm) #

Yep especially for Joseph!

Must’ve been hard for the poor chap. Imagine the penis envy he’d be suffering knowing that God had had a crack at his betrothed.
krypto (Sunday 27 April 2008, 5:37 pm) #

tell you what, how about beating them so bad they beg to die, then refuse them euthenasia on “religious grounds”.
krypto (Sunday 27 April 2008, 5:40 pm) #

I heard God is hung like a button mushroom anyway Bridg.
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 27 April 2008, 7:31 pm) #

Not sure about that, krypto… thousands of people have screamed his name during sex, so he must be packing.
Jack Dorf (Sunday 27 April 2008, 8:07 pm) #

Mary was impregnated by the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:18

So therefore if Joe suffered any envy, it would have been paranormal ectoplasm envy.
Suburban Marxist (Sunday 27 April 2008, 9:44 pm) #

“I don’t see how the behaviour of these groups is any better than those (few) who literally spat at Vietnam War vets.”

Except that, THR, they most probably didn’t…

http://www.leftwrites.net/2008/03/25/fifth-columnist-spitters/

Btw guys, I don’t know if you have seen the Xtian jihadists outside the clinic where we will be counter-picketing, but they are, well, somewhat in the autumn years of their life and I don’t think physical confrontation will necessarily go down well or be particularly good publicity if any media happen to be there. Neither will comments along those lines, and they have the potential to spark a mobilisation amongst the Xtian fundies. Which I think would be a bad thing as it should be an aim for us to outnumber the Xtian bullies on the day.

Frankly, unless they do mobilise some Xtian heavies I think something like chanting slogans will be enough to put the wind up them…
Bridgit Gread (Sunday 27 April 2008, 10:08 pm) #

…they are, well, somewhat in the autumn years of their life…

Yes, yes of course they are. Womb-Nazis with no functioning womb of their own. Sheesh.
Mikey (Monday 28 April 2008, 7:26 pm) #

Good luck lads. Make sure you tape it for the Grods archive!
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:02 am) #

Suburban Marxist, did you say you want to come to the picket? If so, please email me at the address in this post because your email bounced back.
THR (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:04 am) #

I’d recommend sending the details to a few other lefty sites.
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:09 am) #

Yes, getting around to that. Email me with suggestions, THR, since you’re a Melbourne boy and all — so which sites would be good for Melbourne?
THR (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:14 am) #

I don’t know so many Melbourne-specific sites. I’d suggest Larvatus, Leftwrite, Ozleft, and I think Grods and Jeremy should advertise on their sites. Beyond that, if the right person was up for it, it may be worth advertising on centrist or even libertarian sites (like Club Troppo or Catallaxy) and see if any of those guys can hold their noses long enough to attend a protest.
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:15 am) #

Good suggestions, all. Thanks THR.
THR (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 12:25 am) #

I’m happy to spam random bloggers with this stuff too. Don’t forget, our bro Leo said he’d be down with this shit:

http://www.leonbertrand.blogspot.com

Peace out
Miss Politics (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 10:53 pm) #

Is the protest still on the 24th of May? Some of the Victorian womens networks are already organsing a protest action against the pro lifers on that day too.
Bridgit Gread (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 10:58 pm) #

Grods, lefty blogs and womens’ networks - what an unholy alliance!
The Editor (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:03 pm) #

Keg party!
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:10 pm) #

Yes, the, er, Radical Women’s Movement is one group I’ve been told will be there.

I shall be posting more deets tomorrow.

What? Did I just say “deets”?! DETAILS.
Bridgit Gread (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:14 pm) #

First warning.
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:17 pm) #

Kiss my patootie.
Bridgit Gread (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:19 pm) #

Lips or tongue?
Bron (Wednesday 30 April 2008, 11:25 pm) #

We’ll let the proud owners of Fleshlights answer that one, shall we?
John Surname (Thursday 1 May 2008, 12:06 am) #

Ed?
The Editor (Thursday 1 May 2008, 7:10 am) #

Both.
John Surname (Thursday 1 May 2008, 10:13 am) #

Case closed, to be reopened at a later date (with suitable pop music) by Cold Case.