Justice For All- Changing Hearts and Saving Lives

Christian at PCC-- Another life saved!!!!!

2009-08-15T17:41:00.005-05:00

(Pictured here: JFA team, mission trip participants, and volunteers)

Christian said that he and his pregnant girlfriend had been considering abortion because he is a freshman in college and his girlfriend is a senior in high school. Last week they decided not to have an abortion. When he lost his job a few days ago, he began considering abortion again… until he walked onto campus and “saw what it was.” He and his girlfriend decided not to have an abortion.
I told him about pregnancy resource centers and all of the help that they offer and he got the biggest smile on his face- “This is so great! I don’t have to worry anymore!” Christian said that he plans to send JFA a picture of the baby when he or she is born.

Christian's response card:

PCC Response Card- Tyler

2009-08-15T17:38:00.004-05:00

I had just finished a lot of intense conversations and was about to take a break for a few minutes. I was walking to the bathroom and a couple sitting on the stairs called out to me...

Tyler: Hey, are you with that thing? What about rape?

I almost laughed to myself at the irony. I can't even go to the bathroom without someone stopping me to discuss abortion...

Me: Yes, I'm with Justice For All. Do you mean what do I think about abortion when the woman was raped and got pregnant?
Tyler: Yes, my girlfriend and I were sitting here discussing it and we wondered how you guys respond to that.
Me: Hmm. I think that rape is a serious crime. I think that rapists should be prosecuted. A woman who has just been raped has had an extremely violent act committed against her. Would it take away the rape if she committed another violent act?
Catherine (Tyler's GF): No, but then she wouldn't have to look at her child and see that rapist's face all the time.
Me: That's true. But, if you reminded me of someone I hated, even for a good reason like rape, could I kill you?
Catherine: No.
Me: Women who have been raped are in a vulnerable position. They probably don't trust a lot of people. If we are going to "help" them, shouldn't we really help them? If we offer abortion as the solution, we haven't really helped them at all. They were still the victim of rape and now someone has killed their child. That seems like an even worse predicament.
Tyler: Ok, well I don't know how people can justify abortion for rape then.
Catherine: Thanks for answering our question.

Tyler filled out this response card. Then I left.
When we were taking down the Exhibit, Tyler came back over to me.

Tyler: Hey, we have another question.
Me: Ok, I'll be right there. :)

(I grabbed a few Exhibit brochures and met them back at the stairs)

Catherine: What about life of the mother?

I responded to each of their questions, then I asked, "would it be helpful if I just gave you a quick overview of the information from our exhibit?" They eagerly agreed. They seemed like they were really interested to learn about it.

They asked lots and lots of questions and I asked them questions as well--to help them sort out their views. At the end Tyler said that he was against abortion after 3 weeks (Most girls find out that they are pregnant at about 5 wks LMP). Catherine also said that she could not think of one justifiable reason to get an abortion.

PCC Response Card- Tara

2009-08-15T17:36:00.001-05:00

Tara: I went to Catholic school and I was taught both sides of this issue. But, now I'm pro-choice.
Me: Why did you become pro-choice?
Tara: I guess that when I got smarter and more educated I just learned to throw away the religious propaganda.
Me: Hmm...so are you OK with all abortions now? Including Partial Birth Abortion?
Tara: Yeah, it's a woman's choice.
Me: Do you think that that abortion kills a human being?
Tara: Yeah, I know it is killing a human. But, I don't care.
Me: Hmm...it sounds like you might have thrown out your compassion for others, too...

PCC Response Card- Russ

2009-08-15T17:33:00.007-05:00

I saw a man put this on the Free Speech Board...

His suggestions for what to do with unwanted fetuses: make fetus sushi, fetus snow globes, fetus sculptures.
Me: I saw what you put on the free speech board... looks like you put a lot of time into creating that...why'd you do that?
Russ: Because you guys put up this art, so I created some art of my own.
Me: You think that pictures of dismembered fetuses is art?
Russ: Yes.
Me: Wow. Do you want me to take you seriously?
Russ: haha
Me: Are you on staff here? Are you faculty?
Russ: Yes, I'm a professor.
Me: What do you teach?
Russ: Biology.
Me: Wow...really?...So what do you think of this bio-ethics display?
Russ: I am also an artist and I look at this more from an art perspective.

Right then one of Russ' fellow staff members came up...

Sam: I have a question for you. I see that there are coins next to these aborted fetuses. How do they get the coins into the wombs? Hahahaha
Russ: Good one!

Me: So you guys are both faculty here?
Sam: Yep!
Me: OK, well thank you for coming by the exhibit.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Ray

2009-08-15T17:31:00.001-05:00

Me: What do you think about this?
Ray: I think that it's wrong, but we shouldn't impose our morals.
Me: Why do you think it is wrong?
Ray: Because it is killing an innocent person.
Me: So, why do you think we should allow others to "kill innocent people"?
Ray: I am a campus preacher. The Bible says to have nothing to do with this kind of stuff.
Me: Do you mean have nothing to do with abortion?
Ray: No arguing about it.
Me: Do you mean 2 Timothy 2:23 where it says have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments?
Ray: Yes!
Me: OK. Would you say that this is a foolish and stupid argument?
Ray: I don't know. I guess. There are more important things to worry about.
Me: Ray, I think that as a Christian, you have a responsibility to care about the things that God cares about. He created these people. Over 3,000 are being killed everyday in America. To me, that sounds much more like a serious problem, than a stupid argument. The Bible says (Prov. 31:8) to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Ray: You are a really good listener. You listened and met me exactly where I am. You are just the right person to be out here.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Miguel

2009-08-15T17:30:00.000-05:00

Miguel: What about the woman's life?
Me: Do you mean her actual life, her health, or her right to privacy?
Miguel: Her actual life. What if she will die if she doesn't get an abortion?
Me: Do you know of cases like that?
Miguel: No, but I know there are some.
Me: Well, yes...have you heard of an ectopic pregnancy?
Miguel: No.
Me: In an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus and it can't develop there or it will rupture the tube and both the mother and the embryo will die. With current technology, we don't have a way to save that embryo, so we recommend removing it so that one life will be saved as opposed to both dying.
Miguel: Hmm
Me: Some doctors recommend abortion when it is not the only option. It seems to me that if a doctor does not want a high-risk pregnancy patient and recommends abortion, he must not be a very good doctor. If this happened to me, I would look for a better doctor whose solution was not to just kill the baby.

We talked about many other things as well, but I can't understand all of my notes that I wrote down about this conversation.

Miguel: I still hate this display, but this was such a great conversation!

Pasadena City College Response Card- Michael

2009-08-15T17:29:00.001-05:00

I gave Michael a tour of the exhibit.

Michael: I didn't know any of this!

Pasadena City College Response Card- Mark

2009-08-15T17:28:00.002-05:00

Mark: I'm pro-choice.
Me: Why?
Mark: Women should be allowed to choose.
Me: Why?
Mark: Hmm...I don't know.
Me: Should a woman be allowed to choose to kill her 2-year-old?
Mark: No, it's born.
Me: Does the child's location change its value? Is the child any different when it is about to be born, being born, or already born?
Mark: Good question!
Me: Um thanks.
Mark: My answer is no. I know that it doesn't make sense to believe this.
Me: Well, you don't have to...
Mark: I do though! I guess I just have to draw the line at birth. Women need options.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Leslie

2009-08-15T17:26:00.001-05:00

Leslie was sitting with 4 guys. I was walking from our 3-by-1 exhibit on one part of campus up to the the mini exhibit. As I walked by, I overheard someone say, "those anti-abortion people don't even consider rape."

Me: Hey, sorry to butt in but I overheard you guys commenting about the exhibit and I am working with them. Did you have any questions?
H: Yeah, what about rape?
Me: I think rape is horrible. I think that rapists should be prosecuted. But, if you are asking should we offer abortion as a good solution to a woman who has been raped, I would ask if abortion is a good option. A woman who has been raped has had a violent act committed against her. Would committing another violent act take away the rape?
H: No, but then she doesn't have to look at someone that she hates.
Me: If you reminded me of someone I hated, could I kill you? Also, if she doesn't ever want to see it, she can give it up for adoption.
F: Yeah, but it's still her choice.
Me: Why should women have that choice? Should women have the choice to kill their newborns?
F: No. It's ok until it's born.
Me: Why isn't it ok once it's born?
F: It's out of her body.
Me: Does the location change who the child is?
F: No.
H: But, women need rights!
Me: I agree! I love having the right to vote, etc. But, why do women need this right?
H: It really doesn't matter because morals are all relative.
Me: There are no absolute truths?
H: Correct.
Me: Well, you saying that there are no absolute truths is an absolute statement.
H: I don't think so. I could be wrong.
Me: Do you think that rape is wrong or is that relative?
H: Rape is wrong.
Me: OK, so there are some absolutes.
H: hmm...Ok. Well you listened to our reasons. WHy are YOU against abortion?
Me: Well, the unborn are growing, so they must be alive. They have human parents, so they must be human. And, I think that human beings, like you and me, have value. Abortion harms people. It definitely harms the unborn child, because it kills the child. But, it also harms men and women. I have talked to many people who regretted abortion. I have spoken with women who said that abortion made them sterile, ruined their emotional life, ruined their relationships, etc. I think that if we are going to give people options, they should be good options and I do not believe that abortion is a good option for anyone.
L: Well, that makes sense. Thanks for being so respectful. I didn't expect you guys to be normal people.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Kelly

2009-08-15T17:24:00.004-05:00

Kelly wrote on the free speech board:
How many dead babies does it take to paint a a wall red? Depends how hard you throw them.

Me: Hey I saw the dead baby joke you wrote on the free speech board. A lot of people are taking this issue really seriously, what makes this such a joke to you?
Kelly: This is offensive, so I can be offensive too.
Me: Hmm..well I understand that this is not something that people want to look at and it can make people angry...
Kelly: That's not what I said. I said it's offensive!
Me: Oh, I apologize. What did you mean by offensive?
Kelly: This is gross and it doesn't solve anything.
Me: So, you mean that it is not helpful?
Kelly: It should be the woman's choice.
Me: Where do you think that her choice should be limited? Do you think that she should have the choice to kill her newborn?
Kelly: No.
Me: Ok, why should she have the choice to have an abortion but not have the choice to kill her newborn?
Kelly: Because it's her choice.
Me: Yes, but there are limitations on that choice. Which limitation is significant to you? Is abortion ok because it is legal or because the baby is in a different environment or some other reason?
Kelly: It's ok because it is her choice.
Me: Yes, but what is that choice?
Kelly: Her choice.

This seemed to be a trend at PCC. Many students simply repeated "Choice" over and over.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Karine

2009-08-15T17:23:00.002-05:00

Karine was leaning over to sign "yes" to the poll, "Should Abortion Remain Legal?"

Me: Do you think it should be legal through all 9 months?
Karine: Huh?
Me: What do you think about partial birth abortion? (Showed fetal development chart)
Karine: Let me see that brochure!

gave tour

Karine: This is wrong!

Pasadena City College Response Card- Joseph

2009-08-15T17:22:00.000-05:00

Joseph: What is this about?
Me: Abortion...what do you think about it?
Joseph: I don't know.
Me: Have you seen pictures like this before?
Joseph: No. Can I have one of those? (pointing to Exhibit brochure)
Me: Sure. Would you like a tour of the exhibit?
Joseph: Yes.

gave tour

Joseph: This changed my mind. I wasn't really OK with abortion before. Like, I don't think I would have gotten one, but now I'm AGAINST it.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Jesse

2009-08-15T17:21:00.002-05:00

We got into a big loop with this conversation...

Jesse: It's ok to kill them while they are in the womb.
Me: But, you are against 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions while they are in the womb..
Jesse: Yes, but they are more developed.
Me: A newborn is less developed than a teenager. They are all just stages of development; why do they matter? Is it ok to kill a newborn who is less developed than a teenager?
Jesse: No, because they are outside the womb.
Me: We've already addressed that. The womb is irrelevant because you wouldn't allow killing others for being in the womb. The level of development is irrelevant because you wouldn't kill others for being less developed.
Jesse: Hmm, I know that my thinking isn't very good about this.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Jacqueline

2009-08-15T17:20:00.002-05:00

Jacqueline: My best friend had an abortion when she was 16 (5 years ago). She is still really hurting.
Me: Have you heard of post-abortion counseling?
Jacqueline: She won't go. She's too ashamed. I don't know how I can help.
Me: Hmm, well maybe you could read one of the books that they read in the post-abortion counseling. I'm sure that that would be more helpful than nothing. You could just let you friend know what you find out, or maybe you could read it together. Or, you could just give it to her.
Jacqueline: I am definitely going to do that. Thanks for the idea!
Me: I hope it helps her!

Pasadena City College Response Card- David

2009-08-15T17:19:00.002-05:00

David: We've had pro-life groups come here before. They were shouting and calling people murderers. You guys are not like them. You're actually friendly.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Daniela

2009-08-15T17:18:00.003-05:00

I gave Daniela a tour of the exhibit.

Daniela: Wow. I've never really had an opinion about this. But, this is wrong!

Pasadena City College Response Card- Clayton

2009-08-15T17:14:00.004-05:00

* Name Changed

Clayton*: (Shouting jokingly to a crowd) Abortion should be legal, otherwise I'd have to stop having sex and I'm not doing that!
Me: (talking to him away from the crowd) Do you mean that abortion should stay legal because then you can have sex anytime and if the girl gets pregnant, she can just have an abortion?
Clayton: Yeah!
Me: Hmm...do you think that abortion is an easy thing to go through?
Clayton: ...No.
Me: Do you know anyone who has had an abortion?
Clayton: Yeah I got my last girl pregnant and she got an abortion. She is having that post-abortion stuff.
Me: What post-abortion stuff?
Clayton: Ya know, she cried all the time and regrets it. It's been a month and she still won't get over it.
Me: Have you heard about post-abortion counseling?
Clayton: Yeah, she's already doing some. She did the pill abortion and had an allergic reaction so the doctor thinks it might not have worked.
Me: How do you feel about that?
Clayton: I think she might just be tricking me to try to get me to get back together with her. I've had other girls get pregnant before, but they just got abortions. I have a crazy lifestyle. The first girl got pregnant right before I moved. I would not have been able to father that child. The next girl I got pregnant with twins. She was starting to show when she had the abortion.
Me: Wow, it sounds like you've had a lot of experience with abortion.
Clayton: Yeah, but it was the right decision for each situation.
Me: Is it hard for you to look at these pictures?
Clayton: Yes.
Me: Why?
Clayton: Well, because that's what we did to our child.
Me: Do you know what you would do if you got another girl pregnant?
Clayton: It's her decision, but I don't want to pay child support.
Me: There are some resources that may be helpful to you. There is free post-abortion counseling for men if you ever want to talk to someone about it. There are also pregnancy centers that offer free pregnancy tests. If you are ever faced with an unplanned pregnancy, they offer resources like diapers, clothes, formula, etc.

Clayton filled out the response card and checked the box that said "I want to help. Please contact me." Usually people check that box when they want to volunteer with JFA in the future...

Me: Clayton, why did you check this box.
Clayton: Because I want help. (apparently he misread it) Will you send me more resources?
Me: Sure! I'll email you!

Clayton also came back the next day and we talked more. His attitude changed from joking indifference to great concern. He wanted help, healing, and change.

Some of the resources that I sent him:

http://www.hh76.com/lit/9411FN.pdf

http://www.hh76.com/lit/972HT.pdf

FatherhoodForever.org

Pasadena City College Response Card- Christa

2009-08-15T17:12:00.000-05:00

First impressions can be misleading....

Christa was wearing a bandanna covered in skulls. Her body was covered in tattoos. I approached her and asked what she thought about the exhibit.

She asked how she could help spread the message and I walked her through the exhibit. Christa said that she would like to support the organization financially so JFA can continue to go to college campuses.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Cameron

2009-08-15T17:10:00.000-05:00

Cameron: (joking loudly) We should just chop them up before they come out!
Me: Should we chop them up after they come out?
Cameron: That's just crazy.
Me: How is it any less crazy to do chop them up right before they come out?
Cameron: I don't think they should do it right before it comes out.
Me: OK. Where do you draw the line? (showed fetal development chart)
Cameron: 2nd and 3rd trimester abortions are not OK.
Me: What about once it has a heartbeat?
Cameron: I don't want to stop a heartbeat. It shouldn't be allowed when it has a heartbeat.
Me: Well it has a heartbeat at 3 weeks. Most women do not find out that they are pregnant until about this time.
Cameron: Hmm, well then I guess we should let them stop the heartbeat. People need options.
Me: Why should anyone have the option to kill her child?
Cameron: Well, it's in her womb.
Me: Yes, but so is the 3rd trimester fetus, and you said it is wrong to kill that one. So, isn't the baby's location irrelevant?
Cameron: Yeah..I know it's wrong, but I'm not in the situation. I don't know what I would do if I were actually in that situation.
Me: There is some decisions that you need to make in advance. If you know that abortion is not a good option, you can make the decision not to have one if you are ever faced with that decision.
Cameron: If I got a girl pregnant, I would not have an abortion.

Cameron came by all 3 days that we were on campus and said hi to me and listened to some of the conversations. He even brought a few of his post-abortion friends by to get help.

Pasadena City College Response Card

2009-08-15T17:08:00.002-05:00

I'm always glad to see that people feel that we are polite. Abortion is a difficult issue to discuss and I want to always be humble and loving in my approach.

Pasadena City College Response Card- Armstead

2009-08-15T17:06:00.005-05:00

Armstead and his girlfriend already had an 18 month old. She got pregnant again and decided to have an abortion. Armstead wanted to keep the child. He tried to convince her not to abort their child, but she did. He was very angry. At first I just stood there and listened while he vented his frustrations.

Armstead: She said she was Catholic. What a hypocrite! We could handle another child; we already had one! Why didn't I get any say in it?!
Me: Armstead, I am so sorry that you went through that. It isn't fair that you had no say in what happened to your child.

We talked for a while and Armstead was interested in finding information on healing for men. I gave him the information about the website FatherhoodForever.org

Armstead: I appreciate this so much. You don't understand how much you have helped me.

Pasadena City College Response Card- David

2009-08-15T17:04:00.003-05:00

David: This is not what abortion looks like!
Me: Do you think abortion looks better or worse than these pictures?
David: These look like people! They don't have abortions when they look like people!
Me: Well, every abortion shown on this display is still legal. This (pointing to panel 4) is a first trimester abortion. An embryo has a heartbeat at 3 weeks.
David: Whoa! This is wrong!
Me: What is?
David: Abortion is wrong! I was so mistaken before!
Me: Why do you think it is wrong now?
David: It looks like a human.
Me: If it didn't look like a human, would it not be a human?
David: No, I guess it's always wrong... I am a democrat, so I always agree with democrats on everything, but I cannot do that with this issue. I need to talk to my dad!
Me: About what?
David: We thought it wasn't a human. I need to show this to him.

Pasadena City College Response Card

2009-08-15T17:01:00.002-05:00

All that I wrote down on this card was...

"She was pro-choice. Now, she is pro-life. Great conversation."

haha sometimes my notes are not super helpful.

Thoughts about the University of Colorado

2009-08-15T16:39:00.003-05:00

We went to Colorado in April and it was CRAZY!

We trained students at The Focus on the Family Institute and many of them were hesitant about the graphic pictures approach, but after having great discussions on campus, many changed their opinions.

I have never had anyone yell at me as much as I did the second day in CO. I stood there for what felt like hours while a beautiful girl yelled and yelled and yelled at me. I tried to show sympathy on my face, but I never got a chance to say anything to her. But, after she stormed away. I went with one of the FFI girls and we prayed for her. Please take a moment to pray for her RIGHT NOW. Thanks.

Out of the first 5 girls that I talked to on campus in Colorado, 4 of them were post-abortive. I was shocked at how many people there had gotten abortions. I was able to connect many of them with a great woman at the crisis pregnancy center table for post-abortive counseling.

Another shock at UC Boulder was the common notion that there was nothing wrong with late term abortions. On most campuses, we can build common ground with people on this issue--most people think it is wrong to kill a baby as it is coming out or right before it comes out. This was not the case in CO. Many people told me that they thought it should be allowed anytime as long as it was legal. They even told me that it would be permissible to kill infants if that was legal, because the infant wouldn't know any better. I assume that their acceptance of late-term abortion was partially because there is a well known Late-term abortionist (Warren Hern) who provides abortions less than one mile from the Boulder campus.

There were several very neat moments for me where I was talking to someone and they said, "Wow, I've never thought of that!" And I thought, "Me neither!" I felt like God gave me the specific words to use several times and I was amazed. (That was one of my prayer requests and I definitely saw it fulfilled! Thanks for praying!)

We had to take the Exhibit down a little early the last day because of the extreme weather (HAIL!) I don't know if I've ever been that cold in my life. I went inside the school between conversations sometimes to "thaw out." But, I had some very powerful conversations that day in the freezing rain. I talked to some very pro-choice people who, after seeing and hearing the truth about abortion, decided that abortion was killing innocent human beings, and they were against it.

There has not been a single campus where I left and thought, "Well, that was a waste of time!" There are so many people who pray for each outreach and God is faithful to use any time that we dedicate to Him to change hearts and save lives. Thanks for praying for these outreaches. Your prayers make a difference.

University of Colorado Response Card- Basil

2009-06-25T16:55:00.002-05:00

Basil: I think it should be allowed through all 9 months.
Me: What about partial birth abortion?
Basil: What's that?
(I described the procedure.)
Basil: That's not OK. Abortion should not be allowed after the child can feel pain. When is that?
Me: Well, the general consensus is that they can feel pain around 20 weeks. Some say that they can feel pain as early as 14 weeks.
Basil: Well once it can feel pain, it's wrong.
Me: What if it could never feel pain? Does our ability to feel pain give us value?
Basil: Well, no. But I would feel bad about hurting someone if they could feel it.
Me: Would you feel bad about hurting someone if they couldn't feel it?
Basil: That's a good question. Yes, I probably would.
Me: Have you heard of Conner's Law?
Basil: Yeah, from the Lacy Peterson case...
Me: So why is it considered a double homicide if someone kills a pregnant woman, but if a woman has an abortion, it's just tissue removal?
Basil: Good point..God created it, so when it has a soul, we shouldn't kill it. When does it get a soul?
Me: Well, the problem that I see with choosing when abortion should be legal based on when WE think it has a soul, is that opinions differ. Some religions believe that the soul enters at 14 weeks. Others believe it is there from the beginning. You said that you believe that God created the unborn. What do you believe about God?
Basil: What do you mean?
Me: Well, since you believe that God created these people, do you think God would want you to kill people that he created?
Basil: I'm a Methodist. I think it all depends on when it has a soul. OK pretend that you had a pair of jeans...
Me: Ok.
Basil: But then you didn't have a pair of jeans..
Me: Ok so I don't have pants...
Basil: Well, let's say that you never bought them. But you would have...but since you didn't, someone else bought them. So you didn't even know you were missing anything, because you never had it in the first place...like a soul.
Me: So, you are just looking for an answer about when a human has a soul?
Basil: Yeah, I guess that's what I'm wondering.
Me: What do you believe about the Bible?
Basil: What do you mean?
Me: Do you believe that the Bible is true? Like if there was an answer in there, would that settle it for you?
Basil: I think it would. Are there any verses like that?

(Well right then, God sent Dale walking by...)
Me: (to Dale) Hey, what's the reference for the verse, "Before I formed you in the womb..."
Dale: Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.
Me: Thanks!

Me: Also, David said in Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Basil: So God created people. I get that.
Me: So why do you think He created the soul at a different time?
Basil: hmm, I don't know why...This has given me so many things to think about. I wish I could continue this conversation but I really have to go to the bathroom! (we had been talking for about 2 hours)
Me: That's OK. Here's a copy of the Exhibit brochure. There might be answers to some of your questions in there. Also, you are welcome to email me or any of our staff with other questions that you think of later.
Basil: Thanks for doing this. I have really enjoyed this. This conversation was so fantastic.

University of Colorado- Several Stories

2009-06-25T16:50:00.003-05:00

These are the Focus on the Family Institute Students who we trained in Colorado. We took them onto campus with us and they did a great job!

My first conversation at UC Boulder: An older man who looked like a professor walked by the exhibit and said to me, "I wish I could just tear this whole thing down. You are horrible people." I said, "Well, I'd love to talk to you, or you are welcome to write a comment on the free speech board." He said he would consider it and started to walk away. Then, he turned back toward the board and asked for a marker. I wasn't even finished setting up the board yet, so I had to run grab a marker for him. He was standing there looking at the board (I assume trying to figure out what he was going to write) and I asked him, "What bothers you so much about this exhibit?"
Jeffrey: It is so graphic!
Me: Yeah, it definitely is. I hate to look at it.
Jeffrey: You do?! Well, me too! This is really just trying to scare people out of having sex.
Me: What makes you say that?
Jeffrey: That's your goal.
Me: Do you think that we care about abortion?
Jeffrey: I guess. But this is a horrible way to make your point. Last time you guys came, girls were coming into my classes crying. These images are raping them.
Me: I'm sorry that these images are painful for people to look at. But, do you think it might be hard to look at because we realize it is an injustice?
Jeffrey: That could be.
(We talked for quite a while. Then Jeffrey said he had to go teach. He asked for a copy of the exhibit brochure.)
Jeffrey: I hate this Exhibit and what you guys do, but I really enjoyed our conversation and I guess we wouldn't have had it without this.

A few girls were doing an assignment for their communications class where they were told to analyze the Exhibit and see if they thought it was effective. One of them said, "We thought you guys would be a bunch of crazies, but you are totally chill. I actually really like this. It has caused a lot of discussion."

Hillary was signing "yes" to the poll, "should abortion remain legal?"
Me: Do you mean through all 9 months?
Hillary: No, only first trimester. I'm against killing babies, but sometimes you have to.
Me: Sometimes you have to kill babies? Do you know anyone who's had an abortion?
Hillary: I have.
Me: You have known someone, or you have had an abortion?
Hillary: I had one. But it was a long time ago, in October.
Me: How are you doing?
Hillary: Fine. I know it was the best decision. I'm in school. If I hadn't had the abortion, I would be having a baby in a month!
(I talked to her about possible symptoms of PAS that she might experience and offered to walk with her to talk to another woman who had had an abortion- at the pregnancy center table. She declined and said that she was fine but thanked me for the information.)

A girl wearing a St. John's shirt yelled to me, "You are a disgrace to Catholicism."
Me: How so?
Girl: Because you are out here with this.
Me: What does that have to do with Catholicism?
Girl: You are Catholic.
Me: No, I'm not...
Girl: Then why are you out here?!
Me: Because I believe that all human beings are valuable.
Girl: I don't understand you people.

There was a pro-life group on campus that did not want us to come. But, other pro-life students started a group to bring us. I spoke with a girl from the group that did not want us there.
Girl: How did you guys get here?
Me: The other pro-life group invited us.
Girl: What?! They are like encroaching on our territory. You guys asked us first.
Me: Yes, and you said no...I can understand that you did not want to be associated with this, but is it such a bad thing that another group was willing to step up and make an impact?
Girl: WE are the pro-life club though. We don't need another one.
Me: Well, there were a lot of people who needed to see this. I've talked to several people today who changed their minds and they said they had never seen these pictures. They would not have seen them if the group had not brought us. But maybe, you guys could join together or something.

Kate was the most angry person I've ever spoken to on any campus. She made personal attacks whenever possible and yelled loud enough for people quite a distance away to hear. We had a crowd of about 10 people listening to this conversation:
Kate: This is all false information!
Me: What do you mean?
Kate: Abortion is not allowed after first trimester!
Me: Actually, it is legal through all 9 months. There is even a doctor just minutes from here who does late-term abortions.
Kate: That's not true. Check your facts, you liars.
Me: If it were true, would it bother you?
Kate: WHAT BOTHERS ME IS THAT YOU PEOPLE BROUGHT THIS HORRIBLE BILLBOARD. WHAT ABOUT WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS AND IT WAS HORRIBLE AND IT WAS THE HARDEST DECISION OF THEIR LIVES AND YOU GUYS ARE CALLING THEM STUPID BIMBOS. YOU ARE MAKING THEM RELIVE EVERY SECOND OF THAT HORRIBLE TIME IN THEIR LIVES. HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GUILTY. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ABORTION, BUT IF I GOT PREGNANT, I WOULD. THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR A BABY. YOU ARE SUCH HORRIBLE PEOPLE FOR DOING THIS. YOU RUINED MY DAY.
Me: I'm sor..
Kate: No you're not! One of my friends wanted an abortion and they would not let her get one. It was horrible for her.
Me: So, she has a child now?
Kate: ...um... yeah.. and she hates him!
Me: Hmm.
Kate: I hate you.
Me: I know that this is upsetting and I completely understand you hating me.
Kate: No, you don't understand how much I hate you.
(The "conversation" continued about like this the whole time. Kate yelled at me and I listened. I've never seen anyone so angry before. I've also never felt so hated. I never got to really talk to Kate about it. She stormed off after yelling for a LONG time. I asked one of the girls we trained at Focus on the Family to come inside with me and pray for Kate. I don't know if we'll ever know any results, but I know that God is faithful and he will continue to knock on Kate's heart. Please pray for her.

Jon and a girl named Melissa had been talking for a while in the freezing cold rain. He had an umbrella and she was wearing a hoodie. It finally got to a point in their conversation where she said, "no offense, but you can't really have an opinion, you're a guy." So, I decided to walk over and listen closer, maybe even participate...
I walked over and held an umbrella over Melissa. She seemed really touched.
Melissa: Thank you so much!
Me: You're welcome.
Melissa: (to Jon again) This is a women's issue and I have studied it a lot. We can all have our own opinions. I won't judge you for yours and you don't have to worry about mine.
Jon and Melissa talked for a little while longer and she brought up Women's Studies as her major.
Jon excused himself from the conversation to do something else and I asked Melissa what she had learned from those studies.
Melissa: People are always trying to keep women down. This is one of our few rights that we have gained and now they want to take it away.
Me: I took several Women's studies classes, too. I thought it was interesting how we as women often allow ourselves to be oppressed, like with the beauty myth (a women's studies term for women trying to earn achievement through their looks and then being treated like they are only valuable if they are attractive).
Melissa: Yeah.
Me: I want women to have the best options. Could this be another way that women are actually allowing themselves to be hurt?
Melissa: How so?
Me: Well, there are a lot side effects- both physical and emotional.
Melissa: Yeah, my friend had an abortion and she was sick for a little while.
Me: How is she doing?
Melissa: She is doing OK. Thank you so much for asking.
Me: How long ago was it?
Melissa: 2 years. We were in the sorority house and I was the only one who stayed her while she was in pain.
Me: Melissa, I am glad you were there for her afterward.
Melissa: Yeah, but she's fine now.
Me: There was a girl who came by today and told us that her friend had been raped by her boyfriend and her parents forced her to get an abortion even though she didn't want to. She became very depressed and stopped answering phone calls. She committed suicide two weeks ago. Many women who have had abortions feel guilt or depression. Some have trouble sleeping. It is important to really be aware of these symptoms so that if you see your friend experiencing any of them, you can help her. She might not even realize that the symptoms correlate with her abortion.
Melissa took the information about symptoms and the information for the pregnancy resource center's post abortion counseling. She thanked me several times.

University of Colorado- Mike

2009-06-25T16:48:00.003-05:00

Mike: You don't care about children once they are born!
Me: Do you mean you as in pro-life people or me?
Mike: Both!
Me: Ok, I can understand that it would be frustrating to see inconsistency like that. But even if not a single pro-life person helped those children, would that justify killing them?
Mike: I don't know but why don't any of them help people? What are you personally doing to help?
Me: I am trying to help people to understand abortion so that they won't hurt themselves or their children.
Mike: That's not enough. You hate children.
Right then, Genevieve Kulas (3 years old) came up and hugged me.
Genevieve: I love you Lauren!
Me: I love you too, Genevieve.
Mike laughed at the irony.

University of Colorado Response Card- Seth

2009-06-25T16:47:00.005-05:00

Seth: Morals are relative. We can't say that anything is wrong.
Me: Child abuse?
Seth: Some cultures think that is OK.
Me: Rape?
Seth: How do we know they don't like it?
Me: That's not rape.
Seth: I'm Jewish.
Me: OK...does that impact your belief about abortion?
Seth: I don't know.

University of Colorado Response Card- Laura

2009-06-25T16:47:00.002-05:00

Laura wrote on the poll, "the woman's life is more important."

Me: Do you mean that abortion should only be allowed if having a child would kill the mother?
Laura: No, I mean that she should have the choice, regardless of reason.
Me: So it's not so much that the woman's life is more important, but her privacy?
Laura: No, her life is more important. She should have the right to do whatever she wants without interference.
Me: So, it is a private matter?
Laura: Yes.
Me: Have you ever heard of Conner's law?
Laura: Is that the one that says that if you kill a pregnant woman, it's a double homicide?
Me: Yes. Well I was thinking about it...what if during the abortion, the abortionist killed both the child and the mother? Should that be considered a double homicide?
Laura: No, there is no criminal intent.
Me: How would you define criminal intent?
Laura: Purposely killing someone.
Me: Would you say that the abortionist purposely killed the child?
Laura: Well, no.
Me: Do you think it is an accident that the child starts out alive and is dead at the end of the procedure?
Laura: Wow, that's really interesting.
Me: What is?
Laura: I've never thought about it as a doctor killing someone.

University of Colorado Response Card- Kyle

2009-06-25T16:45:00.004-05:00

I asked Kyle how he would recommend showing the other side, but he didn't have any ideas.

If we are protesting an injustice in society, why do we need to present the side that says we should continue with the status quo and not worry about it?

University of Colorado Response Card- Katy

2009-06-25T16:45:00.002-05:00

Me: Hey I saw that you signed the poll that abortion should remain legal. Did you mean through all nine months?
Katy: Yes, it's the woman's choice. It's situational.
Me: What about partial birth abortion?
Katy: It's her choice.
Me: So a woman should be allowed to choose to kill her child if it is partially born?
Katy: Yes.
Me: Do you think a woman should be allowed to choose to kill her newborn baby?
Katy: No.
Me: What about if it is still connected by the umbilical cord?
Katy: Hmm, no that is also born.
Me: What about a child that was all the way born except one foot was not out yet?
Katy: That's hard. I guess it's still in her body, so it's her choice. Well, I don't know. You just can't tell people what to do with her kids.
Me: Can we tell people not to kill their kids?
Katy: Born or unborn?
Me: What's the difference?
Katy: There isn't one, but women should have a choice while it's in their body.
Me: Why? Does our location change who we are?
Katy: I don't know. I have to go.

University of Colorado Response Card- Gazrrang

2009-06-25T16:44:00.002-05:00

Gazrrang: I'm pro-choice.
Me: Have you ever seen pictures like this?
Gazrrang: No, I have never seen these pictures. Will you tell me about these pictures?

I gave Gazrrang a tour of the Exhibit.

Me: So when do you think abortion should be allowed?
Gazrrang: Women should be allowed anytime.
Me: (pointing to fetal development chart) So, do you think abortion should be allowed during the third trimester?
Gazrrang: No, actually those look like babies. It should not be allowed after that. (pointing to 1 trimester)
Me: Why is abortion ok during the first trimester?
Gazrrang: It doesn't look like a human yet.
Me: If someone doesn't look human, can we kill him? What about disabled people?
Gazrrang: No, but those people can think.
Me: Why does that matter? Is it ok to kill someone who is in a coma?
Gazrrang: No, but it doesn't have a heartbeat.
Me: If it's growing, isn't it alive? And if it has human parents, isn't it human?
Gazrrang: Yeah, I guess the differences are irrelevant. You changed my mind. Do you change everyone's mind?
Me: No, but when people realize that abortion kills a human being, many are not OK with that.

University of Colorado Response Card- Erica

2009-06-25T16:43:00.002-05:00

Erica: I was pro-choice until I saw these pictures.
Erica: I still wouldn't tell other people what to do, but I would never consider abortion after seeing this.

University of Colorado Response Card- Derek

2009-06-25T16:41:00.001-05:00

Derek: I think it is OK to kill anyone.
Me: Wow.
Derek: Morals are relative.
Me: Do you think that there are any morals that are absolute?
Derek: No.
Me: What about rape?
Derek: Well, I guess rape is always wrong, but murder is never wrong.

University of Colorado Response Card- Chris

2009-06-25T16:33:00.002-05:00

Chris: Can I ask you what you would do in a situation?
Me: OK.
Chris: OK, let's say that there is a train track that splits and it has five people tied onto one track and one person tied onto the other track. You have a lever to make the train switch tracks. What would you do?
Me: Is there any way to stop the train?
Chris: No.
Me: OK, I would switch the track to make it so that the train would go toward the 1 person instead of 5 people, because I could get one person off the train track much faster than I could get 5 people off... But if you are relating this to abortion, it's not very accurate. With abortion, you don't have to kill anyone. Also, these would be my children on the tracks. Also, I would be hiring the train driver and asking him to run over them.
Chris: Well, in the analogies, you have to kill someone.
Me: ...OK
Chris: Can we do another analogy? I like philosophy.
Me: Sure.
Chris: OK, let's say that you are a firefighter and you run into a burning building. There is a tray of 5 embryos and there is a 5 year old inside. Who do you save?
Me: And I can't save them all?
Chris: No.
Me: Well, honestly I would be naturally inclined to go after the five year old first, because she is probably saying "help me" and is easier to find. But I really believe that the unborn are valuable human beings like us and I think it is important to save them, too. Let me ask you a question. If there was a burning building with 5 newborns inside and a 5 year old, who would you save?
Chris: Hmm, that's hard. I would probably save the 5-year-old because it would be harder to watch a 5 year old die than some babies.
Me: OK, I'm not sure that I understand why it would be easier for you to watch babies die than a five year old...but to me, this seems like a more accurate analogy--how do I choose who gets to live? I think they are all people and deserve life. If you and that girl over there were both in a burning building, how do I choose who to save? I think you are both valuable.
Chris: Well I guess that was a good counter-analogy.
Me: OK, have you seen the Dark Knight?
Chris: Yes.
Me: Do you remember the boat scene?
Cris: Yes.
Me: OK, so there are the two boats- one full of "good people" and one full of criminals. Each boat has a detonator to blow up the other boat. They are told that if neither boat blows the other up by 11, the joker will blow them both up. So, it seems like a race of who will blow up the other boat first.
Chris: Right.
Me: Well, let's analyze this. Are the people guaranteed that if they push the button, they will be safe? NO! It could really detonate their own boat. Abortion is not a safe option either. You may think you are only ending someone else's life, but it could be very detrimental to yours as well.
Chris: Hmm
Me: If you remember in the Dark Knight, neither boat blew up the other boat and the joker got distracted, so no one had to die. Does anyone have to die with abortion? Is it really a question of us having to kill someone?
Chris: That actually makes a lot of sense. I guess no one HAS TO die. I wouldn't have an abortion.
Me: Why not?
Chris: Because I am responsible...I wouldn't kill my child.
Me: Do you think it is OK for other people to kill their children?
Chris: Not if they are born.
Me: What do you think about partial birth abortion?
Chris: I'm against that.
Me: What about 3rd trimester abortions?
Chris: I'm not sure. I don't think it should be allowed once the child is viable.
Me: Would you say it is ok to kill the ones that can't live on their own yet?
Chris: I guess so.
Me: Is it OK to kill other people who can't live on their own? What about someone who is dependent upon dialysis for their kidneys?
Chris: Yes, that is "let die" not "kill."
Me: Ok, let's say that there is another train track that splits and it has 5 dependent people on one side and 1 person who is completely able to live on his own on the other side. Who do you save?
Chris: Good question. That's hard. I would want to save them all. They are all people. Well, maybe I would save the 5 dependent.
Me: Well, the good thing is, you can save them all. You don't have to kill anyone.

Chris said that he didn't think that the Exhibit itself was very effective. But, it did cause him to come out in the freezing cold rain and talk to me for quite a while. When he left, he said, "I have a lot to think about."

University of Colorado Response Card- Cameron

2009-06-25T16:27:00.001-05:00

Cameron: Do you know when life begins?
Me: Do you mean biological life?
Cameron: Yes.
Me: Well, if it's growing, isn't it alive...and if it has human parents, isn't it human? So isn't it a living human?
Cameron: From the beginning?
Me: Yes, after that, it will just continue to develop the rest of its life. All it needs is the right environment and nutrition-- the same things we need.
Cameron: I'm a Christian, so I knew I should be against this, but I never formed my own opinion until today. I didn't realize that 1st trimester abortions were wrong, but they are.

University of Colorado Response Card- Annie

2009-06-25T16:26:00.001-05:00

Annie: You better be careful so you don't get arrested.
Me: What do you mean?
Annie: Ron Paul supporters are now on government security watch lists.
Me: Yes, I've heard that they were adding pro-life activists to the list as well.
Annie: Be careful out here.
Me: What do you think about abortion?
Annie: I am a biologist. I think it is wrong after first trimester.
Me: Oh, that's cool that you are a biologist! Where would you say that the unborn is human?
Annie: That's hard to answer. It is human from the beginning, obviously. But it's not a person until the end of the first trimester.
Me: It's a human, but not a person? I don't think I understand. How could someone be a human but not a person?
Annie: You know what I mean...
Me: I think I do, but why should there be any distinction between a human and a person?

University of Colorado Response Card- Allison

2009-06-25T16:25:00.002-05:00

Allison had just signed "yes" to the poll that asked, "Should Abortion Remain Legal?"

Me: Do you mean that abortion should be allowed through all 9 months?
Allison: No, not after first trimester.
Me: Why not?
Allison: Your body could miscarry on its own during the first trimester. It's like normal.
Me: Can't a body miscarry later in a pregnancy as well?
Allison: Hmm, yeah I guess so.
Me: Would you say that there is a difference between someone dying naturally and killing someone?
Allison: I don't know.

April Newsletter

2009-06-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

Here is my APRIL NEWSLETTER!!!!

The University of Georgia- Athens

2009-06-18T17:23:00.014-05:00

I'm sorry that I am JUST NOW posting these stories...

Here are the pictures and transcripts of my conversations with UGA students (Late March- Early April)

Some of our team at a UGA training

Doing a pro-choice/pro-life role play with Catherine at the training

Training participants practicing together

Catherine left her job as a sign language interpreter to work for JFA...she was able to use her signing skills at UGA to give a tour to a deaf student!

Dialoguing with students

Some people were glad that we came!

Our team plus some awesome volunteers!

The team!

Comment on the Free Speech Board at UGA

2009-06-18T17:20:00.002-05:00

UGA response card- Tushor

2009-06-18T17:19:00.002-05:00

Tushor: After seeing this, I don't approve of abortion, but I wouldn't tell other people what they can and cannot do.
Lauren: Why don't you approve of it?
Tushor: It's murdering a human being!
Lauren: Do you think that we have a right to tell others not to murder a human being?
Tushor: Hmm, that's a good way to think about it. Yes, we should not allow people to murder other people.

UGA response card- Raleigh

2009-06-18T17:18:00.002-05:00

Raleigh: (On the open mic) What about all the kids in foster care? They have horrible lives!

Another woman (Dara) stepped up to the open mic: I've adopted one child and my sister has adopted 3. If you asked them if they would rather have aborted, they would all say no.

Raleigh sat down next to me.
Raleigh (to no one at all): Well you can't ask a born person that!
Lauren: What do you mean?
Raleigh: Me?
Lauren: Yeah..do you mean that we can't ask born people that because they appreciate their lives and would not want to be dead?
Raleigh: Yeah. Born people know they're alive.
Lauren: Ok...do you mean that a fetus does not know that it's alive so it's ok to kill it?
Raleigh: Hmm..
Lauren: Can we kill anyone else who is not completely self aware?
Raleigh: Like someone in a coma?
Lauren: Sure.
Raleigh: Well, if they are not going to wake up, I think it's fine to kill them.
Lauren: Let's say that they will regain consciousness within 9 months...
Raleigh: Haha I see your point. Talking like this is way more effective than showing that abortion billboard.

UGA response card- Phillip

2009-06-18T17:17:00.002-05:00

Was signing NO to the poll question "Should Graphic Visuals be used in public?"

Lauren: What bothers you about these pictures?
Phillip: This is like the way that Peta throws blood on people.
Lauren: How so?
Phillip: You make them look at something offensive.
Lauren: I agree that this is hard to look at, but we aren't physically attacking anyone.
Phillip: What if I know someone who has had an abortion?
Lauren: You could help them! (told about symptoms, post abortion counseling)
Phillip: I've never heard of those resources before.
Lauren: Do you think it is good for women to have this information?
Phillip: Definitely.

UGA response card

2009-06-18T17:16:00.000-05:00

UGA response card- Michael

2009-06-18T17:15:00.002-05:00

Michael: The first time I walked by, I just cried. This is so sad.
Lauren: Do you know anyone who has had an abortion?
Michael: I know many girls who've had abortions. It seems like the majority of girls I know have had one.
Lauren: Maybe you could help them. If anyone ever confides in you that they have experienced abortion, you could let them know about post abortion counseling...

UGA response card- Lindsey

2009-06-18T17:14:00.002-05:00

The bottom of this card got cut off. It said, "people with stronger opinions would be inclined to be angry and not listen."

Lauren: What do you think about this?
Lindsey: I don't have an opinion.
Lauren: What do you think about sex selection abortions?
Lindsey: I'm against that.
Lauren: What do you think about late term abortions?
Lindsey: I think those are wrong.
Lauren: Why?
Lindsey: I just couldn't kill my baby when it's like that.
Lauren: Why not? What's the difference?
Lindsey: Well, it can live on its own.
Lauren: You mean it's not dependent on the mother?
Lindsey: Yeah.
Lauren: Aren't we all dependent in some way?
Lindsey: Yes...

UGA response card- Jessie

2009-06-18T17:13:00.002-05:00

Jessie wrote on the Free Speech Board, " You act like this is something you care about, but you are exploiting the very thing you are trying to protect. - Pissed off"

Lauren: Hey, I saw what you wrote. I understand that these are really hard to look at...I know that the first time that I saw pictures of the Holocaust, I was horrified. But, I don't think that I would have understood the injustice if I had not seen the visuals.
Jessie: That's so different!
Lauren: What is different?
Jessie: That is educating about history.
Lauren: Well, I think it depends on what you believe these are...if this not a human being, pro life people need to quit telling women what to do with their own bodies. They need to care about something more important. But if these ARE human beings, wouldn't it warrant a passionate plea for the injustice to stop?
Jessie: I don't know. I don't really care about the children. I care about the women.
Lauren: Have you heard of the health risks of abortion?
Jessie: Yes and I think that women should ask for the information before they get an abortion. If not, when they get cancer or become sterile, they deserve it. They should have researched it.
Lauren: Wait, did you say you care about women?

UGA response card- Jenny

2009-06-18T17:12:00.002-05:00

Jenny: I think abortion is a good option.
Lauren: Why?
Jenny: I would not want a baby right now. If I got pregnant, I would at least consider abortion.

(Jenny listened as I explained the abortion procedures to her friend)

Jenny: That is awful. I would never want to go through that.

UGA response card- Jennimaria

2009-06-18T17:11:00.002-05:00

Lauren: What do you think about this?
Jennimaria: I'm pro-choice, but not pro-abortion.
Lauren: Why aren't you pro-abortion?
Jennimaria: I think it's killing a baby...but I still think it should be a woman's choice.
Lauren: Do you mean that you wouldn't personally have an abortion, but would not impose your morals on others?
Jennimaria: Well, I don't know if I would have an abortion, and I would not take away anyone else's choice. Laws based on morals always fail. Crazy right-wing Republicans are always trying to prohibit alcohol and sex and everything else that they don't like.
Lauren: Don't many laws have a moral basis? For example, we don't get a choice to steal. We don't get a choice to kill.
Jennimaria: Yes, but those are ethics.
Lauren: Would you say that abortion is ethical?
Jennimaria: Well, no... Actually, I'm a Christian and I know that abortion contradicts with that, but I think I'm OK with that.
Lauren: What contradicts?
Jennimaria: Well, God doesn't want us to kill innocent humans.
Lauren: Yes, and the Bible says that we should speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. So why do you say that you're OK with contradicting your Christian values? Jesus said that you can't serve two masters.
Jennimaria: I just don't want to take away women's options.
Lauren: Do you think abortion is a good option health wise?
Jennimaria: No, it's not. But, some women just don't want to be pregnant.
Lauren: I know this is pretty harsh, but...abortion doesn't make a woman un-pregnant; it makes her the mother of a dead baby.
Jennimaria: Wow. Yeah I guess it does. This is the best conversation I've ever had about abortion. I really like your civilized approach.

UGA response card- Jason

2009-06-18T17:10:00.002-05:00

Jason: I think abortion is wrong.
Lauren: Why do you think it's wrong?
Jason: I'm a Christian and these pictures make it look so wrong.
Lauren: Are you against all abortions?
Jason: I am definitely against these. (pointing to 21 week fetus)
Lauren: Why are you against them?
Jason: They look human.
Lauren: Do you think abortion should be allowed before it looks human? (pointing to 4 week embryo in exhibit brochure) This one looks kinda like a fish.
Jason: I don't know.
Lauren: Well, even though it may look like a fish, it is not a fish. It has human parents and human DNA. At conception a new, unique human organism is created and doesn't need anything else except the right environment and nutrition and it will continue to develop throughout life.
Jason: Abortion doesn't make sense at any time.

UGA response card- Jason

2009-06-18T17:09:00.002-05:00

Jason: We kill all the time. Killing isn't wrong. Society just tells us that it is.
Lauren: Who do we kill?
Jason: We kill ants. Have you ever killed an ant?
Lauren: Are you implying that killing ants is just as morally wrong as killing humans?
Jason: Yes.
Lauren: I don't believe you.
Jason: Why not?
Lauren: You would really say that it was just as bad for me to step on an ant right now as it would be for me to pull out a gun and kill you?
Jason: It's all just killing. Society just tells us it's wrong.
Lauren: Do you believe that it is wrong to kill infants?
Jason: Well, innately no. But society says we shouldn't. If we weren't raised to think it was wrong, we would all kill each other.
Lauren: So do you think that naturally people would all just want to kill each other and think killing was good, if society did not tell them not to?
Jason: Yes. They would all kill.
Lauren: Would that be a good thing?
Jason: Well, no.
Lauren: Do you think there is anything that is universally wrong?
Jason: Society just tells us things are wrong.
Lauren: What about rape? If society said it was ok to rape, would it be ok?
Jason: I guess so.
Lauren: Would you say that there is a moral difference between a father who nurtures his daughter and a father who rapes his daughter?
Jason: Not really.
Lauren: Ok, well thanks for coming by.
Jason: I like talking to you.

UGA response card- Jacqui

2009-06-18T17:08:00.001-05:00

Jacqui wrote on the Free Speech Board, "I may not agree with what you say (and I don't) but I'll defend to the death your right to say it..."

Lauren: Do you mean that you like free speech but don't agree with this message?
Jacqui: Yes, I'm Pro-choice.
Lauren: When do you believe that abortion should be allowed? (holding out fetal development chart) First trimester, second trimester, third trimester?
Jacqui: Um, I can't pick one.
Lauren: Do you mean that it should be legal through all 9 months?
Jacqui: No...I actually can't think of a place where it SHOULD be legal.
Lauren: What do you mean?
Jacqui: These look like people! I don't think it should be allowed at any of these times.
Lauren: What if it did not look human? Does human appearance give us our value?
Jacqui: Well, no, but how do we know it's human if it doesn't look human?
Lauren: If it has human parents, could it be anything other than human?
Jacqui: No! haha it is a human!

UGA response card- Huei

2009-06-18T17:07:00.005-05:00

Huei: I am pro-choice.
Lauren: Do you think abortion should be legal at all times of a pregnancy?
Huei: I think so.
Lauren: Why?
Huei: There are many unwanted children that grow up in bad situations.
Lauren: Yeah...would you say that they would be better off dead?
Huei: I never thought about it like that. I am a Special Education major.
Lauren: It sounds like you care about children with special needs since you want to teach them..
Huei: Yes, I do, very much!
Lauren: Did you know that 90% of babies with Downs Syndrome are aborted?
Huei: I don't agree with that! No one should kill them for that!
Lauren: I talked to a girl in AZ who had a physical handicap and she said, "It may not be a life that we would choose, but that doesn't mean it is not a life worth living."
Huei: Wow, that is a great way to put it.
Lauren: Yes, so it sounds like we agree that women should not kill their children if they are disabled. Would it be ok for women to abort their children simply because they didn't want them?
Huei: I'm not sure. (staring at abortion picture)
Lauren: Do you think it is right to do that to a child?
Huei: No. These pictures make me sad. This has changed my mind. All children are valuable. Why should we kill any of them?

UGA response card- Ellen

2009-06-18T17:07:00.003-05:00

Ellen: I would get an abortion if I got pregnant right now.
Lauren: Hmm, it sounds like you must know a lot about abortion to already have that decision. Have you heard about the health risks?
Ellen: No, what are they?
(I explained possible health risks)
Ellen: Wait, how do they even do the procedures?
(I explained the different abortion procedures.)
Ellen: That is horrible!!! I would never consider that again! That is so horrible for the baby and not good for the mother either.

UGA response card- Danielle

2009-06-18T17:05:00.004-05:00

Danielle: I'm pro-life.
Lauren: Do you mean that you are against abortion through all nine months?
Danielle: No, once it's a fetus.
Lauren: So you believe it is ok to abort an 8 week embryo like that one? (pointing to panel 1)
Danielle: Oh, that's considered an embryo? It looks human. When does it become human?
Lauren: Well at conception it becomes a complete genetically human entity. It will continue to develop without any extra help...
Danielle: Well, I'm against it from when sperm and egg come together. That's a human.

UGA response card- Craig

2009-06-18T17:05:00.002-05:00

Craig: (staring at 10 week aborted baby) I don't think a lot of people realized it was a human.
Lauren: Hmm...did you realize?
Craig: No. Not until I saw this. I was almost aborted. I'm glad to be alive.

UGA response card- Cameron

2009-06-18T17:03:00.001-05:00

Cameron: I don't know what I believe yet. I have to go to class, but I want to know more.

(Went to class and came back)

Cameron: My friend had an abortion when she was 15. What would her life have been like if she had a child right now?
Lauren: It would probably be really tough, and I hope that her friends and family would be supportive and help her. If there was a woman who was in school and had a 2 year old, could she kill that two year old, because she is in school?
Cameron: No, the 2 year old is already born.
Lauren: So, do you mean that it is a person because it is in a certain location, and the unborn are not people because they are in a different location?
Cameron: Well, I know that the baby is the same baby whether it's in her body or not. I wouldn't kill my baby.

UGA response card- Ana

2009-06-18T17:02:00.002-05:00

The bottom of this response card got cut off. It concluded with "Lets teach ppl to be good women"

Ana was signing "No" to the poll "Should this exhibit return next year?"

Lauren: Why don't you want the exhibit to return?
Ana: CHILDREN COULD SEE THIS!

Then Ana stormed away.

Ana came back about five minutes later.

Ana: WHY IS THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT?!

Then she walked away again.

About 2 minutes later I saw her coming back...

Ana: Where can I file a complaint?
I handed her a response card. She filled it out handed it back to me and stormed away again.

Then she came back again!

Ana: WHO IS FUNDING THIS?!
(I waited a second to see if she was actually wanted an answer this time.)
Lauren: It is paid for by private sponsors and organizations.
Ana: OH, SO CHRISTIANS!
Lauren: Well, anyone can make a donation. You can make one if you want.
Ana: Haha No thanks. So this is a Christian organization?
Lauren: Well, no. You'll notice that there aren't Bible references as our evidence. We think this information is relevant to everyone regardless of their views on Christianity.
Ana: But the sponsors are Christian, so that makes it a Christian organization.
Lauren: Well if we also had Muslim donors, would that make this a Muslim organization?
Ana: No....I can't believe you put this up in the middle of the campus!

Then she stormed away again.
Then she came back again.

Ana: OK, I know this is my 5th time coming up to you...I keep yelling at you...why don't you yell back?
Lauren: Do you want me to yell?
Ana: No. It just seems like a not very fun job to sit outside of this nasty thing and get yelled at all day.
Lauren: Well, not everybody yells at me. But, I understand that this makes you want to yell. It makes me want to yell, too!
Ana: What about the children who might see it?
Lauren: What do you think they would say if they saw it?
Ana: WHO CARES WHAT THEY WOULD SAY. THEY SHOULDN'T SEE IT! DON'T EVER USE THAT RESPONSE AGAIN!
Lauren: OK...I'm sorry. Well I have not seen any children today. Children are not our target audience; that's why we bring it to college campuses. College aged women are getting more abortions than any other age group.
Ana: Well, you guys don't really care about women. Why would you show this?
Lauren: Well, I must correct you. I do care about women. I want what is best for them. That's why I'm out here. I am a big fan of rights for women. I love being able to vote and have a job, etc. But is abortion really best for women? If we really care about women, shouldn't we give them all the information?
Ana: You seem sweet and like you care about women. You are just misinformed.
Lauren: About what?
Ana: Women need choice!
Lauren: When do women need this choice?
Ana: RAPE!
Lauren: Rape is terrible. I think it is horrible that..
Ana: Don't change the subject!
Lauren: I'm not trying to change the subject. I just think it is important to address how serious this issue is.
Ana: Ok.
Lauren: I think rapists should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I think that rape is a serious crime and it is disturbing how much it happens even on this campus. In my women's studies class here some sorority girls said that there is a fraternity that has what they call "the rape room" where they have sex with drunk girls. That seems like a pretty serious problem to me.
Ana: Yeah, that's really disturbing.
Lauren: Do you think that abortion would help someone who was raped? She's just had a violent act committed against her, would committing another violent act take away the rape?
Ana: No, but then she wouldn't have to think about it anymore.
Lauren: Well, do you think that's really true? Do you think having an abortion would make her forget the rape? I think it might give her another horrible experience to try to forget..
Ana: hmm, yeah I can see that..
Lauren: When a girl has just been raped, she is in a vulnerable position, so I think we have a responsibility to really help her instead of promoting something that actually might hurt her. How could we better help rape victims?
Ana: Hmm, well I guess we could give them more information, like this, about what abortion is like so that they don't think that is an easy solution. And we could help them find counseling.
Lauren: Yeah, instead of masking the pain by offering abortion, we could actually help women.
Ana: Ok well you guys are right. These conversations are important. I hate the display, but what you are doing is good.

UGA student- Amelia

2009-06-18T17:01:00.003-05:00

Amelia went with her friend to get an abortion last month in Atlanta. Her friend made the decision simply because she checked the price of an abortion and found that she thought it was reasonably priced. She even remembered that it cost $396. I told Amelia about possible psychological effects down the road and let her know how to help her friend find post abortive counseling.

UGA response card- Alexandra

2009-06-18T16:59:00.001-05:00

Alexandra wrote on the Free Speech Board, "Everyone deserves a choice."

Lauren: I saw what you just wrote. Do you mean that everyone should have a choice of whether abortion is allowed?
Alexandra: Huh?
Lauren: Do you think that men should have a say in it as well?
Alexandra: No, I mean that every woman should be allowed to decide.
Lauren: Do you think men should have any part in deciding if their children live or not?
Alexandra: Not really.
Lauren: Do you think that men should have to pay child support after the child is born?
Alexandra: No, I think child support turns women into parasites.
Lauren: Ok, well at least you are consistent. Do you think that women should be allowed to abort their child for any reason?
Alexandra: Yeah.
Lauren: What about for sex selection? Like aborting a fetus because it is female..
Alexandra: No, that's wrong.
Lauren: What about using abortion as birth control?
Alexandra: Oh that makes me mad. Don't have like 5 abortions!
Lauren: Why not?
Alexandra: It is not a decision that anyone should take lightly.
Lauren: I agree. But, I'm curious why you think it shouldn't be taken lightly. I think that it is serious because it kills a living human being. Why do you think it is serious?
Alexandra: Well, that's a good reason.

UGA response card- Afua

2009-06-18T16:55:00.002-05:00

Afua: I think this is wrong.
Lauren: Do you mean abortion or displaying graphic photos in public?
Afua: Abortion.
Lauren: Why do you think it is wrong?
Afua: If someone made the decision to have sex, they should take responsibility for the baby it made.
Lauren: What about someone who did not make the decision to have sex? Do you think women should be allowed to have an abortion if they are raped?
Afua: Yeah, I think they should.
Lauren: I think we should be compassionate as well. I want to give good options to women in that situation.
Afua: Me too.
Lauren: Would you say that abortion is a good option?
Afua: Well, I don't know. Not really.
Lauren: When someone has just been raped, she is probably very vulnerable, so we should offer options that will truly help her. Do you think that committing a violent act like abortion would ease the pain of rape?
Afua: No, but what if looking at that baby's face would remind the mother of the rapist?
Lauren: Hmm, that could be hard for her. But if you reminded me of someone who I hated, even for a good reason, could I kill you?
Afua: No.
Lauren: Plus, is abortion safe?
Afua: I don't know.
Lauren: Well, it's definitely not safe for the child. (also explained health risks of abortion)
Afua: I am against all abortions.

Bodily Autonomy: "It's ok to kill people if they are in my body!"

2009-06-01T13:20:00.008-05:00

One of my stories from Texas A&M was picked up by some other pro-life blogs.
(Like this one!)

Someone left this comment on that blog:

SoMG said...

Wow. In this conversation, you seem to have covered all possible abortion questions, EXCEPT the important one.

What matters is not WHAT the fetus is, but WHERE it is.

Call me an extremist if you like, but I claim the right to absolutely control what and who lives inside my body, and when, and how long.

If all the human beings in the whole wide world--innocent and guilty, unborn and already-born, great and small, rich and poor, high and low, smart and stupid--were assembled somewhere inside my body, then I'd be entitled to holocaust them at will. For any reason or for no reason. That's part of the meaning of the word "my" in the phrase "my body".

So yes, it is a baby, and abortion is homicide. But abortion on demand is JUSTIFIABLE homicide. If something is inside my body, then I'm entitled to have it killed EVEN THOUGH IT'S A BABY.

My name is Lauren said...

SoMG,

If I trespassed onto the White house lawn and tried to attack the president, the Secret Service might shoot me. What if I was just thrown onto the White house lawn? Would it be justifiable to kill me then?

If I broke into someone’s house and tried to rob them in the middle of the night, they might shoot me. But, if the owner of the house kidnapped me and brought me there, should he be allowed to kill me then?

If we put someone in a location, can we then kill that person because of his or her location? The child does not get into the womb on his own. He is not a stranger who is encroaching on the woman’s territory.

“Suppose I walked up to a baby making machine and pressed the START button. Would I be responsible for the ensuing child?” - Scott Klusendorf, A Case For Life, 195.

Sex is a baby-making act which places the baby inside the mother’s womb. The child did not force itself or will itself into existence inside the womb. The mother participated in the act that put the child there. Since she has created a person (which you acknowledge is a total human being just like you and me) and created that person’s dependence upon her, she has an obligation to that person.

“Suppose I break my neighbor’s sliding glass door while playing baseball with my sons. Upon inspecting the damage, I reply to my neighbor, Mr. Lopez, ‘I’m sorry that I broke your slider, I really am. But I’m not going to pay for it. You see, I consented to play baseball with my sons, but I did not consent to break your window.’ If I said that, he would think I was completely nuts.” Scott Klusendorf, A Case For Life, 192.

Doesn’t a woman have a responsibility to her child if she engaged in the act of sex which naturally created that child?

Auburn University

2009-04-21T11:56:00.003-05:00

Thank you for all of your prayers for the Auburn trip!

We had the privilege of training some really incredible pro-life ambassadors at Auburn. They did such a great job on campus! (Here I am with my GREAT group!)

Please check out the stories from our campus outreach below!

It rained both days, but we still had really good conversations and many students were willing to come out in the rain to talk to us!

Auburn University- Tiffany, B, and Shantel

2009-04-21T11:18:00.012-05:00

3 pro-choice African American girls were standing at the Free Speech Board talking. I overheard a few comments.

"They are trying to take away our rights!"
"If it's illegal, people will do it anyway and that wouldn't be safe at all."
"They don't care about women."

I prayed for courage and cautiously approached.

Lauren: Hey, I heard you guys talking, what do you think of this display?
Tiffany: It's pretty ugly!
Lauren: I agree with you!
B: My dad is very high up in the church and it would be so embarrassing to him if I got pregnant. He says he would pay for as many abortions as I need.

Shantel: Just use Plan B. That's what I do.

Lauren: Have you heard of Margaret Sanger?...Well, she was the founder of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the US. Some people think that abortion clinics are in minority areas to be helpful to those people or give them options, but did you know that Margaret Sanger said that she wanted to use abortion to "exterminate the negro population"...
Tiffany: She said that?!
Lauren: Yes, and did you know that Planned Parenthood has been willing to accept donations when donors asked that they go specifically to killing black babies?
Shantel: Now that makes me mad!
Lauren: Me too! So why do you think 50% of all African American pregnancies end in abortion?
B: Maybe, because they don't realize it's a conspiracy. I never thought of abortion as letting racists get their way to kill your children.
Lauren: Yeah. It kinda puts a different spin on the whole thing.
Shantel: Well, I am against abortion. I don't want to kill my baby. That's why I would just use Plan B.
Lauren: Well, would it be helpful to have a quick overview of the biology of the unborn?
Shantel: Sure.
Lauren: Well, from conception, the unborn has 46 chromosomes and completely separate DNA from it's parents. It is a whole, complete human organism. All it needs is a proper environment and adequate nutrition... the same things that we need! It would be difficult for me to pick any other point in the development process as the beginning of the unborn's life, because it has everything it needs from the beginning. It is just getting bigger and more developed.
B: Well, how does Plan B work?
Lauren: It can stop the sperm and egg from meeting. Or it is possible that if a whole, living, human organism has already been created, Plan B can keep it from being able to attach, thus starving it to death.
Shantel: That is not fine! It is a human when the sperm and egg come together!
B: I think so, too. Having this information makes me not like abortion, but what about the women who will do it anyway?
Lauren: I think that it would be really tragic if a woman hurt herself performing an abortion. I don't think legal or illegal abortions are good. But, if we know that something is wrong and harmful to people (like abortion), should we keep it legal simply so that those who break the law will not hurt themselves as much while breaking the law?
Tiffany: Man, this stuff is so wrong. I can't believe I thought abortion was good.

We talked for a while longer. It was really amazing to watch them change their minds as they realized the truth about abortion and the harm that it causes.

Tiffany's response card

B's response card.

Shantel's response card

Auburn University- Theresa

2009-04-21T11:17:00.002-05:00

I told Theresa (name changed) what Margaret Sanger said about using abortion to "exterminate the entire negro population."

Theresa: That lady is crazy.
Lauren: Well she is the founder of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the country.
Theresa: Well, good thing you can get an abortion somewhere other than Planned Parenthood.
Lauren: How would that be a good thing?
Theresa: Then you aren't letting that Margaret lady win.
Lauren: If her goal is to kill off that people group, wouldn't she still be succeeding?
Theresa: Oh, I don't know.
Lauren: Do you know anyone who has had an abortion?
Theresa: Yes, several of my friends have.
Lauren: How are they doing?
Theresa: Some regret it, some are OK. Do you think that they can't go to Heaven if they've had an abortion?
(I'm thinking, "where in the world did that question come from?" The possibility came into my mind that Theresa might have had an abortion as well.)
Lauren: I believe that only Jesus can get you into Heaven..
Theresa: I'm a Christian.
Lauren: There is no sin that is bigger than God's love. He can handle it. If we repent and ask forgiveness, he is faithful to forgive.
Theresa: What about if you have multiple abortions?
Lauren: Repent means "turn away from." I think that if you are truly sorry, you must not continue to do that sin.
Theresa: I had an abortion.
Lauren: Oh Theresa, how are you doing?
Theresa: I'm OK. I talked with my mom about it and we agreed that it was the best decision. I probably wouldn't be in college right now if I hadn't had the abortion. I regret it sometimes, but it was 2 years ago, so I'm fine now. I was a Christian when I made the decision.
Lauren: Theresa, have you gone to any post-abortion counseling?
Theresa: No, I don't know if I would want to or not.
Lauren: Well, most of the women who lead the classes have had abortions, so they can probably relate to anything that you are going through. They are also Christians. Would you consider looking into that?
Theresa: Yeah I could maybe go to counseling, do you think it would be helpful?
Lauren: Honestly, I don't know. I know that it has helped many people. Would you at least try going once to see if it helps? If you don't like it, you could just not go back.
Theresa: Yeah, I'll go once.

When Theresa filled out the response card I asked if it would be OK to email her and she said that she would like that.

Auburn University- Jordan

2009-04-21T11:14:00.003-05:00

Jordan said he is a Christian and was pro-choice because he thought it should be an option for women who are raped. I literally went through every response I could think of in regard to the rape question...

Rape is horrible and rapists should be punished. We should definitely try to stop all of this rape from happening...1 out of every 4 women in college has been raped. It is a serious problem.

We want to be compassionate to women who are raped, but is this a good option for them?

Is abortion safe for women? (example-women who become sterile, got breast cancer, died)

These women are vulnerable, when they are trusting us to help them, should we offer abortion as an option for them?

Will this take away the rape? (They've just had a violent act committed against them. Would it help to commit another violent act?)

Some women who were raped said that bearing the child helped them to heal, because they were able to let something good come out of it.

Rape and incest account for up to one and a half percent of all abortions.

Jordan: Well, those are all good points and I don't by any means think it's a good idea. But, I'm a guy, how can I have an opinion?
Lauren: Do you have to be the victim of injustice to be able to recognize it? If I saw someone being discriminated against because of his or her race, I could not completely empathize if I had never experienced it, but I could still recognize that it was wrong.
Jordan: True.

Auburn University- Katherine

2009-04-21T11:13:00.003-05:00

Katherine: I love abortion. I think it's great.
Lauren: What's great about it?
Katherine: Limits overpopulation.
Lauren: OK, well should we kill born people also to stop overpopulation?
Katherine: That's too much of a gray area.

Auburn University- Robert

2009-04-21T11:12:00.002-05:00

Robert: Scientists don't know when it's human.
Lauren: Do you mean that they don't know when it is human biologically?
Robert: Right.
Lauren: If it's growing, isn't it alive?
Robert: Yes.
Lauren: If it has human parents, isn't it human?
Robert: Well yes, but scientists disagree on what it can do at each stage. Some say the heartbeat is at 21 days others say 25, etc.
Lauren: Is that relevant? Are we only human because of what we can do?
Robert: I don't know. That's an interesting question.

Robert: This was a good conversation. I thought pro-life people were crazy, but you're not.
Lauren: Oh, thank you.

Auburn University- Daniel

2009-04-21T11:11:00.003-05:00

Daniel: Well, how many kids have you adopted?
Me: I haven't adopted ANY...and I'm already 21!
Daniel: Well, I meant all you pro-life people...
Me: Hmm...like the director of our organization? He's adopted 4. But, I'm sure that there are many pro-life people who have not adotpted any children. How does their inconsistency justify the killing of innocent children?
Daniel: It doesn't. That wasn't a good argument.

Auburn University- Jerry

2009-04-21T11:09:00.002-05:00

Jerry said he is a Christian and is personally against abortion but wanted to know how we would deal with over population, birth control, poverty, etc. He said that he grew up in poverty but worked hard, made a 33 on the ACT, and went to college. He knows it can be done, but wanted to know how JFA was helping.

Lauren: As an organization, I don't know of anything that we are specifically doing to help poor people. This organization focuses on educating people about abortion. I agree that those are important issues. If there was a pandemic where women all over the country were killing their toddlers because of the bad economy, we would definitely want to fix the economy. But, first we would say "stop killing your children!" It's important to look to the root of the issues, but it's also important to protect the children who could become victims.

Auburn University- Jerry

2009-04-21T11:07:00.001-05:00

Lauren: Did you see that abortion display outside yesterday?
Jerry: I passed by it.
Lauren: Have you heard any reactions to it?
Jerry: Yeah, I know some people were offended, but I wasn't.
Lauren: What do you think about abortion?
Jerry: I'm pro-choice.
Lauren: Do you think that abortion should be legal through all 9 months?
Jerry: Yeah, I don't really think we could make it illegal. But, I'm personally against abortions after 12 weeks.
Lauren: Why?
Jerry: I'm pre-med. After 12 weeks it is too developed.
Lauren: Isn't it all just a cycle of development? How do you draw the line? What if someone was 11 weeks pregnant? (Pointing to fetal development chart)
Jerry: I don't think I'd be ok with that either.
Lauren: What about someone who was 10 weeks pregnant?
Jerry: I think they probably should not get an abortion either.
Lauren: What about this embryo? (pointing to 7 wk embryo)
Jerry: Well, I don't know. I guess I wouldn't want to abort him either.
Lauren: What about a 3 wk embryo, stopping a beating heart? Most women find out they are pregnant when they are about 5 weeks pregnant.
Jerry: That's true. I don't know. I am against abortion for myself.
Lauren: What about if one of your friends was considering abortion?
Jerry: I would tell them not to. It's not a good idea.
But I wouldn't make it illegal.
Lauren: Why not?
Jerry: I don't think we can impose our morals on others.
Lauren: If you saw a mother beating her child in front of you, would you impose morality on her and tell her to stop?
Jerry: Is she spanking the child or hurting it?
Lauren: She is trying to kill the child; do you stop her?
Jerry: Yes. I would not personally perform abortions, I would just refer the patients to another doctor.
Lauren: I'm not pre-med and I don't know how people decide to become doctors. Would you say that a doctor's purpose is to help people and give them solutions that will keep them healthy, or would you say that a doctor's role is to give the patient whatever they want, even if it's bad for them?
Jerry: No, I hate when doctors do that. Some doctors give patients any drugs that they ask for. You don't give the patient what they want, you give them want they need.
Lauren: That's interesting. You don't give them what they want, you give them what they need...would you say that abortion would be good for them?
Jerry: No.
Lauren: So, why would you refer them to another doctor to get an abortion if you know that it won't help them?
Jerry: I guess it would be better to tell them about what abortion really is and suggest a counselor to help them deal with whatever reason they feel they need an abortion.
Lauren: Yeah, I think that would be a better option. So, do you still think this should remain legal?
Jerry: It would be hard to make it illegal, but I don't think it is good for anyone.
Lauren: There are some times when people have to stand up for the defenseless and say, "not only will I not kill them, but I won't let you kill them either." Do you think it is good that people stood up to the holocaust and the Jim Crow laws and stopped those atrocities?
Jerry: Yes. I would like to make abortion illegal. Like you said, it's not really a good option.

Auburn University- Zach

2009-04-21T11:06:00.001-05:00

The final part of the JFA training program is for the students to shadow one of the JFA staff and see how conversations go. Drew (The AU Pro-life Club President) and I went inside to do some surveys while there was lightning outside. Drew was very helpful at starting the conversations

Zach said that he was a pro-choice Christian.

Lauren: What do you think about late term abortion?
Zach: I'm against second and third trimester.
Lauren: What is the difference between 1st and 2nd trimester? This embryo (pointing to 7 wk embryo) has all of the same organs as the 2nd trimester, they are just less developed. But the second trimester organs aren't fully developed either.
Zach: Well, I would not kill that one. It looks like a human.
Lauren: What about this one? (Pointing to 4 wk embryo) It doesn't look like a human yet, but it has a heartbeat at 3 wks. What do you think about stopping a beating heart?
Zach: Well that doesn't really bother me.

Auburn University- Aimee

2009-04-21T11:05:00.004-05:00

Aimee was unsure of her abortion stance. She decided that she would never have an abortion. Aimee's friend had an abortion before. She was excited to learn about the Pregnancy Resource center's post abortion counseling. She circled the phone number in the back of the exhibit brochure.

Auburn University- Emily

2009-04-21T11:02:00.003-05:00

Emily: I'm pro-life but you guys are so hateful. You aren't doing anything to help people. This is not effective. Why are you doing this?
Lauren: I'm hateful?
Emily: Well, no, not you. But this approach is, and it's not effective.
Lauren: When you say that this is not effective, what do you mean? What do you think our goal is?
Emily: Well, that's a good question. It seems like your goal is to scare people and I guess you have been effective at that.
Lauren: Well, scaring people isn't really my goal. But, I do want people to see the reality of abortion. I also want women to know about the health risks. If the goal of this exhibit was to create discussion on campus and get people talking, do you think it did that?
Emily: Yeah, everybody is talking about it.
Lauren: If our goal is to really value opinions of students and listen to and address their concerns, do you think that was accomplished?
Emily: Well I don't know if everyone is like this, but yeah you've listened to me and helped me understand some of the reasons better.
Lauren: I do understand your concern about this not being effective if you mean that it is offensive. We are considering redesigning the exhibit, do you have any ideas of a better way that we could reach large amounts of people and have conversations with them?
Emily: No, these pictures are just too graphic.

Emily wrote on her response card that these pictures "try to scare people into making a decision they might not make otherwise." I thought that was interesting.

Auburn University- Nesha

2009-04-21T11:01:00.002-05:00

Nesha: I'm not sure what to think about you guys. Why are you using these pictures?
Lauren: I know that these pictures are very horrible to look at, but do you think it would be worth upsetting a lot of people if it saved one life?
Nesha: Hmm, yeah I suppose it would.
Lauren: See panel 3 on side 3? That baby is alive today because her mother saw these pictures.
Nesha: Do many people change their minds?
Lauren: Well, a lot do. I try to just listen to people and present helpful information. People have told us, "If I had these pictures 2 years ago, I never would have had my abortion." 45% of abortions are college aged women. Wouldn't it be good for them to know what the choice really is?
Nesha: Yes. So what all do you tell people?

I gave her a tour of the exhibit.

Auburn University- Henry

2009-04-21T10:42:00.001-05:00

Henry began the conversation very angry.

Henry: WHY ARE YOU GUYS HERE?!
Lauren: We want to talk to people about abortion. What do you think about it?
Henry: I don't know, but why do you have to show these horrible pictures?!
Lauren: I think they are horrible, too. Have you heard the story of Emmett Till?
Henry: No, who's he?
Lauren: (short version of the story) Emmett was an African American boy who was accused of whistling at a white girl. He was kidnapped and brutally murdered. His body was unrecognizable. The coroner sealed the casket and sent it home to his mother. Emmett's mother decided, against the coroner's wishes, to hold an open casket funeral. Journalists photographed Emmett's body and published the pictures in Jet Magazine. When people saw the violence, they could no longer ignore it. It put a face to the word "racism." Emmett's death has been called the catalyst of the entire civil rights movement. Why do you think his death caused such a stir?
Henry: People saw.
Lauren: I agree.
Henry: Wow. That's intense. I think I really understand why you guys are here now. How could anyone stay mad at you? You've been so nice to me.
Lauren: I don't mind when people get upset with me. I know that this is very upsetting material, so I completely understand when it makes people want to yell. Would it be helpful for you to have a quick tour of the exhibit?
Henry: Yes, thank you.

Auburn University Response cards

2009-04-21T10:23:00.012-05:00

I didn't take many notes about these conversations, but here are their responses.

Rachel: I'm pretty sure that I'm against abortion.
(I gave her a tour of the exhibit. )
Rachel: They were talking about this in my Bible study, and Mr. ? (one of the administrators) sent out an email saying that you guys had a right to be here, but the school was not endorsing it. So, I wanted to come see what this is about.

I gave Robert a tour of the exhibit. He asked if I could train him, so I did a mini training and taught him how to use the exhibit brochure.

Kara: People were talking about this everywhere. I have had so many conversations about abortion today!

Caroline was signing "No" to the poll question, "Should this exhibit return next year?"

I'm in the flip flops! :)

Auburn University- Adam

2009-04-21T10:18:00.002-05:00

Adam: I am pro-choice.
Lauren: Why?
Adam: It's the woman's decision.
Lauren: Do you think that a woman should have the decision to kill her newborn child if she wants to do that?
Adam: No.
Lauren: I agree. But, why not?
Adam: That's a human.
Lauren: So, if the unborn is also human, we must protect it also?
Adam: Well I guess, but it's not human.

Then I went through the "10-second pro-life apologist" with him (If it's growing, isn't it alive? If it has human parents, isn't it human? And human beings like you and me have value, don't they?)

Adam: Hmm. Well, I guess it is human. But, it doesn't look human until that picture. (Pointing to 8 wk embryo)
Lauren: Does our appearance determine how valuable we are? If someone was disfigured, or didn't look human, should we be allowed to kill them?
Adam: Well no, but it's in the womb, so it can't be a person.
Lauren: Does our location change our value? Have you ever met the president?
Adam: No..
Lauren: Me neither. But, just because he is in a different location and I can't see him, doesn't mean he is not a real person. Plus, I can see him on TV, the same way that we can see the unborn child on a sonogram.
Adam: Well, I have changed my mind. This abortion is not a good thing.

Auburn University- Clayton

2009-04-21T10:16:00.001-05:00

Clayton believed that the unborn was a living human but was still unsure of what to do in certain situations...

Clayton: What about health of the mother?
Lauren: Do you mean the life of the mother, or just her health?
Clayton: What do you mean?
Lauren: If we can save both lives, shouldn't we do that?
Clayton: Yeah, so just the life of the mother.
Lauren: Do you know of any situations where the mother would certainly die if she had the baby?
Clayton: Actually, no.
Lauren: Well, I only know of one, an ectopic pregnancy--where the embryo implants in the fallopian tube and will grow there until it becomes to large, rupturing the fallopian tube and thus killing the mother and child. Right now, there is scientifically no way to save that child, so we think that you should remove that embryo so that at least the mother can live. However, I don't know of any cases like the movies where the husband has to decide whether he wants his wife or child to live...
Clayton:What about rape?
Clayton: What about poor women?
Clayton: What about drug addicts?

I tried to address each of his concerns.

Clayton: Well, this changed my mind.
Lauren: Why?
Clayton: It's a human being and there's no good reason to kill an innocent human being.

Auburn University- Evan

2009-04-21T10:06:00.004-05:00

As people pass by, I sometimes offer them a copy of the exhibit brochure. If they stop, I usually talk to them.

Lauren: Would you like a copy of the exhibit brochure?
Evan: No thanks. (stopped to look at exhibit)
Lauren: What do you think about this?
Evan: I don't know. Whatever.
Lauren: Do you mean that you don't have an opinion about abortion?
Evan: Yeah.
Lauren: When do you think the unborn becomes human?
Evan: It's hard to say.
Lauren: If it's growing, isn't it alive? At least as much as a tree?
Evan: Yeah, it's alive.
Lauren: If it has human parents, isn't it human?
Evan: Hmm, yeah.
Lauren: So would you say that it is a living human?
Evan: Wow, that actually makes sense. It is a human.

I didn't write down enough notes about the full conversation, but he later decided that abortion was wrong.

Lauren: Would you mind filling out a response card to let us know what you thought of the exhibit and this conversation?
Evan: Sure, I'll do it.

When I hand someone a response card, I always tear it out of the exhibit brochure, set it on top of the brochure for them to write on, and hand them a pen.

(After Evan handed me his response card and looked down to see what he was holding)

Lauren: That's a copy of the exhibit brochure. You can keep it if you would like.
Evan: Hey! You got me to take one of those!
Lauren: I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to trick you or anything. You don't need to take it.
Evan: No, I want it now!

March Newsletter

2009-04-15T22:13:00.004-05:00

February was quite a month! Click here to check out my March Newsletter!

Texas A&M University

2009-04-03T14:11:00.015-05:00

Our Texas A&M team! Thanks for your hard work, everybody!

We prayed at the Planned Parenthood in College Station, TX with the 40 Days For Life team. That Saturday, there were 24 abortions.

This was written on the Free Speech Board on campus at A&M. Many people said that the exhibit was not necessary at their school b/c it is such a conservative campus. They were shocked to know that there were 24 abortions 15 minutes from campus that Saturday.

Someone drew this on the Free Speech Board. I don't know if they realized that 50 weeks old would mean that the baby was outside the womb and 2 and 1/2 months old...but needless to say, I think that their science was not very accurate..

This was right after set up in the morning.

The Texas sky!
Trent, Jacob, and me after speaking to the College Conservatives group at A&M

Maureen and I stayed with an awesome host family in College Station!

Our host brother, Tucker, hid fake bugs in my bed every night to scare me :) I left fake bugs in his bed the day we left.

Tucker and Stanley helped me carry out my luggage! :)

We had a great trip. I met really cool people and had some great conversations.
Please read the stories of the Texas A&M students below.

Texas A&M - Tatum

2009-04-03T13:35:00.005-05:00

Tatum: I don't know much. I don't have an opinion. I try to be agreeable, so I don't like to have a lot of strong opinions.
Me: Hmm..would it be helpful to have a tour of the exhibit?
Tatum: Yes!

Tatum: Thank you so much for helping me to understand. I am so sad that this is allowed.

Texas A&M - Trey

2009-04-03T13:34:00.003-05:00

Trey: I think that abortion should be allowed in the case of rape

Trey: I am against this for any reason.

Texas A&M - Ruben

2009-04-03T13:33:00.003-05:00

Ruben: I think I'm pro-choice, but I really don't know.
Me: Wow, that's very honest.
Ruben: I wouldn't want my girlfriend to have an abortion, but I wouldn't tell others that they couldn't.
Me: Why wouldn't you have one?
Ruben: I think it's murder.
Me: Do you think that we have a right to tell others not to murder?
Ruben: Oh, like that thing says about the holocaust...(pointing to Exhibit panel)...I think this is wrong for everyone.

Texas A&M - Alexis

2009-04-03T13:30:00.009-05:00

Alexis: I want to be involved! How can I help?

I told Alexis about volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center, getting involved in the pro-life club, and using the exhibit brochure to talk to others about it.

TAMU Response card- Kelly

2009-04-03T13:30:00.007-05:00

Kelly: This changed my mind. That's all there is to it.

TAMU Response card- Santana

2009-04-03T13:29:00.003-05:00

Santana: I am about to go to work. Thanks for teaching me about this stuff. I am going to show the exhibit brochure to my coworkers and start a discussion.

TAMU Response card- Carrie

2009-04-03T13:28:00.005-05:00

Me: What do you think about abortion?
Carrie: I am very pro-choice.
Me: Do you mean that abortion should be legal through all nine months and for any reason?
Carrie: Yes

(So I thought I'd try out some of Steve's technique's for building common ground...My friend Steve wrote a book called Common Ground Without Compromise.)

Me: What do you think about sex selection abortions?
Carrie: Huh?
Me: Do you think that someone should be allowed to have an abortion because her baby is female?
Carrie: No, that's insane.
Me: I think so, too.
Carrie: But, there are a lot of good reasons to have an abortion.
Me: OK, what are some examples of what you would say are good reasons?
Carrie: Like if the mom is poor.
Me: I think that's a really hard situation. Let's even say she's poor and in the middle of college.
Carrie: OK, that's definitely a good reason.
Me: If a woman were in that same situation- poor and in college- and had a 2 year old, would we say that she could kill that 2 year old?
Carrie: No, but that's a 2 year old!
Me: What's the difference?
Carrie: The 2 year old is older.
Me: The 2 year older than a 1 year old, would we kill a one year old for that reason?
Carrie: No...ya know what, I would not have an abortion. But, should we tell others what to do?
Me: I think that we should sometimes...like if they are doing something that harms someone else.
Carrie: Yeah, I know what you mean.

TAMU Response card- Drew

2009-04-03T13:27:00.001-05:00

These are notes that I wrote down after talking with Drew, a Planned Parenthood escort.

Drew: I work for Planned Parenthood.
Me: What do you do there?
Drew: I escort girls in to get their abortions.
Me: Oh, so why do you do it? What made you want to get involved?
Drew: My girlfriend wanted me to do it. If I keep her happy, she keeps me happy, if you know what I mean.

(....OK....)

Me: Do you think that the fetus is human?
Drew: No, it's just tissue.
Me: I agree that it is tissue, but what kind of tissue is it?
Drew: It's just undifferentiated cells.
Me: Would you that they are human cells?
Drew: It's just cells. It's just cells. I'm not ok with late term abortions.
Me: Why are you against late term abortions?
Drew: Because it turns into a person.
Me: When do you think it turns into a person? (Pointing to stages of development chart)
Drew: I don't know. It's just cells. I don't want to see any development pictures. It's just cells.
Me: Do you think those are just cells? (Pointing to the 8 wk embryo on the exhibit) That is a first trimester abortion.
Drew: I don't know. I don't want to think about this anymore.

Then he walked away. But I think pointing at an obviously human form and saying "it's just cells" probably affected him.

TAMU Response card- Sandra

2009-04-03T13:25:00.006-05:00

Sandra was signing NO to the poll, "Should graphic pictures be used in public?"

Me: I saw that you signed that graphic pictures should not be used in public. What bothers you about this Exhibit?
Sandra: The pictures are too gross and horrible. No one could easily forget this! Me: Do you think that that might be a good thing?
Sandra: That's a good question. I guess it would be good if someone was going to have an abortion. But, I still don't want to see it.
Me: Do you think that this could be worth it if it saved one life?
Sandra: Wow. I didn't even think about that. Yes, I do think this is good.

TAMU Response card- Lindsey

2009-04-03T13:24:00.006-05:00

Lindsey: I was pro-life, but now I want to do something about this!

TAMU Response card

2009-04-03T13:24:00.003-05:00

TAMU Response card- Erica

2009-04-03T13:23:00.003-05:00

Erica: My friend had an abortion last year.
Me: How is she doing?
Erica: She cries about it a lot. I went with her.
Me: To get the abortion?
Erica: Yeah. I am a Christian, so I didn't want her to do it. But, I still wanted to be supportive. She's my best friend.
Me: Has you friend gone to any post abortion counseling?
Erika: No, but she needs it.
Me: Did you know that there is free counseling available for people who have experienced abortion?

I told her the information and she wrote it down. She thanked me several times and walked away with a smile, knowing that she had found resources to help her friend.

TAMU Response card- Tracy

2009-04-03T13:22:00.004-05:00

Tracy was signing that Abortion should NOT remain legal.

Tracy: I think it should only be allowed for rape
Me: Do you think that it is ever ok to kill an innocent human being?
Tracy: Well, it's father was not innocent. He committed a crime.
Me: I agree and I think it is a serious crime. But, if you reminded me of something that I hated, even for a good reason, could I kill you?
Tracy: No...hmm..I have a lot to think about.

TAMU Response card- Maria

2009-04-03T13:21:00.002-05:00

This was written by Maria. She was ok with abortion only in the case of rape. After talking about it, she was against all abortions.

After talking with her, a guy walked up to me and asked, "WHY ARE THOSE BABY'S ARMS RIPPED OFF?!"

I said, "because that's how that abortion was done.."

I explained the procedure to him.

He apparently still had a friend on his phone who was trying to talk to him. He said into his phone, "Sorry, but I'm not listening to you. I have more important things to think about!"

Then, he asked if I could teach him about abortion.

TAMU Response card- Kristin

2009-04-03T13:19:00.007-05:00

I approached Kristin, thinking that she was one of the protesters b/c she was standing by them with a scowl on her face.

Me: Hey, I saw you listening to our open mic discussion. What did you think?
Kristin: I'm a Christian and I'm pro-choice. But, I'm a new Christian and I was thinking about all the stuff you guys said on the mic and it made a lot of sense. I signed the poll that abortion should remain legal. It was so hard to sign it because that lady was standing close by with her baby.
Me: Why did that make it hard?
Kristin: It was like saying, "I'm ok with killing babies" while looking at her baby.

(GOOD JOB, WAGNER BABY!)

Me: Hmm..so you believe that abortion kills a baby?
Kristin: Yeah, that's why it's really hard to be pro-choice.
Me: Do you think that it is wrong to kill babies?
Kristin: Well, yes. I guess I really can't be pro-choice anymore.
Me: Would it be helpful for you to have more information about abortion?
Kristin: Yeah.

I gave her a tour of the Exhibit.

Kristin: I'm going to go get my friends so that they can see this, too. Thank you so much! Can we come talk to you?
Me: Sure!

TAMU Response card- Erika

2009-04-03T13:18:00.002-05:00

I taught Erika to use the Exhibit brochure. She took 10 extras.

Erika said that her dad was pro-choice, because he thought abortion should be available if someone was raped. Erika and I discussed rape and abortion.

About 1% of abortion are because of rape.

Abortion will not make the rape go away.

Abortion is not a safe procedure--especially for the baby.

We wouldn't kill born people for being the product of rape, so it's not really that they are a product of rape that allows people to kill them, it's that they are unborn.

"I can't wait to talk to my dad tonight!"

TAMU Response card- Joseph

2009-04-03T13:16:00.006-05:00

This was a TOUGH conversation. I wanted to walk away several times. I wanted to cry. I want to yell. I wanted to go off and sit in a corner by myself. I wanted to do anything but continue this conversation. But, God gave me the strength to stick through it and He changed Joseph.

I talked to Joseph for about 2 hours. He started out by saying, "I'm pro-choice."

Joseph: It's not a baby.
Me: Do you think that it becomes a baby?
Joseph: Yes.
Me: At what point do you think it becomes a baby?
Joseph: When it comes out
Me: So, would you say that its value is completely dependent on its location? (Pointing to Samuel on Exhibit)
Would you say that Sammy became a baby when he reached his arm out of the womb and then was not a baby when he put his arm back inside?
Joseph: That's a good point. I guess that I would say it's a baby when it can live outside the womb. It doesn't rely on the mother for everything anymore.
Me: Well, I would say that a newborn relies on the mother as much as or even more than a fetus. The mother has to feed the newborn and wake up during the night and change the diapers and do a lot for it. It's not really independent is it?
Joseph: Well, I heard that if we stopped abortion, the crime rates would go up, because these kids are the ones who would turn into criminals.
Me: So, you've read Freakonomics?
Joseph: Haha, yeah.
Me: Well, let me ask you a question. If there was a 5 year old who was showing criminal tendencies--maybe stealing toys from his friends or hitting his sibling, would you say that we could kill that 5 year old?
Joseph: It's debatable. I wouldn't kill that 5 year old. But if we knew that he was going to be a criminal, why not kill him before he has a chance to commit crimes?
Me: Wait, so you think it is OK to kill anyone who has the possibility of becoming a criminal?
Joseph: Well, I wouldn't, but society could. It's like the death penalty.

(I stared at him in shock.)
Joseph: I'm sorry. I'm not trying to upset you.
Me: I'm fine. It just scares me when people are ok with killing for things like that..
Joseph: I wouldn't kill a fetus after 2nd trimester.
Me: Did you know that the unborn has a heartbeat at 3 weeks? Do you think that it is wrong to stop a beating heart?
Jospeh: I did one time.

(I had no idea what I was about to hear and was praying that God would give me wisdom and courage.)

Me: What do you mean?
Joseph: I worked at a vet's office. I was helping with a surgery on a horse and saw that the horse was pregnant with a tiny baby horse. I pinched that baby horse until it died.

(I just stared at him. I had no idea what to say. Do I show my shock and horror? Do I pretend that he must have been doing something logical and ask for his reasoning? Who am I talking to?!)

Joseph: Do you think that I am a murderer?
Me: Why did you kill that horse?
Joseph: He had a twin. One of them had to die, so it wouldn't kill the other. Do you think it's wrong to kill animals?
Me: I don't think that you should just kill things to be killing things.

Joseph: Well, I think it is wrong to kill a baby once it has a heartbeat.
Me: That's at 3 weeks.
Joseph: OK, well I don't think abortion should be allowed after 3 weeks then and it should only be allowed if the girl was raped.
Me: Do you know how abortions are performed?
Joseph: No.
(I explained the options of first trimester procedures)
Me: Do you think that those would be good options for a woman who was raped?
Joseph: Well, it doesn't sound very nice.
Me: And, there are many side effects that can happen to her. But more than that, do you think that the pain of abortion would take away the pain of being raped?
Joseph: Hmm..probably not..well, I don't think abortion is a good idea. I'm a Christian, so I wouldn't have an abortion. But, I don't think we have any right to tell others what to do.
Me: Do you think that we should ever tell other people what to do? Do you think that if we seeing someone beating their child, we should tell them that they can't do that?
Joseph: I don't know. They aren't doing anything to me.
Me: You were saying that you are a Christian. Did you know that the Bible says that we should "speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves" in Proverbs? Do you think that it was good that people stood up for the victims of the Holocaust?
Joseph: Yes, probably. But, this is different. The world is becoming so overpopulated. People aren't dying as much.
Me: What do you mean? Doesn't everyone die still?
Joseph: Yes, but they live longer because of medicine and stuff.
Me: Ya know, I hear a lot of people talk about overpopulation and I just wonder why we see humans as such a problem..is it so bad to have living people? Why do we see people as just eating up the resources and not giving anything back?
Joseph: How many abortions are there every year?
Me: There are 1.3 Million in the United States each year.
Joseph: See, what would we do with 1.3 million more people? How would we feed them?
Me: We would find a way! I've heard that the entire population of the world could fit into TX...and farmers are being paid to not produce to full capacity to help the economy. We would find a way because people are valuable.
Joseph: Well, I really can't think of any reason that abortion should be allowed. It doesn't really make sense economically, logically, or morally.
Me: I agree.
Joseph: Well this group definitely works. You changed my mind. Thank you for being patient and putting up with me. You've really helped me.