Suck it, Ben.

[BlackCat]

When I saw the title, I assumed that Asher had found out that Iceland has gotten a lesbian PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7862804.stm

[BeBMan]

Wow, another option for Europe. It's either overrun by:

- islam
- secular atheism
- christianity
- lesbians

[Elok]

Tolja he'd be back! Or maybe it's just for the one post taunting BK? I hope not.

[BeBMan]

I bet it's cuz of my Avro Arrow threadi

[PLATO]

I see nothing wrong with demonstrating your point of view. Just as I would not see anything wrong in demonstrating a pro abortion point of view.

In the end, it is the debate that is important...not the subject matter.

People have become far to entrenched in their beliefs and are far to close minded these days. If something isn't "politically correct", society is seeking to outlaw it.

This is the real fear we should all have.

So let the anti-abortion folks have their display. Those that agree with it can walk by knowingly shaking their heads in agreement. Those that oppose can laugh and point and giggle. It does not change the importance of being able to express a point of view in a free society.

[onodera]

Good, Asher is back.

[Blaupanzer]

Good to see your words, Asher. Appears Ben doesn't have the guts to rise to the bait.

[Alinestra Covelia]

---> Asher - BK subforum

[Blaupanzer]

Sort of like a private boxing ring for the 2 of them -- BAD!
A place their battles are confined to where we can all chime in:

[Darius871]

Please stay!!! (but not that kind of )

[Cort Haus]

Hmmmm... trespass seems almost an irrelevant sideshow of a charge designed to side-step and actually shut down the real debate. As a pro-choicer I oppose the position of the anti-abortionists, and particularly object to the hyperbolic 'genocide' tactic. Nothing surprising though, that people will these days resort to such an argument. Nor, perhaps, is there anything surprising about the complaints of 'offensive images' being used in an attempt to shut down the protests. Extreme victimisation and 'no-platform' approaches are, regrettably, par for the course in what passes for contemporary debate.

Both side's tactics are wrong. Anti-abortionists are wrong to equate abortion with racial extermination programs, and pro-choicers should be confident enough in their own arguments without resorting to bannings and restrictions on free speech.

[Cort Haus]

Oh, and welcome back Asher.

[Zoid]

Good, Asher is back.

I didn't even notice he was gone... Another visit to Mingapulco?

[Cort Haus]

No, a flounce.

[Asher]

Hmmmm... trespass seems almost an irrelevant sideshow of a charge designed to side-step and actually shut down the real debate. As a pro-choicer I oppose the position of the anti-abortionists, and particularly object to the hyperbolic 'genocide' tactic. Nothing surprising though, that people will these days resort to such an argument. Nor, perhaps, is there anything surprising about the complaints of 'offensive images' being used in an attempt to shut down the protests. Extreme victimisation and 'no-platform' approaches are, regrettably, par for the course in what passes for contemporary debate.

Both side's tactics are wrong. Anti-abortionists are wrong to equate abortion with racial extermination programs, and pro-choicers should be confident enough in their own arguments without resorting to bannings and restrictions on free speech.

I'm not back, I'm just dropping by to send Ben into a depressive funk.

FWIW, it's not that they want to shut down the debate. They thought it was important to have. Unfortunately, this particular group of "pro-life" flunkies post extremely large, extremely graphic pictures of mutilated children from Rwanda and other genocides next to pictures of aborted fetuses alongside murdered children. The displays are obscenely graphic. The university permits them to protest, but only if the obscenely graphic images are only seen by people who wanted to (they suggested an enclosure with the images facing inwards). The protesters did not agree, and put up posters of graphic images of slaughtered children in the middle of busy areas on campus despite explicit warnings and signage saying they would be charged with trespassing if they did so.

They did so, and they were charged with trespassing.

The point is this, though: the pro-life people are on the way out. Even Calgary doesn't tolerate this bull**** anymore, and I doubt you'd find a city more right-wing and Christian-friendly in Canada than Calgary.

It's all over for Ben and his ilk. Not too long ago, it was the social libertarians on the fringe protesting with the Christian majority as the status quo. No longer, and it's becoming more pronounced as time goes on.