Where's the Outrage?
I was equally appalled by the display on college green earlier this week. Not every woman who has an abortion is a murderer. However, I think that is beside the point. I think it is outrageous, but where is the outrage? Where was the article in the DP? Abortion is a very rocky and sensitive issue with no clear right answer. There is no blanket solution to the abortion issue. But, I think that we need to look more at why no one said anything or voiced their outrage.
I am a strong pro-choice advocate. If I had known that this demonstration was going to happen, I would have gotten involved. I guess that is my fault. If I really cared that much I would have searched out like-minded people and staged my own demonstration. Even if I chose not to do that, the least I could have done was to talk about it. I made a passing, rather sarcastic and biting remark about it to my boyfriend as we passed by the demonstration, but that was all. Such an emotional and provocative display on such a sensitive issue should have sparked more fight in the student body. As an afterthought walking away from the display I noted the weak counter-demonstration for the pro-choice group.
As I walked through this display on a very narrow part of Locust, I wasn’t even handed a flyer or spoken to about the issue. Honestly, I can’t even walk down Locust walk without being accosted by the frat boys and sorority girls touting their next big party. What the hell!? Abortion is much more important than getting wasted on a Saturday night. This is such a big issue that will change the course of women’s rights in this country and we’re the one’s who will decide it. Where is the outrage? Why didn’t I get a flyer, why wasn’t this more than just a one-day demonstration? Even if you don’t like it, the pro-life group at least got you to think about this issue.
Partially, I think this lack of enthusiasm around campus stems from the lack of enthusiasm from the demonstrators. Honestly, they looked bored—like they were holding signs advertising the sale at the discount furniture on the side of road. They should have made their side heard or at least seen, like the pro-life demonstrators did.
However, I think this stems from the general apathetic nature of our campus. We are all so worried about doing well on our next exam or about where the party this weekend is that we forget why we’re here. We are privileged to be here and worked pretty hard to get here. As some of the best educated people in this country, if not the world, we have a responsibility to deal with and engage with these issues. If we won’t, do we really expect the current state of world affairs to get any better?
I am a strong pro-choice advocate. If I had known that this demonstration was going to happen, I would have gotten involved. I guess that is my fault. If I really cared that much I would have searched out like-minded people and staged my own demonstration. Even if I chose not to do that, the least I could have done was to talk about it. I made a passing, rather sarcastic and biting remark about it to my boyfriend as we passed by the demonstration, but that was all. Such an emotional and provocative display on such a sensitive issue should have sparked more fight in the student body. As an afterthought walking away from the display I noted the weak counter-demonstration for the pro-choice group.
As I walked through this display on a very narrow part of Locust, I wasn’t even handed a flyer or spoken to about the issue. Honestly, I can’t even walk down Locust walk without being accosted by the frat boys and sorority girls touting their next big party. What the hell!? Abortion is much more important than getting wasted on a Saturday night. This is such a big issue that will change the course of women’s rights in this country and we’re the one’s who will decide it. Where is the outrage? Why didn’t I get a flyer, why wasn’t this more than just a one-day demonstration? Even if you don’t like it, the pro-life group at least got you to think about this issue.
Partially, I think this lack of enthusiasm around campus stems from the lack of enthusiasm from the demonstrators. Honestly, they looked bored—like they were holding signs advertising the sale at the discount furniture on the side of road. They should have made their side heard or at least seen, like the pro-life demonstrators did.
However, I think this stems from the general apathetic nature of our campus. We are all so worried about doing well on our next exam or about where the party this weekend is that we forget why we’re here. We are privileged to be here and worked pretty hard to get here. As some of the best educated people in this country, if not the world, we have a responsibility to deal with and engage with these issues. If we won’t, do we really expect the current state of world affairs to get any better?
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