Jackson Free Press

When is it my turn to plant my views all over the grounds of the state capitol? A group called Silent No More, a national anti-abortion organization, in conjunction with Gov. Ronnie Musgrove's declaring this past week a week of "prayer and remembrance of women and unborn children," was allowed to erect hundreds and hundreds of tiny white wooden crosses on the front of the capitol lawn.

I'm getting a little ornery about all this. First, I don't get my "Choose Choice" state-issued license plate, then I don't get to put stuff all over my capitol's grounds (OK, I haven't really tried, yet, but can you imagine hundreds "It's my body, damn it!" signs dug into the grass? I didn't think so.) Somebody's trying to get me riled up, and it's working.

I went to see these crosses—a jarring use of Christian symbols on state grounds—on the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the same day Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck excused legislators to attend a memorial service for all the unborn represented by the crosses. I don't know if it was the blistering cold or my sadness at the unfairness of it all that brought tears to my eyes as I walked through the rows and rows and rows. Some had white roses tied to them and little cards signed "Mommy" (it looked like the same "Mommy" signed all of them to me).

Thirty years ago Jan 22, in a 7-2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion is protected under the 14th Amendment's right-to-privacy protections. Many abortion-rights advocates believe the ruling to be set firmly in concrete, yet women's reproductive rights are in many ways weaker than they were before the ruling. With an anti-choice government and the Supreme Court teetering on a 5-4 vote, our rights to plan our own families are direly in need of protecting.

I want equal time to exhibit my views. I have a sneaky suspicion this will be denied when I get around to asking (and I can't afford all those signs, anyway). But I also believe we should test our rights any chance we get. If not—like with Roe v. Wade—we may find our constitutional rights are eroding while we're not paying attention.
—J. Bingo Holman

Previous Comments

ID

63889

Comment

You have my support! If you decide to do something in response, please make the information public. I think you will find there are many people that share the same disgust over the double-standards.

Author

Knol Aust

Date

2003-02-11T14:33:33-06:00

ID

63890

Comment

Thanks for the support. I'm working on ideas for a "response." I promise to let everyone know.

Author

bingo

Date

2003-02-11T20:53:02-06:00

ID

63891

Comment

I respect your opinion about abortion. But, who would wish a horrible thing like a painful death (breaking spine and sucking limbs out with a vacuum) on a human being that can't even defend itself? not me.

Author

Bardlo

Date

2003-02-11T21:44:01-06:00

ID

63892

Comment

I respect your opinion about abortion. But, who would wish a horrible thing like a painful death (breaking spine and sucking limbs out with a vacuum) on a human being that can't even defend itself? not me.

Author

Bardlo

Date

2003-02-11T21:44:14-06:00

ID

63893

Comment

you all talk about women having rights...what about the dads?...did the mom that chose to abort contact the dad while making that choice?...i don't think so!...and if she had the child i can bet you she asked for child support...when does a dad have a right to say we have had enough of all the talk about women's rights when it takes two to tango...

Author

a dad from jackson

Date

2003-02-13T08:32:41-06:00

ID

63894

Comment

I'm more worried about my rights as an American and a Mississippian. I want equal time to voice (and show) my opinion. I realize that everyone has their own take on this issue. But, I belive that when our government forgets (or refuses) to allow us equal time for opposing sides, we all lose.

Author

Bingo

Date

2003-02-15T16:16:29-06:00

ID

63895

Comment

Seems to me that until you have been denied an opportunity to use the same venue to express your opposing opinion that there is no issue. You don't agree with the anti-abortion display. That's understood. You are concerned that the US Supreme Court is going to overturn Roe v. Wade. That's also understood and I'm pretty sure you'll continue to have a forum in the JFP to communicate those reservations. When it comes to a future display on the Capitol grounds you are guessing, your "sneaky suspicion", that you will be denied. I don't think you will be and if you are you will win in Court when you challenge the decision. That will be a slam dunk win for you. But until you are denied there is no issue. You haven't gotten your turn yet because you haven't requested your turn. Nobody has forgotten about your rights to free speech. Its not the Government's role to proactively contact you to inquire as to whether or not you want your equal time. There is nothing stopping you from testing the waters right now. Let us know when you do.

Author

Smitty

Date

2003-02-16T14:02:48-06:00

ID

63896

Comment

I do wonder about your "jarring" feeling at seeing crosses on state property. No one wonders about crosses in city-maintained cemeteries--did it occur to you the group meant the crosses as symbolic graves for these babies? I also wonder about the notion that Roe v. Wade has anything to do with women's ability to "plan a family." Family planning to me means preventing pregancy by either abstaining from sex or using pre-emptive birth control methods. Abortion (in most cases--I understand not in all) seems to be a particularly vicious response to a lack of birth control planning on someone's part.

Author

JW

Date

2003-02-16T19:21:21-06:00

ID

63897

Comment

What if the same tactic was used to symbolize all of the soldiers and civilians who have been lost in wars? (namely, the ones who were lost in the Gulf War... Americans & Arabs) I wonder if such an act would convince others that war is wrong just as this display of crosses for unborn children is supposed to convey the atrocity of abortion? Or if such an act would be permitted to occur upon the grounds of the state capitol...hm.....

Author

Callie

Date

2003-02-18T02:40:55-06:00

ID

63898

Comment

What if the same tactic was used to symbolize all of the soldiers and civilians who have been lost in wars? (namely, the ones who were lost in the Gulf War... Americans & Arabs) I wonder if such an act would convince others that war is wrong just as this display of crosses for unborn children is supposed to convey the atrocity of abortion? Or if such an act would be permitted to occur upon the grounds of the state capitol...hm.....

Author

Callie

Date

2003-02-18T02:41:31-06:00

ID

63899

Comment

What if the same tactic was used to symbolize all of the soldiers and civilians who have been lost in wars? (namely, the ones who were lost in the Gulf War... Americans & Arabs) I wonder if such an act would convince others that war is wrong just as this display of crosses for unborn children is supposed to convey the atrocity of abortion? Or if such an act would be permitted to occur upon the grounds of the state capitol...hm.....

Author

Callie

Date

2003-02-18T02:41:50-06:00

ID

63900

Comment

There is no prior restraint on free speech here. Just a bunch of grousing. Your rights haven't been abridged until you get off your duff and go down to the Capitol and actually ask for your equal time. Even if you are denied you'll win your court case going away. That is, if you are truly serious about making your point. Talk is cheap. Let's see some action.

Author

Smitty

Date

2003-02-18T10:48:42-06:00