Sunday, May 31, a friend and colleague was murdered in his house of worship while he was handing out church bulletins. His name was Dr. George Tiller, and he was murdered because he cared about women. Here is an except from a speech he gave at the Feminist Majority Foundation last year:
“I personally see a society that respects the integrity of its citizens to struggle with complex health issues and make decisions that are appropriate for them and their personal lives. I see a society that respects the religious differences of its citizens. I see a society that rejects hate, rejects judgmental condemnation, and rejects prejudice and racism. I see a government that honors the privacy of its citizens without unwarranted surveillance. I see a society where war is not an option … And the negotiation with mutual respect is the hallmark, rather than mutual self-destruction. I see a society where the welfare of all … is equally important as the riches of the few. I see a world that discusses solutions without demanding its own answers.”
He followed in his father’s footsteps after learning that his father provided safe abortions for women during a time when they were illegal. After his father died tragically in an airplane crash, a woman came up to this then-new physician and asked “will you continue to respect and help women like your father did?” At that moment he changed the focus of his medical practice.
The person who murdered Dr. Tiller is one of a group of people who consider any life more important than that of women or children who are already born. When asked how she felt about all the abuses that seem to be happening with children in our community, a physician who is prominent in our local “Pro-Life” community replied “that is not my issue”.
This country was founded on religious freedom. When life begins is a religious belief. I’ll say that again. One’s belief about when life begins depends on what religion (if any) you follow. Some believe that life begins at conception. For others it may be when the woman first feels fetal movement or when the child takes its first breath. My personal belief is that it depends on the relationship the woman has with her pregnancy.
What we have all decided to believe is that once a human takes its first breath, it is protected by law. Those who believe that life begins at conception killed Dr. George Tiller. They have decided not only that an embryo or fetus that cannot exist outside of a woman’s body has more value than the woman but also, that anyone who does not have that same religious belief, should be killed. The Taliban are alive and well in our own communities.
Do not misunderstand me. I have respect for those who believe that life begins at conception. I understand that abortion would be a painful concept for them. However, I also know that the people who hold prayer vigils outside my office are harassing and intimidating my patients and me. They are not practicing freedom of speech with their pictures of Jesus and their rosaries. They are practicing religious tyranny.
If there is common ground around this issue it may be that we all experience sadness and suffering and want the world to be a better place. But that is where it ends. In order to be truly equal citizens in this country women must be free to determine their own lives, including whether and when to bear children. Therefore, abortion needs to become more accessible to all women – rich, poor, black, white, young, old.
If I could prevent unplanned pregnancies, I would. But no birth control is perfect and we humans are not perfect either. I intend to carry on the work of Dr. Tiller who died because he believed in human rights and respected women. I do not write this letter in the hopes of changing the hearts of those who believe otherwise. But for those women who are struggling with what they believe, I want you to know that in our office, you are respected.
Susan Cahill, PA-C, MSW, lives in Kalispell