SusanL:
My friend recently gave me this t-shirt that features a picture of a baby’s face (from the womb). It reads: 'She smiles, hears, kicks and feels pain." And then in big bold letters:
Abortion kills children.
On the back it says, “American Life League’s Third Annual National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day. April 26, 2005”
I am trying to decide if I am brave enough to wear this t-shirt in public. After seeing people get bashed for political and other reasons, I am thinking twice.
Have you experienced a backlash from people (strangers or otherwise) simply because of a t-shirt or bumper sticker like this?
Someone once ripped off our bumper sticker and all it said was Catholic Radio and the FM dial.
Your opinions, if you please.
Thanks in advance.
Sue
I was a bit taken aback at the reactions we got the first time I went to a political rally with some friends carrying pro-life signs. It was when Clinton visited St. Louis during his first campaign for president. People started harrassing us pretty quickly and they brought in some people who purported to be “officials” trying to tell us we couldn’t stand where we were etc.
I wasn’t ready for it but some of the others were arguing back as it was at a public event in the middle of the street (which was blocked off by the police) before the Courthouse. They were able to kind of push and shove and jostle us enough to get us away from the area right in front of the podium.
Then when we left, we met up with a couple of others, but at least one “gentleman” was upset enough at one of the posters one of the newcomers was carrying which was fairly graphic that he started yelling and screaming at us as the crowd was leaving. Once again I was taken aback as I hadn’t expected the vehemence of the reaction. He was right next to me & I was half preparing for a fistfight as he was yelling at me.
I know a nun whose car has been vandalized at least a couple of times presumably because of pro-life bumper stickers, though I didn’t think they were all that controversial. They seemed to be pretty run of the mill pro-life bumper stickers to me.
I’ve had a "YOU CAN’T BE BOTH CATHOLIC & PRO-ABORTION bumper sticker on my car since the last election, however, and have had virtually no public reaction from anyone on the highway, around town or in parking lots & I have parked next to cars with “Kerry Edwards” bumper stickers on several occasions.
I probably wouldn’t wear the shirt to some pro-abortion meeting, but would probably try to screw up enough courage to wear it on in public otherwise. Just think, it might not only save a life or two or ???, but might also save a woman or two the heart wrenching tragedy of carrying around the guilt of deliberately killing one of her own children for the rest of her life &/or might save someone’s immortal soul. We can hardly put a value on the good that might be done.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you weren’t forced to pay a price for your witness, however. I would encourage you to do so anyway, though, and I think Our Lord would too.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing anymore but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men. You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:10-16)
Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Be glad in that day and rejoice: for behold, your reward is great in heaven, For according to these things did their fathers to the prophets. (Luke 6:22-23)
) so what’s one more, right?
, trying to cover all the angles-laugh). Any recommendations on how to conduct myself?