Condolences
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The murder of Dr. Tiller was domestic terrorism. With all the religious hate rhetoric towards pro-choice people like me, I am afraid to put a pro-choice sticker on the back of my car because I imagine my car will be vandalized. One study claims that 43% of women in the US will have an abortion in their life, yet a recent Gallup poll says that 51% of Americans (men and women) claim to be "Pro-Life". The numbers don't add up.
I was shocked and deeply saddened by the murder of Dr. Tiller. It was a cowardly act against a brave man. He provided needed services to women in spite of hateful, disruptive, malicious harassment. My heart and warmest thoughts go to his family and friends.
I am so sickened that someone shot Dr. Tiller. He is and will always be someone and his team will continue to help women that are in desparate need of help. It is unfortunate that women still fear going to the doctor for a legal procedure and fear for their lives. It is defintiely terroism in the United States that needs to be dealt with especially when doctors and staff have to wear bullet proof vests. Especially when their homes and work places are bombed, set on fire, and doors are glued shut! Even when they are followed home and the women needed abortions are verbally and physically harassed. Do these people that do this not understand the diffuculty and horrible decisions that these women and their families have had to make. This is not something they have taken lightly. These are decisions that they have thought about for months on end, day and night, not sleeping. These are decisions they have discussed with family, friends, doctors, nurses, and loved ones and even their religious or spirtiual advisors. These are decisions that these women have carefully thought out and thought our more then any decision in their lives. I hope that this event will bring more people out to speak and support the right for women to have abortions and freedom of their human rights. Human rights should not be taken away. I do expect that all those pro-life people should go immediately to the shelters and foster homes and start caring for the millions of children without homes. I also expect them to support birth control education. Let's start here, also knowing that rape, incest and more occurs that women need these services. And lets stop those rapest and family members that are raping their family members that are keeping it quite.
I am extremly pro life but the murder of Dr. Tiller has outraged me. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I was a patient of Dr Tiller's. His murder has devistated me. I was faced with a poor prenatal diagnosis. My daughter was a planned and very much wanted pregnancy. Because we wanted her so much we went to numerous doctors (including Johns Hopkins Pediatric Cardiology) hoping for a glimer of hope.
That hope did not come from a doctor from our home. We were told that we needed to prepare to watch our baby die slowly, while having numerous surgeries. Even with the surgeries her life expectancy was roughly 3 - 5 yrs old at the very best case senerio.
My only hope was Dr Tiller. He held my hand while he confirmed her diagnosis. He made sure I knew all of my options and that I understood how my induction would be carried out. Dr Tiller saved my baby girl from a horrible end. She died peacefully and he saved my family. We now have a beautiful little girl who would not be here if it was not for Dr. Tiller's dedication to women, families and children.
My heart is broken at the loss of this compassionate hero to these terrorists.
Dear Wonderful NAF members & supporters,
Meeting Dr. George Tiller at the Medical Students for Choice Luncheon in Pittsburgh 10 years ago was a privilege and and an honor. I have kept the "Attitude is Everything" paperweight on my desk every day. I have given the extras that he generously handed me to other clinicians; physicians, PA's and nurses. The blue plastic cup that I drink from everyday bears his values: "Kindness... Courtesy... Justice... Love... Respect".
Thank you, Dr. Tiller for your unswerving devotion and unmatchable power of example.
Gratitude and deep sympathy to his family and staff members who are left to deal with this horrible crime and its devastation.
with Love for women & their providers, with Hope for the future,
Elizabeth
I only knew of Dr. Tiller's work through the newspapers, but I felt such gratitude for him and was so inspired by him from afar. The world seems an emptier, colder, less hopeful place now. Sending strength and deepest sympathy to his family as they try and live with this terrible, terrible absence.
NAF, thank you for providing a place to express my great sadness at losing this hero.
Miranda in New York City
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Remembering NAF Member Dr. George Tiller
Yesterday, we suffered a tremendous loss when our beloved colleague and friend Dr. George Tiller was murdered in his church in Wichita, Kansas. It is with great respect and sadness that we send his family our heartfelt condolences. We join with our members in remembering and honoring Dr. Tiller’s life and his many contributions to women’s reproductive health care.
He was often seen wearing a button that read “Attitude is Everything,” and he maintained an amazing attitude and generosity of spirit throughout his life, despite the adversity he faced on a regular basis. Dr. Tiller learned to live with constant harassment and even survived a previous attempt on his life. However, despite these attacks, Dr. Tiller remained committed to providing women with quality abortion care because he knew how much his work affected and improved their lives.
His death is a devastating loss to his family, the abortion provider community, and the women who rely on him for care. He is truly one of our heroes and we will miss him greatly.
Labels: condolences
12 comments
Dr. Tiller was one of the kindest people I ever met. Such a tragedy!
My deepest sympathies go out to Dr. Tiller's family, collegues and friends.
As an illegal abortion survivor I have a profound appreciation for those in the medical and pro-choice community, especially Dr. Tiller... who knew he was in grave danger, for the committment to making and keeping pregnancy termination legal and safe.
His killing slammed me emotionally back to my traumatic experience which was beyond description and I pray we never have to revert back to those dark times.
Thank you to all of those who put their lives on the line ever day for women's reproductive rights. We know.. we appreciate.. we care!
I have never taken side in the abortion issue however I consider myself a pro-choice person. Because of the recent cold blooded murder of Dr. Tiller I have to say that your organization and Dr. Tiller's family have my full support. Please continue helping those who has no where else to turn to and don't ever back down to the terrorists that called themselves people of god. I'm a liberal Christian myself and what they are doing are disgusting.
All my best NAF.
I am thinking of Dr. Tiller, his family, his staff, NAF members and all abortion providers at this tragic time. I also know how hard this must be for NAF staff who work to support these brave men and women. Know there is a world of sympathy and support coming your way!
In PEACE and SOLIDARITY.
I learnt about the murder of George Tiller last week-end.
Just as everyone working in the domaine of abortion and family planning, this murder is an horrible shock and a reason for great sadness and outrage.
As you must be in contact with members of his family, I would appreciate if you could send them our deepest sympathies.
We understand how difficult it must be to loose such a gentle man, who was an example of excellence and of courage for abortion providers all over North America .
Please receive my kind regards.
Its always sad to hear about a good person dieing tragicly. It was someone like him who helped me when I was 18 and not ready to turn my life upset down and hurt a new life.... Peace be with the family and friends......
NOT TERRORISM??
On cspan3 today they aired this Forum:
Security, Privacy, and Technology
The very last question from the audience was on What was being done to counter domestic terrorism, and religious radicals here in the U.S. in reference to the Tiller incident.
Two panel members, Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, CATO Institute and Stewart Baker, former Assistant Secretary for Policy, DHS, both ANSWERED THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS AN ACT OF TERRORISM
One said He felt it was just a homicide, one man killing another man.
And it was stated in a demeaning tone that of course one could "Stretch" the definition of terrorism to include it but that would be wrong.
Excuse Me?
I guess one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter in these peoples minds.
Amazing. If it were someone killing a CEO or a Environmentalist "spiking" a tree in the forest, You can bet your life these two gentlemen would call that terrorism and advocate policy to counter it.
Absolutely terrible the loss of Dr. Tiller. He provided medical care to those that needed it when other were too afraid to or just unwilling to. He was definitely a hero to his patients.
Joshua (Illinois)
As a person of faith and reproductive rights activist, I'm outraged by the cold-blooded murder of Dr. Tiller in his own place of worship. My heart goes out to his family, church friends, colleagues and patients.
Although deeply outraged, I'm not shocked by this senseless act of violence because religious conservatives, including the Vatican and other male-dominated Protestant groups like "Focus on the Family", "Operation Rescue" and others have incited this type of violence through their inflamatory anti-choice rhetoric and sexist TV programing.
Maybe I live under a rock, but I've heard and read little about the good work Dr. Tiller did and the stories from his grateful patients. All I've heard and read in the mainstream media is that he was a "late term abortion doctor" as though he did nothing but murder newborns for frivolous reasons. Until the pro-choice religious community becomes more vocal and counters this extreme anti-choice fundamentalist relgious voice, not much will change. I'm sorry.
Sue Amos
Unitarian Universalist
I'am a pro choice supporter and I know that Dr. Tiller was a very caring man. Everyone grieves for his loss but the mark that he left will surpass all hate. Much condolences to the Tiller family.
I am a mother of three children. Twice in my reproductive life, I had the misfortune of becoming pregnant when it would have been a great disservice to the 'future' baby. My health care providers were so caring, compassionate and supportive during my terminations, that I have wept upon learning of the murder of Dr Tiller.
Please, please, pass my personal thoughts and condolences to the Tiller family. I know for sure that Dr Tiller saw a bigger picture of life, and his family should be proud.
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September 21, 2009 2:59 PM
