The journey from there to here
Published on August 26, 2004 By Gideon MacLeish In Misc
For many years, my family and I lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

For those of you who don't know, Oshkosh is the site of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)'s annual fly-in. Over a million people come from around the globe for the week long event, which features flight demonstrations, notable aviators, and celebrity enthusiasts of all kind (John Denver was a regular when he was alive; Chuck Yeager and Dick Rutan make the trip every year as well). It is the largest civilian airshow in the world.

So it was some surprise to me when a friend of ours mentioned one day that she was a member of "Missionaries to the Preborn", a VERY reactive group (to the right of Operation Rescue) that uses graphic pictures and shock techniques to further their message. She told us, and others, that they would be demonstrating across from the airfield on the Friday of the Fly-in.

This amazed and appalled me. The EAA flyin is not a political event; the views of the pilots are most likely pretty much the same as the general population. Yet Missionaries to the Preborn had chosen this event solely for its visibility, and not for any strategic political purpose.

In my opinion, what they did worked against itself. As a person who has always felt that abortion is wrong, I would be appalled that my family would be exposed to the horrendous sights these people use to further their message, and I in no way would contribute any funds to this organization, as they showed their crass disregard for all of the people, many of them prolife, by exposing them to this garbage.

Sadly, this is the way of things. The protestors at the RNC in my opinion are working against themselves; they're not going to convert any of the attendees, nor, frankly, is that their intent. The intent seems to be solely to get on TV, a bizarre end if ever there was one.

Many of these protestors spend money travelling to these events to protest. The money would be better spent, it seems, on voter education and registration drives within their local community.

Just my two cents,

Gideon MacLeish

Comments
on Aug 26, 2004
Gideon: As usual, I agree with you completely. I would be extremely turned off to their cause if I took my children on a wholesome family outing and my boys were confronted with those horrific photos. I'd probably be kicking some ass. What they are doing is just plain wrong. Grrrr.
on Aug 26, 2004
Yes, Texas, and what infuriates me is it's exactly these idiots that encourage the caricaturing of Christians that has become so popular.
on Aug 27, 2004
And I thought Oshkosh only produced those adorable overalls for kids...Oshkosh M'Gosh....Live and learn.

Interesting, as usual, Gideon!
on Aug 27, 2004
Gideon,

Many of these protestors spend money travelling to these events to protest. The money would be better spent, it seems, on voter education and registration drives within their local community.

But can you tell them that...I think some people do things for the wrong reasons and it sounds like these people also lack tact.
on Aug 27, 2004
That's awful. You have to wonder what goes on in their heads to cause them to think that they'll gain support by disrupting people's fun time with family and friends. It's people like that that make it harder for the sensible ones that share their views to proclaim them lest they be associate with the likes of them.
on Aug 27, 2004
And I thought Oshkosh only produced those adorable overalls for kids...Oshkosh M'Gosh....Live and learn.


Actually, sadly, Oshkosh B'Gosh clothes are made in Honduras. My father-in-law and ex mother-in-law were among the displaced workers when they closed the plant in Oshkosh.

But can you tell them that...I think some people do things for the wrong reasons and it sounds like these people also lack tact.


Wrong reasons indeed...even if they were protesting at the capitol, it would make more sense than the protests they organize.

That's awful. You have to wonder what goes on in their heads to cause them to think that they'll gain support by disrupting people's fun time with family and friends. It's people like that that make it harder for the sensible ones that share their views to proclaim them lest they be associate with the likes of them.



Precisely.
on Aug 27, 2004
Assclowns live! I want to go to Oshkosh. I won't even heckle the loonies!
on Aug 27, 2004
I agree that the fly-in was not a good place for this type of protest, but i do hope to see them at the Convention....a much more appropriate forum, seeing as how we have so many so called "conservatives" that are pro-abortion.


Actually, I think if they protested at the RNC it would work against them. Missionaries to the Preborn is a VERY virulent group, and they frighten almost all who come anywhere NEAR moderate.

Assclowns live! I want to go to Oshkosh. I won't even heckle the loonies!


No, they'd heckle you! lol.