Anti-abortion activist does not help the cause

Courtesy Flckr Creative Commons - Jurek d.

A 62 year old Iowa resident who is pro-life was arraigned in Oakland County Court on charges of carrying a concealed weapon (a hammer) and felonious assault (he waved it at the driver of another vehicle) and is being held on $50,000 bond. The Iowa resident, Dan Holman, says he is a peaceful man but felt threatened by the driver of the other vehicle. Though Holman has a history of evading other court charges in various states, Holman’s supporters say he is the victim of a political lynching for his beliefs on abortion. The van he drives is covered with pictures of aborted fetuses.

The story in this Friday’s Oakland Press details the menacing action taken by the driver of the other vehicle, the “victim” in this case, who was making obscene gestures and slamming on his brakes in front of Holman’s van. No legal action was taken against said driver. 

Holman’s supporters from Pennsylvania and as far away as Wisconsin came to protest his bond and to say that his arrest history is not criminal but only a matter of heated debate about abortion.

It is worthwhile not only for pro-life supporters but also civil authorities to take a little time and dissect the myriad errors of this unfortunate story from which wisdom seems to be completely lacking.

This series of events may indeed be the result of Holman’s beliefs on abortion but his arrest is not about abortion, rather it concerns his illegal behavior including action taken to circumvent the law. Holman has a history of evading the law in other states. Though he is a victim of rudeness / road rage he handled himself unwisely by taking matters into his own hands rather than calling for police when he felt threatened. But then again, when the law of the land does not protect its most defenseless citizens, Holman's distrust is not wthout reason.

Though it may be said that Holman acted stupidly, calling an item from an old man’s toolbox a “concealed weapon” certainly looks trumped up. Now the hammer serves more as an improbable weapon for his political martyrdom and makes the law look a little bit ridiculous at the same time. There is also the matter of the other driver and his threatening behavior. The one-sidedness of the penalties seems to indicate a clear bias.

We must ask, "Where is wisdom when it comes to certain pro-life campaigners?" There is the matter of the shocking van images that appear to be the instigator and catalyst of this latest incident. This kind of abortion publicity regrettably says more about the driver of the van than it does about abortion. Holman goes further to say he did not condemn the killing of George Tiller, which can only serve to infuriate abortion rights activists. Being pro-life does not automatically qualify people for sainthood though it can lead to very self-righteous behavior.

Abortion is a tragic thing and indeed, in the process, a whole human baby is killed and thrown away like trash. The “fetal matter” is not a blob of cells that is indistinguishable from other body tissues;  a mother must wait to have the procedure until the fetus has developed clearly identifiable body parts that can be collected and accounted for after the abortion. Without this important step in the process, a dangerous infection can develop in the mother’s body. This truth should be known but can we possibly say that we are behaving in a dignified way or caring for the dignity of aborted human beings when we indiscriminately display their remains for the public to view as a means of crusade? How effective has this means been and is it helping the cause?

Protecting life at all stages is the goal of the pro-life movement, but the extremist actions of a few are not something to be proud of. It is not fruitful work to upset people with graphic images, accuse and condemn, act lawlessly and passively, and foster angry conflicts when the much harder work of prayer, education, support and taking aim to strengthen families and communities, is much more likely to be effective. But misguided people are still directing their efforts to battle in the flesh rather than the spirit.