"Lock the doors and close the blinds -- we're going for a ride..."

You guys are too smart.

In my most recent entry, I talked about the issue of trucks being deployed on the streets with controversial and graphic images on them. The images are of dead bodies in Iraq - blood and guts and all. The caption on each of these is "Mission Accomplished?" A political statement, of course, about President Bush's campaign for democracy in Iraq which he thought was achieved over two years ago.

And as some of the more suspicious Mindsayers figured out -- it was just a figure of my imagination. Perhaps it's because I admitted to a lie last week at this time. I applaud you for checking up on me -- it's honestly the smartest thing to do with anything you read on the Net.

So -- yeah. These graphic anti-war trucks do not exist.

BUT...

as bbmyls2go pointed out, the anti-abortion rights movement has been using graphic displays of blood and tissue for quite a while to further their campaign. No matter which side one may be on the abortion rights issue, I think we can all agree that the pictures are pretty vile and disgusting.

Yes. They're putting these images on trucks. Since 2001. And, now, in fact, on airplane banners.

It's called the "Reproductive 'Choice' Campaign," and it's sponsored by "The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform," which is a non-profit organization which includes a disclaimer of "CBR condemns all abortion related violence and will not associate with groups or individuals who fail to condemn such violence.:" on each of their webpages. It's pretty clear what their purpose is. But in case you need to find out more, you can peruse their many photographs of abortions, aborted fetuses, a mastectomy, and even some "e-cards" you can send to your friends with some graphic pictures of abortion related material.


Their campaign to put mammoth-sized photos of aborted fetuses on the sides and backs of trucks began in 2001. They are each accompanied with a one word caption: "choice."

My stance on abortion rights is completely irrelevant here. As I had mentioned in my previous post, my concern is that I -- and my kid -- are exposed to this in all of its 12-foot high glory simply by being outside in a public space. Blood and tissue. It's not on a TV channel which I can turn off. It's not on a website I can block. It's not on a flyer I can crumble up and throw away. It's not at a demonstration in front of a building which I can drive right by. No. These are moving billboards in traffic. I won't argue if what's shown is a fetus, an embryo, a human being or the potential for life. What's being shown is blood and tissue. And more blood.

Why did I fabricate my original example? Because I would be against blood and tissue being displayed on the side of a truck which has a left-leaning political agenda as well. I'd hope that others out there don't feel the need to discern between the types of blood and tissue as to which is appropriate and which is not in this situation.

It's a roundabout way for me to attempt to get my point across. I hope I did.

(Oh -- for those of you who want to Google this for authenticity purposes, "Reproductive Choice Campaign" should give you whatever information you need. The pictures are graphic and I chose not to link to this site directly in this blog entry.)