Posted on 06/29/2013 10:22:26 AM PDT by Morgana
FULL TITLE: Stanek wkend question: Should pro-lifers feel responsible for businesses negatively impacted by protests at nearby abortion clinics?
Don’t forget to vote in the poll at the bottom of this post!
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In January Jivin J reported on pro-abortion Portland, Maine, businessman Mike Fink, who began sponsoring counterprotests and offering free food to abortion supporters who rallied against pro-lifers protesting in front of the Planned Parenthood next door to his restaurant.
But Fink has decided to throw in the towel. According to the Portland Daily Sun, May 6:
Mike Fink, pawnbroker, notary public and owner of Mike’s restaurant at 437 Congress St., and Guitar Grave pawn shop at 441 Congress St., Portland, announced Monday that he would not renew a lease for Mike’s Restaurant, blaming turmoil caused by protesters outside of a neighboring Planned Parenthood clinic.
“I’ve decided to close the restaurant and sell the equipment if I do not find a buyer. I have also lowered my asking price to $10,000, which is close to the value of the equipment and inventory. I am very close to giving up selling the restaurant because every time anyone sees the stupid anti-abortion protesters they decide to NOT consider this location,” Fink wrote in an email message.
More from TheForecaster.net, May 14:
Last winter Fink attracted widespread attention for staging what he called “anti-anti-abortion” rallies, in which he asked people to carry signs or honk car horns to show their opposition to the anti-abortion demonstrations.
More than 100 people, including dozens of protesters on both sides of the divisive abortion issue, showed up for the dueling demonstrations on Jan. 4. But after several more of the counter-protests, Fink said, “things just got worse.”
He eventually called off his protests.
image“The more I protested, the more people came, and the worse it got for clients (of Planned Parenthood) and my customers,” he said. “So I decided I needed to ignore the protesters. It’s like reverse psychology.”….
For another business on the block, Antoine’s Tailor Shop & Formal Wear at 435 Congress St., the protests are less of a problem.
“It hasn’t really affected us,” said Perry Perkins, assistant to the store owner, noting that his shop also opens at 10 a.m. “I can’t say that (the protesters) are really loud, and it’s been generally peaceful.”
However, Perkins – who lives in an apartment in the building – said that there are occasional problems, and that residents often leave by the building’s back door to avoid the protesters.
“A lot of us don’t like it,” he said. “I haven’t heard a positive thing.”
imagePerkins said he understands Fink’s frustration.
“When the protests started, the first thing I thought about was Mike’s, because that’s a food place and those pictures are disgusting,” he said. “I couldn’t eat my food if I had to look at that.”
What are your thoughts on collateral damage inflicted on businesses located near abortion clinics where pro-lifers are protesting?
“Should businesses think twice about locating next to abortion clinics is a better one.”
Well there in lies a trick question. What if you where already there. For instance “Wright’s Barber Shop” when with out your knowledge Planned Parenthood opened up shop right next to you, basically over night, before you even had a chance to protest? It has happened. Lots of stories I’ve read Planned Parenthood has had to get creative to avoid zoning, other laws, Operation Rescue and other prolife groups to hurry up and get up and running. Basically dirty tricks that “Wright’s Barber Shop” could have never pulled.
But here is where you get creative unlike the moron in this story. You ask the pro lifers to kindly respect your customers since you are not planned parenthood. Then you offer them a discount day on haircuts if they cooperate, which I’m sure they will and generate business among the pro life community.
Thanks for helping me correct MY mistake.
It’s cool dude. I actually thought you just were not using the /sarc tag when you said that, but I knew what you meant. People on this site can be so sarcastic and I’m just used to it.
Now, my new friend, we are in agreement. They will rue the day they meet Christ.
Poor wittle feller. He goaded the bull and got the horns.
To answer the question in the headline, in this case, no.
You’re obviously more invested in this story than I am. You make some good points, but again, it bores me frankly.
I guess I need to renew my glasses prescription.
“You make some good points, but again, it bores me frankly.”
Well you see if it were my shop next to an abortion clinic it would not “bore” me to know babies were being ripped apart or born alive only to have their spines snipped. In fact it would far from “bore” me. It might actually disturb my soul. Now since I have a business to run and don’t have all day to protest I would work WITH the prolife people and not against them. It is worth it for me as a business owner. For you see not only do I gain their business but every life they save from the abortionist. It’s just a win win situation!
God bless you my friend. And may God deal with the abortionist and it’s allies.
It should be.
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