Unforgettable Looks of an Abortion, How Seeing the Procedure Changes Minds

Life News ^ | 4/24/08 | Kevin Roeten

[wagglebee]

LifeNews.com Note: Roeten is a very conservative Catholic who likes the facts over readily displayed emotions. He is an editorial columnist who has frequently been published in numerous Internet and newspaper forums.

The act of aborting an individual is usually hidden in some Planned Parenthood office. A few doctors have physically seen the procedure done. A few others have seen the killings after the whole baby has left the uterus. Some truly grisly sights have been discovered in waste dumpsters. Not many of us really know exactly what goes on behind those closed doors. We therefore need to prepare.

Father Frank Pavone (Priests for Life) has posted two videos to YouTube and that explains exactly what happens during an abortion. It’s very convenient that the mother never sees the actual abortion. The abortionist many times has an ultrasound picture of the procedure and watches it take place, but never allows the mother to see it. Most times, the abortionist has to ‘feel’ his way around the uterus without sight as to where the baby is.

Most abortions fall into either of two categories: a Suction Curetage usually done during the 1st semester, and a D&E (Dilation and Extraction), during the 2nd semester. With the Suction Curetage, a cannula (hollow tube) is used by the abortionist who runs a vacuum pump attached to it. The baby is continually prodded until it breaks into small enough pieces to be sucked through the cannula.

After the abortionist believes he has sucked all the parts of the baby out of the uterus, a sharp curette is pushed into the uterus to scrape away any parts of the procedure that are left. If the baby is small enough, she/he goes though the tube intact.

For the D&E, the “E” stands for extraction. And because the baby is much larger, it has to be extracted in parts. Forceps are used to grab anything it can grip--probably any extremities of the child first. Usually the abortionist cannot see what he’s grabbing. Without direct sight, the extremities are physically separated (ripped) from the body.

Next is the head, which is the largest part. To be able to fit through the mother, the head is usually perforated and its contents emptied. It is usually crushed if big enough. Typically it is brought out in fragments. How do you perforate something you can’t directly see?

There are “Yellow Page” ads for abortions of babies 26 and 28 weeks old. D&E abortions have been performed on babies 32 weeks and older. Per Father Pavone, “If we’re going to talk about abortion in this country, let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about…”.

An abortionist, Dr. Martin Haskell, says he knows the fetus is still alive because he feels it move and actually sees the heart beating before the procedure. But people will say this is not a life and is a mere blob of tissue. It seems highly likely that some or all of the babies feel pain from this type of abortion.

Do we ever put dogs or other animals though this kind of procedure? And we complain that waterboarding of terrorists is torture when it actually involves no physical pain? It’s likely we can witness pain firsthand by viewing the videotape of an ultrasound of an abortion. But it seems unlikely to ever get one from an abortion clinic.

Probably anyone who watches such a procedure would never be pro-choice again. Likely, if mothers were shown the tape of their own abortion, they would never get another one. It is probable abortionists like Planned Parenthood may see major monetary losses if such a video ever was shown. If anyone insists abortion should always be a choice, all one has to do is ask them if they've ever actually seen one.

Such a video will get out, sooner or later. And it could be said with tongue-in-cheek there likely will be h-ll to pay.

[wagglebee]

Probably anyone who watches such a procedure would never be pro-choice again. Likely, if mothers were shown the tape of their own abortion, they would never get another one.

Which is why, as upsetting as it may be to some, this MUST be shown.

[wagglebee]

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[Molly K.]

It seems like a million years ago now, but way back in the early 70s when it was first made legal, I thought it was a good idea and I was pro-choice.

Way back then, for a very brief period of time, magazines would still openly debate the pros and cons.

I remember reading an article on abortion. There were accompanying pictures of aborted fetuses (in buckets, I think?)
My reaction was instantaneous: Whoa! This is wrong! In a heartbeat, I immediately become pro-life. I wasn't persuaded with words and arguments. It was a single picture.

[wagglebee]

Yep, sometimes it’s just simply seeing what abortion really is, that it’s not a “glob of cells” being killed, it’s a REAL BABY.

[WorkingClassFilth]

In today’s instant-gratification and impulse driven society, the need for this kind of tactic is paramount. A single glance tells the entire story and argues more convincingly than 10,000 words of debate.

Astonishingly, some here on FR - who are supposedly pro-life, reject these tactics as too offensive and unproductive.

Go figure.

[wagglebee]

I understand why some are upset by the images of aborted babies (though Fr. Pavone’s videos are done on plastic models), but NOTHING should be as upsetting and offensive as the very idea that 50 MILLION babies have been slaughtered in the United States since 1973.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

We certainly are a great country. We protect trees and murder our unborn children. YHWH remembers.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Do you recall the thread a week or two back about the truckdriver whose rig had an aborted baby as a graphic on the side? Quite a few FReepers went off on that as counter-productive, aiding the enemy, offending people into supporting abortion (I kid you not - that one’s really a corker) and, of course, a safety hazard on the roadways.

Fact is, it cuts through the abortionist crap like a knife...

[To Hell With Poverty]

a Suction Curetage usually done during the 1st semester, and a D&E (Dilation and Extraction), during the 2nd semester.

Splitting hairs, but I wish this guy used the correct term (trimester). Liberals will jump on this as evidence that pro-lifers are uneducated dolts.

[mtntop3]

The most effective way to discourage abortion is through affirming the sanctity and preciousness of life. This has been working very well in bringing the numbers of abortions down and making unattractive the prospect of abortion.

If these precepts are not held by an individual, then seeing an aborted fetus may not result in an affirmation of life but anger at the person who presented the picture.

The beautiful face of a recently born and healthy child is the greatest weapon against the advocating of abortion. Love wins out.

Those who truly value life are going to be just as upset over an unmarked dead fetus as a mutilated and shredded one. If the dead fetus is unmarked, does that lessen the tragedy?

Does this mean that shocking pictures should never be used? Certainly not. But they should be used sparingly and in a sensitive manner befitting the situation.

Even a dead fetus deserves dignity - that which he or her never received while alive.

[quiet_reverie]

I agree! I didn’t care about the abortion issue until I saw the photos. I wrote an article about it here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/717353/strong_women_protect_their_children.html

I am SO thankful a brave young woman opened my eyes. Most people have no clue what abortion really is and I think that they would be sickened and appalled by what these precious little babies endure. Since the bloodshed happens behind closed doors, people turn a blind eye and are ignorant.

[quiet_reverie]

Those images are what made me become pro-life...my husband too. Since then we’ve showed the photos to others and those photos say what our meager words cannot.

[Secret Agent Man]

What appears wise to men is foolishness to God (albeit it is much more than mere foolishness).

[wagglebee]

I understand what you mean; however, it seems that the term semester is also used:

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0geu.lPwxFIpLkAKaVXNyoA?p=pregnancy+semester&fr=yfp-t-501-s&ei=UTF-8

[8mmMauser]

Pinged from Terri Dailies

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[WorkingClassFilth]

I can honestly understand opinions like yours but I also say, honestly, that I totally disagree. I would also add that while words have some merit, they are hardly the stuff the will win the 35 year/50 million killed war against the unborn.

Yes, we all can agree that some will not like these pictures. To that, I would say ‘too bad.’ Fact is, those who'd be likely offended are those who are already hardened - they are de facto cadre already. OTOH, those who will be touched by the truth are those who've passively absorbed the false cultural myths about the lifeless blobs of tissue. In a single moment, the truth about abortion can never be suppressed in their minds and hearts again. Just like grainy photos of dead Jews and their Nazi captors, the stark record stands NOT as an argument for converting people to fascism or against freedom, but rather, the photos soundly defeat specious appeals for more tyranny by cutting through the endless words that dissemblers like to spout with searing, graphic truth.

I firmly believe that imagery of unknown unborn babies is, today and in historic fact, one of the most honorable purposes such images could serve. Each photo of each poor little baby WILL save the life of another. How much more can be said?

[WorkingClassFilth]

You will be blessed. I hope you have many healthy babies and raise them all to love truth and freedom.

[mtntop3]

The problem is that excessive photographs of initially a shocking nature will no longer be shocking after a while.

They will only further coarsen the society.

It is the same as violence and assorted depravity on the TV.

Such photographs may serve as an adjunct when timely and sensitively presented.

But the primary motivating force for right to life will always be in affirmations of the dignity of life and in sheer love - in, collectively, the precepts of the Judeo-Christian faith.

[time4good]

mtntop3, I respectfully disagree. I saw the Center For BioEthical Reform's work (not firsthand but on the web) where they drive around and show real abortions. IT DOES change people's minds. The Church and good people were/are asleep and did/do nothing - that's why this got to this point.

My brother gave your argument against their work and I said 'hogwash'. This is totally different than violence on TV/movies - that's wrong stuff and people do get desensitized. This is different. This IS reality. We need to CLEARLY STATE that.

Any killing of innocent life is wrong - but I know that killing of the unborn God holds a special judgement for this evil. (Read Jesus' words about children/millstone/woe until he who hurts the little ones)