The role of graphic photographs in shaping public opinion
Today on Facebook, the group Abort73.com posted the following video with the accompanying disclaimer:
“Portions of this video presentation include graphic images of severe injustice. They are included to demonstrate the historic role that photography has played in forming public opinion and to expose the ongoing violence of abortion. Because most social media channels actively censor depictions of abortion violence, portions of this video have been obscured through pixelization. To see the uncensored version, visit Abort73.com.”
The video will likely be flagged by many users as offensive and perhaps Facebook may even remove it, despite the images being censored.
There is an innate disgust many people feel when they see pictures of abortion procedures or remains.
This is understandable, of course.
No one likes looking at pictures of inhumane violence.
But as the above video clip points out, such pictures do more than words ever can in changing public opinion or rousing the conscience of a people to see the truth behind what’s been buried beneath decades of euphemism.
Societies have been morally changed after seeing pictures of Southern lynchings, slave-ship conditions, carpet bombed villages and pictures from Auschwitz…all of which are revolting and uncomfortable–but which needed to be faced head-on and acknowledged.
Just as groups who oppose the fast-food industry’s use of factory farming use graphic images of horrible animal treatment in their campaigns, for example, I can see no logically justifiable reason why those who feel abortion is the killing of innocent human life should be shamed or attacked for showing people the images behind the rhetoric.
As an artist and a teacher I wholeheartedly recognize that pictures truly are worth a thousand words.
There’s a scene in one of my favorite biographic movies of all time, “Amazing Grace”, where British politician and slave-trade opponent William Wilberforce takes a group of British social elites on a boat outing. After a nice time of dining and music on the deck, the boat pulls up alongside a ship where Wilberforce is standing. It is a slave trading ship. Wilberforce pleads with the members of the group to take in the horrible sights–the horrible literal smell of death–as they reflect upon what it is that they are so morally indifferent about. Women look away in disgust, many with tears in their eyes. It is a powerful moment that no amount of speeches in all the world could’ve accomplished. It is in every sense revolting.
And some things should revolt us.
Some things should bring tears to our eyes.
This does NOT mean, however, that such revulsion or anger generated by seeing firsthand the consequences of the abortion-on-demand industry should be channeled toward women who are scared, in need, poor, or hurting and who have been led to believe that having a doctor kill the human life growing inside them is their best–or only–course of action. Abortion always involves at least TWO victims, and we should not let sympathy for the one lead to animosity toward the other!
But as a society, we MUST be confronted with the true nature of what it is we are responsible for enabling–whether it’s the dismembered bodies of children who are killed by Predator drones in Yemen, or by surgical instruments in a Planned Parenthood clinic.
Just because something is distasteful doesn’t mean it should be ignored. After all, in 1st century Roman society, crucifixion was considered so repugnant and scandalous that it was usually avoided in conversation altogether.
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And to those whose hearts stand broken after having experienced abortion firsthand, the words of the Savior remain the same…
For readers looking to learn more about the facts behind abortion and why it should be opposed in all but the most extreme circumstances, I recommend the following books–each of which has greatly shaped my own thoughts and understanding of the issue immensely:
Politically Correct Death – Francis Beckwith
Pro-Life Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments – Randy Alcorn
Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue – R.C. Sproul
And for those who seek to approach the issue from non-evangelical-Christian perspectives, Please visit the following:
Feminist – http://www.feministsforlife.org/
Atheist – http://www.godlessprolifers.org/home.html
Secular Libertarian – http://www.l4l.org
Categories: Blog, Ministry, Political/Social issues