OPINION – The downside of watershed moments in human history is that almost no one recognizes them except in retrospect.
Fundamental changes to our thinking and our character seldom come in one jarring moment. They creep in on cats feet and incrementally become a part of our way of life.
Things that would have shocked our sensibilities just two generations earlier are not only accepted but vigorously defended in the court of public opinion.
The undercover videos recently released by the Center for Medical Progress have brought this phenomenon to the forefront. In the videos, representatives from Planned Parenthood are clearly recorded arranging for the sale of fetal body parts harvested from abortions.
Those who wish to verify the claims for themselves can watch the investigative videos in their entirety or read the transcripts here.
The videos have prompted outrage among long-time abortion opponents. Some who have been largely indifferent to the abortion issue are finding it hard to remain neutral.
Even if it were possible to set the moral issues aside, it is still illegal to sell body parts and to kill newly born children; both activities which the videos show Planned Parenthood employees engaging in or admitting to engaging in.
At the same time, video proof of the depths of depravity within the abortion culture has brought forth some surprising attempts to defend the indefensible.
In a classic case of, “Are you gonna believe me or your lying eyes?” the White House defended Planned Parenthood and dismissed the videos as “fraudulent” with “not a lot of evidence behind them.”
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sought to ban the release of the latest video from the Center for Medical Progress by granting an injunction against them at the behest of the National Abortion Federation.
Pro-abortion media sources are desperately trying to distract and discredit those who have brought the disturbing footage to light. Abortion is a topic that has been relegated to carefully chosen words like “termination” or “product of conception” that do not allow us to accurately envision what is taking place.
That linguistic deception is about to collide head on with reality.
It was only a matter of time before Americans were confronted with indisputable proof of what is going on behind the doors of our nation’s abortion mills.
This is the watershed moment that we are facing as a nation. The larger question that will define us as a society is: What will we do about it?
Will this be the catalyst that prompts us to examine our individual sense of right and wrong and to make necessary adjustments in our thinking and behavior? Or will we find a reason to ignore what we’ve learned and simply allow our already numbed consciences to slip deeper into the abyss?
If the prospect of taking millions of innocent lives isn’t enough to shock us awake, will the malevolence of those profiting from the destruction of those lives be enough to arouse our sense of propriety?
At what point would we be willing to draw the line?
If no such moral line in the sand exists, then we’re not so different ethically from the societies that countenanced such horrors as the Holocaust, the Soviet Gulag, and China’s Cultural Revolution. They too surrendered their humanity on the basis of their leaders’ insistence to use whatever means it took to accomplish their ends.
We believe we’re better than the German citizens living under the Third Reich who eventually came to the sickening realization that their gradual departures from morality were leading to madness. We shake our heads and wonder why they didn’t speak out or take a stand when they had the chance, yet our society is following the same pattern.
In Milton Mayer’s book “They Thought They Were Free – The Germans 1933-1945,” a German citizen explained how the growing shift in personal values suddenly becomes clear:
And one day, too late, your principles, if you were ever sensible of them, all rush in upon you. The burden of self-deception has grown too heavy, and some minor incident, in my case my little boy, hardly more than a baby, saying ‘Jewish swine,’ collapses it all at once, and you see that everything, everything, has changed and changed completely under your nose. The world you live in — your nation, your people — is not the world you were born in at all.
As much as we may wish it were not so, we are facing a similar moment of realization.
This is much more than a question of whose politics will prevail. It’s a test of personal character and whether we will stand for our best values or surrender them.
It may not be an easy choice but none of us will avoid it. How we view our actions in retrospect will tell us if we made the right choice.
Bryan Hyde is a radio commentator and opinion writer in Southern Utah. The opinions stated in this article are his and not representative of St. George News.
Related posts
- Hatch joins 49 senators raising concerns with planned parenthood practices
- Advocates take to the streets for, against Roe v. Wade; STGnews Videocast – 2015
- Advocates for life, babies, demonstrate before Planned Parenthood; STGnews Videocast – 2014
- Demonstrators converge before Planned Parenthood; STGnews videocast – 2013
- Planned Parenthood: Sexual Education Before Abortion as STDs On the Rise
- Abortion in Utah legal but availability limited, especially in Southern Utah
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Twitter: @youcancallmebry
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.
This wingnut organization which was founded under false pretenses has already been discredited, Bryan, but you can’t let it go. Then you have to drag in the Holocaust for good measure which has nothing to do with this story. NOTHING. How do you live with yourself, Bryan?
That holocaust comparison is kind of a new low, even from Mr Perspective. But not much lower than what we’ve come to expect. He’s trying to insert shock value like the big dogs of hard-right-wing talk radio, one of which he’ll never be. What can you say other than the guy is just a very poor writer…? LOL’d
I disagree: if abortion is the taking of human life, the Holocaust analogy is very apt, and the moral comparisons follow from upon the definition.
Hitler was evil, but at least he killed out of some delusional sense of self-superiority. Most aborted babies are killed out of laziness and for convenience. However, in both cases (abortion and the holocaust) convincing yourself that the “thing” being killed isn’t human or worthy of life is a vital ingredient, and at least in that regard the comparison is valid. Wrapping the whole thing in “rights” is just a way of trying to make everyone involved feel like they’re justified and have clean hands. Sorry, they don’t. Except in cases of rape, incest, or imminent risk to the mother with near-zero chance for the baby, abortion is murder. The fact that tax payers are forced (at the barrel of a gun, if you follow it to its ultimate conclusion: https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=8d3b076bd4de14bbda5aba699e80621d&tab=core&_cview=1) to support it is inexcusable.
Speaking of false pretenses, kinda like the ones Roe v. Wade were founded on?
http://www.toomanyaborted.com/roevwade/
A government funded group systematically killing a specific group of human beings. Yes, not at all like the Holocaust. The determining factor is age rather than ethnicity. Again, not at all the same thing.
All I can say is, ‘The truth sometimes hurts’. If you don’t want to discuss the truth, that’s your business. Go read cartoons or something.
In some societies, when a person is ticketed for say reckless driving, sometime they have to sit through a gory movie of horrified wrecks and death to get the point across. A lot of people appreciate the message. Others sleep through damn the movie.
Bringing up the past ( Germany at sleep/ overpopulation problems and corrective actions in China/ etc.) are all educational inputs. Isn’t that’s all Mr. Hyde was trying to do? Don’t get defensive when someone has a different suggestion.
Reminds me of stories I’ve heard on a typical AA meetings and denial conversations.
Similar to how you go into denial mode when we talk about the truths of mormonism??? 🙂
Fun Bag, once in a blue moon, we do agree on things. And I’m with you on this one.
Bullseye! Good shot Fun Bag. That might provoke mesaman to bad mouth your mother or say something stupid. We’re waiting Oepidus.
You lost me on that one Fun Bag. Really don’t know what the heck your talking about. I take it you have an ax to grind concerning Mormans, right?
you’re a perfect example of willing ignorance and living in denial. that’s all that needs to be said. cheers 😉
I think you’re on to something here.
Oh, man, here it is – denial in the flesh – or print, as it were. NSF, do you really not understand?
Do you really believe you (and Brian) know the “truth” and those of us who disagree are in denial?
I guess you’re a standing member of the LDSCMS (LDS Closed Mind Society).
Bryan,
The information you presented in this opinion as “facts” are absolutely false. I am friends with Nicole Lee who, up until she left the area recently, was very involved in multiple functions with Planned Parenthood. I have, in the past used Planned Parenthoods services for Birth Control and education (Nicole taught classes on STI awareness and contraceptives). I know FOR A FACT that while Planned Parenthood does abortions in the states that allow such procedures, they do NOT participate in the atrocities described in the videos above and they do not participate in them in Utah.
On another topic, It would appear that all one needs to do around here to be taken as factual around here is start a blog, fill it with statements that cite opinions from other like-minded bloggers and don’t even bother with real studies conducted by world renowned universities staffed by people who have years of experience conducting such studies. Don’t look at look at those because everyone knows that those are just big government agencies masquerading as a University. On the other hand “Investigative Footage” from an organization that describes itself as “…a group of citizen journalists dedicated to monitoring and reporting on medical ethics and advances” should be considered reliable, well researched information that is incapable of incorrect or misleading in any way whatsoever. After all, the organization calls itself “The Center for Medical Progress” so it must be trustworthy, right? Right?
Well, as long as the atrocities by Planned Evil are only happening ~other places~ and not here in Utah, by all means, give them a pass. The fact this video comes from citizen journalists doesn’t discredit it in any way, shape, or form. You think the main stream media is somehow impartial, unbiased, and agenda free?
And neither are you, Brian. At least admit that.
I don’t think a single person on earth is truly impartial, unbiased, and agenda free, including myself and you. That’s the point. Most media right now is TOTALLY biased, and yet we’re supposed to completely disregard these videos because they come from normal citizens? Rubbish. Unless Han Solo was sitting there with a gun under the table these videos completely speak for themselves.
I included a link in the article above but I don’t see it posting in the normal way so I will post it here. “…a group of citizen journalists dedicated to monitoring and reporting on medical ethics and advances” should be considered reliable, well researched information that is incapable of putting out information that is incorrect or misleading in any way whatsoever. After all, the organization calls itself “The Center for Medical Progress” so it must be trustworthy, right? Right?
Annie – thanks for your thoughtful posts – always…
“Citizen journalists” are non-journalists with an axe to grind. They used to be called gossips and hate-mongers. They’ve always done plenty of damage to others and they enjoy doing it. The Internet has just given them a new way to do it.
ANNIEMATED and ANYBODY, how can anyone looking at the videos deny what transpired? You may disagree with Bryan, you may favor abortion, but you cannot deny what is plainly shown on the videos. I have seen no effort to discredit the accuracy of the videos, only to complain about how they were obtained.
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You and others who deny what is plainly shown lose my respect. Regardless of what good Planned Parenthood may do here or elsewhere, the individuals in the videos are unethical and may be guilty of a crime.
Watching the video is like watching one of the best con games ever. If this were in a courtroom the judge would be constantly telling “the buyer” to stop leading the witness.
I’ve seen a lot of sleazy, cheap tricks in my day – I lived through Nixon! – but that video really takes the cake. The woman from PP is open and honest about the situation and “the buyer” is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg, putting words in the PP rep’s mouth, twisting the language very subtly.
Basically, it’s a piece of garbage and I hope the courts never releases more of it.
By the way, Big Guy, you lost respect for Annie and me long before this…stop playing indignant and all puffed up over this issue. I’ll just speak for myself, but Annie can agree if she wants, I don’t give a fat d–n about your respect.
Ok I will discredit the accuracy of the video ands provide proof of the inaccuracy. First of all, Upon further review I found that I was wrong. Planned Parenthood does engage in the process of taking money for fetuses however it is not for profit, they are not doing it to make any money. The various links I found through Google will prove that. I also did not in state my opinion about Abortion. Now to the bulk of this; There are two versions of each video, A heavily edited one and a full length version. Both videos are posted on CMPs website but the edited version is, of course, billed first (You have to actually click a link that says “full version” to get to the unedited version on Youtube). The edited ones make it seem as if that Planned Parenthood engages, incorrectly as the links will show, in the sale of body parts in a for profit manner. Unfortunately, the unedited version shows that is just not true According to politifact.com: “The conversation indicates that at least some Planned Parenthood clinics do sell aborted fetal tissue. But [Deb] Nucatola plainly argues that the money they’re charging is trying to offset the costs associated with tissue procurement — a legal service”.
Here are my links including a link to the unedited version of their luncheon with Dr. Mary Gatter. Im sure you’ll watch the entire thing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwAGsjoorvk
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/jul/17/planned-parenthood-video-context/
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/07/15/the-shady-anti-choice-actors-behind-the-decepti/204431
http://www.factcheck.org/2015/07/unspinning-the-planned-parenthood-video/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/15/health/planned-parenthood-undercover-video/
I would just like to point out that all video footage, edited and unedited, is being released by the same prolife group. As for inaccuracies, I think I will continue to wait and see how this develops.
ANNIEMATED, thank you for your admission that the videos do in fact show that Planned Parenthood sells fetal body parts. That is more than we heard from ANYBODY who continues to defend the practice.
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Have you noticed the juxtaposition of two current news stories? Liberals are bemoaning the loss of Cecil the lion while defending Planned Parenthood’s selling human body parts. Both are wrong, but which one attracts their attention? Once again, liberals have strangely inverted values.
Big Guy you are exactly right. Killing the lion was a bad thing. Killing and selling the babies is terrible! Notice the commentary from the left in St George news this morning is about killing the lion. That is as plain as can be about where priorities are.
liberals this, liberals that.. notice how BG can’t come up with any good material in his comments pretty much ever…
Have you noticed the juxtaposition of two current news stories? Mormons are bemoaning the loss of their recent Supreme Court arguments against gay marriage while defending the large Pedophile ring still going on down in Hildale and other parts of the state. Once again, Mormons are FUBAR!
SIMONE, the rest of us must have missed the story about Mormons defending pedophiles. Please provide a link to the story. I’m sure it will make juicy reading.
I am sure you are all aware of this morning’s video by now, however, here is the link to it. It happens to deal with this very question. http://www.jillstanek.com/2015/08/187126/
The mormons have defended the plygs by shielding them from the law and allowing them to have their little safe haven up there. Let’s not forget which state finally prosecuted the pedophile prophet. It sure wasn’t the land of zion here…
BIG GUY, Thank you for your kind reading response. I am neither defending nor attacking Planned Parenthoods practice because the simple fact of the matter is that I don’t know enough about the details of why they do it to be able to form an opinion either for or against the practice.
As far as Abortion goes, I will say this. I am not stating an opinion, I am stating what I know to be true based on my own experiences and hose others have shared with me. I believe based on those experiences that abortion should be legalized because, simply put, they will happen any way and illegal abortions are usually done by untrained people and put the woman in FAR FAR greater risk of serious injury or death. If you have the time read “Jennifer Worth’s memoir “Call The Midwife” She was a midwife in Britain in the 1950s prior to the time Abortion was legalized over there. Her book describes one of these illegal abortions in great detail.
Joseph Smith Married a 14 year old.
https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng
“The fact that this has been going on all these years, and the fact that justice has not been there to protect women and children from amazing civil rights violations — it is an embarrassment,” said Utah Atty. Gen. Mark Shurtleff.
“I don’t want to indict the states of Utah and Arizona, but mea culpa — we are responsible“.
Among sect members, girls as young as 13 are forced into marriage, sexual abuse is rampant, rape is covered up and child molesters are shielded by religious authorities and law enforcement.
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-sect12may12-story.html#page=1
u know it wasn’t uncommon to marry off a 14yo back in them days (this was the wild west), so im not convinced ol’ Joe was a pedophile, although i am convinced that he may very well have been a womanizer and a sex fiend. evidence seems to suggest that…
And, as a result of this exposure, look what happens when you open a government investigation in Florida. http://www.lifenews.com/2015/08/05/inspections-find-florida-planned-parenthood-clinics-illegally-doing-2nd-trimester-abortions/
If they put a ban on abortions we could then listen to (more) endless droning on about how right-winger’s tax dollars are going to pay for all these welfare babies, and complain and whine about medicaid and food stamps and other gov’t benefits for these babies. Love the fetus, hate the child… that’s usually how it works. And all this comparing abortions to nazis. Y’all think that’s so cute and cleaver but it’s actually completely moronic…
Could be said: Love the child, murder the fetus.
Know what, it is pretty messed up that the world has come down to a place whre u cut up baby fetuses and sell them off in parts to lab research for cash. It’s actually discusting. and it’s a shame that the value of life is so low anymore that things like this are done. but the pro-life crowd has played just as big if not more of role as the pro-choice crowd in setting up a system (world) where things have come to this. To deny that would be an outright lie. It’s also a shame we don’t live in a world of unicorns and pink fluffy bunnies and cotton candy. Anyways i’m out on this topic bc honestly have mixed feelings about the whole thing and actually haven’t thought about it enough to have a concrete standing on it, so y’all have fun with it…
Wow. FUN BAG, for what it’s worth, I respect that position.
Food for thought for anyone who might like to read this novel approach to the question: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/priest-defends-pro-life-movement-with-secular-philosophy/
Further, if someone is concerned with Fr. Robert Spitzer’s credentials, here is his Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Spitzer_(priest)
I’m curious roy, but not enough to buy his book. Think you can give us a synopisis? I’d be surprised to find it at all useful tho, bc I usually find the catholic view on things as distasteful as the mormon view…
FUNBAG, I would probably take up too much space on this already extensive thread, but here is a short synopsis of the work: http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com/2012/10/ten-universal-principles-brief.html
Hope that is helpful.
How is using aborted fetuses for medical purposes any different than donating organs or allowing a corpse to be used for medical or educational purposes? The world needs body material provided by the deceased for knowledge, research, and the preservation of LIFE. The only thing I see wrong in this controversy is that PP should have donated the collected material rather than using it to raise funds (my opinion).
If you have to ask that question I think ur beyond hope…
If you can’t take a moment to think of it in that respect, I believe you are in denial.
I think there’s 2 issues in politics today where a reasonable middle ground will never be found because of the extremists on both sides. Guns and abortion. The never-ending debate.
Guns and Jesus. So long as you got those u be alright… until obama comes and takes ’em away!
Where’s the best place in town to have breakfast.?
My house. My live in domestic makes a fabulous breakfast.
No thanks I don’t hang out with idiots
You weren’t invited. You just asked where the best breakfast in town was.
Don’t worry I wouldn’t go. and as far as that being the best breakfast in town.. You’re a liar
So guess who asks about breakfast and free parking responds by saying no thanks. Sounds like you two have an identity crisis. As for breakfast, this town is full of low end chain restaurants that would surely satisfy your unsophisticated pallet. Bob appetite to both of you.
I was told you’re a liar by MESAMAN himself. He knows for a fact that nothing or nobody could ever be desperate to the point of having to live with you