GAP opens dialogue,
student group says
Commentary
Dominic Tommy
man mind. For here we are not
afraid to follow truth wherever it
may lead, nor tolerate error so
long as reason is left free to com
bat it.” — Thomas Jefferson, Dec.
27, 1820, printed above the Fir
Room in the EMU.
On Oct. 11 and 12, Justice For
All hosted the Genocide Aware
ness Project (GAP) on our cam
pus. We thank the University
community for remaining peace
ful and calm throughout the dis
play. The ensuing discussions on
campus, in classrooms, in resi
dence halls and in letters to the
editor have enriched the “free
dom of the human mind” to ex
plore controversial issues.
When dialogue ceases to take
place on a given subject and the
' status quo is accepted without
- question, we must challenge our
selves to examine that subject.
The purpose of the GAP is to
stimulate dialogue and discussion
on a topic that may have ceased to
be critically analyzed: abortion.
Our society is a visual culture.
Many people need to see some
thing in order to believe it. There
fore, the GAP employs the use of
large photographs showing the re
sult of abortions.
Many people have asked us
what we think of these pho
tographs. The photos are shock
ing, revolting, disgusting. They
DeMaio Stoffel
his institution
will be based on
the illimitable
freedom of the hu
are unsettling. It is our hope that
students will move beyond this
initial shock, revulsion and anger
to ask, “Why?” Why do these pho
tos upset us so? Is it because these
photos depict acts of violence?
Many people have been upset
by use of the term “genocide.”
Taking the time to see beyond the
term, let us look at what is before
our eyes: the systematic killing of
a group stripped of the status of
personhood. We acknowledge the
societal responsibility for the cri
sis situation that leads a woman
to consider having an abortion.
For this reason we support and
are actively volunteering for 1st
Way, a local resource center for
women.
Will we, as University students
in the “marketplace of ideas,” en
gage in informed debate and dia
logue? Will we seek to “follow
truth wherever it may lead”? Af
ter viewing these photographs, we
are all challenged to examine our
conceptions of what the truth
about abortion is.
On Oct. 13, we incorrectly ad
vertised a presentation by the
Center for Bio-Ethical Reform as
an “Open Forum Discussion.”
This was our mistake. We resolve
to properly advertise all of our
events in the future.
Justice for All seeks to “pro
mote ... justice ... and the right to
life for ... all venerable people.
To help women and men in cri
sis pregnancies find support....
To educate ... on all bio-ethical
issues.” (Bi-Laws of Justice for
All, Students for Bio-Ethical Re
form.)
Dominic DeMaio and Tommy Stoffel are the pres
ident and vice president of Justice For All. Their
views do not necessarily represent those of the
Emerald. Comments or questions may be sent to
them at jfa_ uo@yahoo. com
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