I know this is on the front page, but I had to write about it as well. For details on the morning, read the front page, this diary is about Dr. George Tiller.
Dr. Tiller believed he was helping women who were in a very difficult situation. Because anti-abortion terrorism scared away most providers of late-term abortions, he was one of the few if not only provider of late term abortions. He performed these procedures only in cases where there was severe fetal abnormalities. I can't imagine what women who needed this kind of help felt for him, and what those who need this help and can't get it feel.
I talked with Dr. Tiller when me & a friend made a short documentary based on the comments from abortions providers in their pamphlet "Why I Provide Abortions." It was a very moving experience. Even a short meeting with these providers will immediately convince you that contrary to the anti-abortion terrorists claims, these men and women care deeply about women, and are there to help them in one of the most difficult times of their lives.
Since Dr. Tiller was one of the only providers in the most difficult and troubling of situations for women, and knew full well the danger this put him in, he can only be considered a very courageous American hero.
Dr. Tiller stood up to give women in troubled times the services they asked for, while many supposedly pro-choice politicians stood by and saw these women's choices narrowed down to almost nothing. Today, those choices may be literally at nothing.
PLEASE contact all of your representatives, local, state, Senate and House, and ask them to FINALLY start to deal with these terrorists groups like the criminal murder-inspiring demons they are. While Operation Rescue made a statement decrying the murder, they know damn well they caused it, and i'm sure they are celebrating today. I have personally heard Flip Benham inciting his followers to violence, this blood is on his hands.
Tell your reps and President Obama this terrorism must stop!
Thank you Dr. Tiller for letting the women involved make this most difficult of decisions, even though you knew this is how it might end for you. You are an American hero of the highest order.
UPDATE: thanks to everyone who's written or is writing a diary on this crucial topic. Keep them coming.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
On the use of the word "hero," the reasons to call Dr. Tiller were better detailed in a comment from Jane Lew in another thread, i hope she doesn't mind me reposting it here (i'll remove it if she does object):
Finding doctors who are willing to put themselves and their families at risk is exceedingly difficult.
The people who provide abortion services are very special people and are not easily replaced.
Abortion providers and their families are constantly harassed by folks who claim their 1st amendment rights give them the right to make the lives of others a living hell. Imagine having to put up with crazies following you and your family around all the time. Imagine knowing that some of these crazies want to kill you and if necessary your children.
This is a heavy burden to ask of someone...
that's a hero...