On Abortion's Front Lines
To commemorate RFFM.org's 15 years of service to the conservative community, we will be conducting a series of monthly interviews throughout 2007 with some of the most influential leaders in the pro-family/conservative movement. RFFM.org's national director, Daniel Zanoza, will conduct Q + A sessions with the aim of educating our readers as to some of the views held by those who work tirelessly to reach their stated goals.
The fifth interview in our series begins today with Dan Gura
Some of the most intimate aspects in the fight against abortion are experienced by those who protest in front of abortion mills. Often trying, but tremendously rewarding, those who participate in these demonstrations are at the forefront of a battle designed to protect the innocent unborn. Dan Gura is just one of these warriors who walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to the rights of the precious unborn.
Dan Gura -- "In His Own Words"
Gura, 51, has a degree from Wright College in Chicago. He became interested in the pro-life movement in 2000 and first manned the Lake County Right to Life booth at the County Fair. He currently is a successful businessman. Gura is married to wife Sandy and is the proud father of four. He sits on the boards of a number of pro-family organizations. Gura was formerly a columnist for Pioneer Press and is currently a contributing editor for RFFM.org.
Q. There are thousands of people who demonstrate peacefully in front of abortion clinics in America. Can you talk about why you decided to become involved in the battle against abortion and protest in this manner?
A. My wife Sandy and I are the proud parents of four children, two of whom are adopted, so we know the value of a human life. We are honored to be two of the plaintiffs suing Secretary of State Jesse White's office to force the State of Illinois to issue Choose Life license plates. The defining incident, however, was when I learned that Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where our two oldest children were born, performs abortions on perfectly healthy babies. Silly me, I thought a hospital with the cross of our Savior on its roof, the very same hospital which brags about its neonatal intensive care unit, would be the safest place in the world for a pre-born baby.
Q. What do you hope to accomplish when you are demonstrating in front of an abortion clinic?
A. In the short term, God willing, to soften the heart of at least one mother so that she will put her child's life ahead of her convenience. In the long term, we hope to change so many hearts that the abortionists will be forced to find new professions because so many of their potential customers Choose Life.
Q. Can you talk about some of the feelings you've experiences while demonstrating? For example, are you encouraged or are demonstrations depressing for you?
A. I am always encouraged after we witness for life--even in the dead of winter when we are standing in front of Lutheran General Hospital (which, contrary to the cross on the roof, is an abortuary)--because God gives us so many signs that He is with us. There have been many incidents which I have found disturbing. However, God always sends a positive sign to lift our spirits soon afterwards. Within minutes of an incident in front of the home of an abortionist, Dr. Goyal, (where a Palatine police officer threatened to arrest us because a pro-abort rear-ended a stopped car--while giving us the finger with both hands) a woman who lived in that subdivision stopped to give us bottles of water and cookies. Other times the sign (from God) is as subtle as someone slowing their car down and saying "thank you." How can you stay discouraged, when God reminds you that He is watching over you.
Q. As far as your goals are concerned, can you talk about some of the positive and negative experiences you have had while demonstrating? What really sticks out in your mind over the years regarding your fight against abortion?
A. The most positive experiences are related to the incredible people whom I have met. I am humbled to count Joe and Ann Scheidler, Jim Finnegan, Tom Brejcha, Kathryn Mieding and Bill Beckman as my friends, my mentors and my heroes. I would like to single out Tim Murphy for teaching me how to organize a protest for maximum effect. Tim knows how to make a handful of people multiply, like the loaves and fishes, so we appear formidable, unified and victorious. These people--and so many more who I have not named--have had a profound positive influence on my thinking and on my life. A number of them fought for life many years before I became involved and have taken me under their wings.
On the negative side, I have seen pro-aborts debase themselves in an attempt to intimidate us. I have been sworn at, in every conceivable language, had things thrown at me, and watched police officers ignore their sworn duty to serve and protect. I have seen the Mundelein Police Department, backed up by dozens of officers from neighboring communities, threaten to arrest elderly women and young children because they dared to tell the truth about abortion. I have seen the Des Plaines Police try to intimidate the Emmereth sisters for sidewalk counseling in front of a mill in their town. And I have seen a Cook County Sheriff's Deputy threaten to arrest two pro-lifers who were assaulted, instead of the miscreant who violated their rights. But they are, fortunately, in the minority. I wish to praise the highly trained professionals on the Inverness, Barrington and Orland Park Police Departments. They bring great honor to their uniforms and their villages.
Q. It sounds like these demonstrations are meant to have an impact on a number of different levels. There is sidewalk counseling taking place, there's the public protests against a particular facility or doctor and, of course, there is the demonstration meant for the public. Can you talk about all three components of this process?
A. Sidewalk counselors are the most incredible, dedicated saints among us. Even on a good day (at Albany abortion mill) there will be many more pre-babies murdered than saved...but the excitement over a save is much like that described in Luke 15:7, "there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine persons who do not need to repent." They are the front line warriors going toe-to-toe in the battle between good and evil, of life against eternal death, and they need our prayers.
Public protests are designed to bring attention to this slaughter (of the unborn) to as many people as possible...which is why we choose heavily traveled roads and major intersections. In past years, the Pro-Life Action League has lined several overpasses along the Dan Ryan Expressway (in downtown Chicago) with graphic photographs of murdered babies, exposing tens of thousands of motorists to the truth about abortion. Unfortunately, this reduces our personal contact (with the public), but does allow us to plant the pro-life message in as many minds as possible...and we pray this seed will find fertile ground and grow.
#37 in Joe Scheidler's landmark book, CLOSED 99 Ways to Stop Abortion is titled Picket the Abortionist's Home. Scheidler observes, "They are usually not proud of being abortionists, and often even guard from their community the fact that they are involved in abortion. If it were widely known that they are abortionists, they might be very uncomfortable in their communities, and their communities might be uncomfortable with them." We have done everything legal that we can think of to make abortionist Vinod Goyal's community uncomfortable with having a pre-born baby killer in their midst, including picketing in front of his home as well as at the entrance to his subdivision, leafleting his neighborhood, and sending pro-life Christmas cards which ask the question, "What if Mary & Joseph were pro-choice? They could have went to your neighbor, Vinod Goyal, to terminate the life of the Prince of Peace." We then ask them to "please join with us this Christmas to pray that the Holy Spirit changes "Dr." Goyal's heart so he will use his God-given talent to save babies instead of aborting them." We have met many of Goyal's neighbors and the number on the side of light outnumbers those in darkness by at least five to one.
Q. Obviously, some people despise what you are doing. Why do you think their response to you is so visceral?
A. My answer may not be politically correct, but I sincerely believe they are under the Great Deceiver's influence...and they hate not only our message, but our commitment to God. They may not be possessed by demons, in an Old Testament sense, but their thoughts and actions are so colored by evil that they become Satan's mouthpieces in this life, spewing forth obscenities against God and those doing His work. We do not challenge these unfortunates with earthly arguments, but instead respond by saying we will pray for them. This often causes a tirade of obscenities and more then a few have approached police officers to demand they order us not to pray for them. To anyone who does not believe that evil is real and that the devil walks among us, I invite you to join us as we witness for life. I promise your eyes will be opened.
Q. What's most rewarding for you personally when you demonstrate against abortion?
A. Most of our locations are on arterial streets (to get maximum exposure) which have little pedestrian traffic, so we typically have little one-on-one contact with passersby. So it's the seemingly small things, people who give us the thumbs up and honk encouragement, or yell "thank you" as they drive by. It may not seem like much, but just knowing how many people support us always makes me glad that I am there.
Q. I suppose one of the greatest personal rewards for you would be to meet a child whose mother changed her mind about abortion because of the work you do. Has this ever happened to you or anyone else you know?
A. My daughter Vanessa became pregnant during her freshman year at college. The school clinic handed her--at no charge and without her ever seeing a doctor--two abortion pills. She took the first but, because God was with her, not the second. She returned home and seven months later gave birth to a perfect baby girl. Vanessa loved her daughter so much that she placed her for adoption with a childless couple. God's hand in this story is even more incredible because Vanessa's sister, Corrina, met the adoptive mother while picketing in front of Planned Parenthood (in the Quad Cities).
Thanks to God's incredible Grace they are now a family and my daughter will some day stand in judgment before our Lord and say, "Father, I chose life."
PS. Several pictures of this beautiful little girl are proudly displayed on our refrigerator.
Q. Do you foresee a day when the need for such protests no longer exists?
A. If we elect another President who has the courage to appoint pro-life Supreme Court Justices, great jurists like Chief Justice John Roberts and Samuel Alito, Jr., the day will soon dawn when, in the words of pro-life legend Joe Scheidler, "abortion will be as unthinkable as slavery is today." President Bush's greatest legacy will be his appointments to the Supreme Court and their recent decision banning partial-birth abortions. He has laid the groundwork to overturn Roe v Wade. The 2008 elections can continue this march towards life or damn us to another generation of legal murder.
Q. Some people may not physically be able to participate in such protests. Is there something they can do to help take a stand against abortion?
A. First, we need you to join us in prayer. By praying together we stand united as we petition God to spare the lives of the pre-born. If every person who calls themselves a Christian joins together in raising our voices to heaven, we will send the devil to flight. God answers our prayers.
Second, don't be shy in proclaiming that you are pro-life. It may cost you friends--I personally have lost customers after telling them what I do on Saturday mornings--but the satisfaction you will receive from the vast majority--who will admit that they too respect life--is incredible.
Third, if you can afford it, send a check to the Pro Life Action or the Thomas More Pro Life Law Center...these people pinch a penny so hard that Honest Abe sheds a tear. I guarantee they are wise stewards of your donation; they will invest it to save the lives of pre-born Americans. If you can't afford a donation, write a letter to the editor encouraging a culture of life or exposing politicians who think God's Commandment, Thou Shalt Not Kill, doesn't apply to children in the womb.
Last, always be there to help a mother-to-be. Not everyone can open their home, but you must open your heart. Even a kind word can help her make the right choice. Let this woman know you are praying for her. Let her know that her child is important.
Q. What advice would you give to someone who would like to get involved in these protests?
A. An excellent place to start would be by joining the Pro-Life Action League's Face the TRUTH tour next month. We'll be kicking off the tour in Joliet on Saturday, July 7th and follow up with days in downtown Chicago, Rockford, the south side of Chicago, the north suburbs, the western suburbs and conclude in the near north suburbs--including a stop in ultra-liberal Evanston. (please visit http://www.prolifeaction.org or call (773) 777-2900 for exact locations and times) When we planned the tour, we tried to pick locations all around Chicagoland so at least one day should be convenient for just about everyone. It is a fantastic opportunity to meet hundreds of people who share your pro-life beliefs...plus you'll receive a free tee-shirt which proudly proclaims CHOOSE LIFE.
There are also regularly scheduled opportunities including:
On the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 until noon, in front of Planned Parenthood, 14470 LaGrange Road, Orland Park, Illinois.
On the second Saturday of every month from noon until 2:00 P.M. in front of Lutheran General Hospital, on Dempster Street in Park Ridge, Illinois.
For more information, I invite you to go to the Illinois Right to Life's web page, www.illinoisrighttolife.org. Executive Director, Bill Beckman, who leads the Planned Parenthood witness for life protest, does an excellent job keeping Chicagoans updated on these and many other Pro-Life events.
In conclusion, one man standing on a street corner with a sign looks like a nut...one hundred people with signs lining a mile of roads gets everyone's attention. One thousand make the news. Please help us make the news.
Dan Gura also writes a feature for RFFM.org titled, "On The Lighter Side." A recent column titled Etiquette Tips for Pro-aborts is at this link: http://rffm.typepad.com/republicans_for_fair_medi/2007/04/etiquette-tips-.html
Comments