We collected bouquets of words for Dr. George Tiller, an exceptional abortion doctor who was murdered by an anti-abortion terrorist on May 31, 2009.The loss of Dr. Tiller was a painful for his friends, colleagues and loved ones, for women, and for the human rights community. An exceptional doctor who helped women across the country who sought his services in Wichita, KS, Dr. Tiller was also known for his concern for his patients, his generosity toward patients and colleagues -- and also his slogans and mottos. Here's one: "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice."
In the past several weeks, at Words of Choice performances, we passed out colored slips of paper to the audiences and asked them to tell us, in their own words, "What I want to say to Dr. Tiller," or "What I want others to know about Dr. Tiller." Our first installment is on this blog.
This, our second installment, was collected from DCAF -- the DC Abortion Fund on April 23, 2010. There are actually dozens of comments from DCAFers, and we will continue to post them in the next days, along with others we've been sent or have collected. (Special thanks to Carl H. Jaynes for transferring these to an electronic format.)
~ Thank you for making it so women did not have to be afraid.
~ He wouldn’t have done them, if the women didn’t want them. Thank you for being an agent of choice!
~ Contrary to some recent news articles, young women in this country are engaged in the reproductive justice movement, conscious of the importance of being able to access a safe & legal abortion, and deeply grateful for your brave service.
~ Thank you for trusting women, and for enabling them to trust themselves.
~ Thank you for your courage in supporting women’s choice & lives.
~ Thank you, Dr. Tiller, for always trusting women & providing them with high-quality, compassionate care - you are deeply missed, but your memory continues to inspire every day.
~ Dr. Tiller sent his supporters a flag that had flown over his clinic. I was honored and flattered when the organization I worked for received one of these flags in 2002.
~ A note to Dr. Tiller’s supporters: The more you sweat in times of peace, the less you bleed in times of war. Let’s take advantage of this Administration while we can!!
~ I got to shake Dr. Tiller’s hand in March 2008!
~ A memorial service for Dr. Tiller last summer got me to church for the first time in years.
~ You inspired me to back women 100% and without reservation.
~ I want Dr. Tiller to know that I thank him endlessly for his endless trust in women.
~ There wasn’t just bravery in his actions, there was bravery in his compassion for women.
~ I am so thankful that Dr. Tiller supported women the way they should be supported.
~ I would like Dr. Tiller and his family to know: My children will know your name and of your work.
~ Dr. Tiller – Your work will go on.
~ We will never stop.
~ You will never be forgotten. Thank you.
Do you have something of your own to add? We'll post comments. Email here: wordsofchoice@mindspring.com
Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pic above: A snapshot of a word bouquet: thoughts for Dr. Tiller.
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