Words of Thanks for Dr. Tiller -- Part 7, NY and More

Monday, May 31 marks the one-year anniversary of the murder of Dr. George Tiller in his hometown of Wichita, KS.

May 31 is also Memorial Day.

To honor Dr. Tiller's memory, for the past week, Words of Choice has been running Words of Thanks to Dr. Tiller. They were written by ordinary people and audience members who want to say thanks to Dr. Tiller or who shared what they want other people to know about Dr. Tiller.

They are here and here and here and here and here and here.

Many people have also written on other sites of their thoughts and memories of Dr. Tiller. One person who worked with him closely, Julie Burkhart, wrote a passionate article here. She now heads the TrustWomenPAC. ("Trust Women protects the rights of physicians who provide comprehensive reproductive health care, including later termination of pregnancy.") She wrote: "He understood that women had to be able to welcome, each child into their family unit. It’s called understanding the "heart" of a woman. No one can understand abortion until one understands the heart of a woman."

Dr. Tiller was also well-known for his "Tillerisms" -- sayings and mottos. Here's one: "The great battles of life are fought between our ears & not on any other fields of contact."

Below are bouquets of words collected for Dr. Tiller at our performance in New York with New York Abortion Access Fund, as well as from some other sources. (Thanks to Carl H. Jaynes for making them available electronically.)

~ Dr. Tiller listened to the voices behind the choices.

~ The world needs more people like you, Dr. Tiller. Thanks for your determination and hard work. It will always be remembered. RIP

~ Be prepared do die for what is most important in your life.

~ You were the last hope for so many women -- but first in our hearts and theirs. You staff are continuing you legacy. And we, the friends and the women you served, will never forget your life and work.

~ You are an inspiration for thousands.

~ My Grandfather had a favorite quote, "If you cannot find the time to do something well, when will you find the time to do it over?"

~ He was a saint.

~ Dr. Tiller is an American hero.

~ Dr. Tiller -- THANK YOU. You are a martyr to the cause. I hope your sacrifice and activism makes the difference -- GLOBALLY. Thank you, thank you.

~ Dr. Tiller -- Thank you for bringing freedom of choice to women.

~ Dr. Tiller -- the work goes on.

For Memorial Day, take a minute to reflect and write a couple of words of thanks to Dr. Tiller. The work goes on, and his example and memory will help find the path.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: Dr. George Tiller after a Words of Choice performance in Wichita, KS in October 2008.

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Words of Thanks for Dr. Tiller -- Part 6, NY and More

Dr. George Tiller, who was murdered one year ago on May 31, was an excellent doctor who offered abortion care to women facing some of the most difficult circumstances.

He was also known for his personal kindness and generosity, and his mentoring of others in the field. And his sayings. Here's one Tillerism: "Glory may be fleeting, but mediocrity is forever."

For the past month, at Words of Choice performances, we've asked audience members to share with us their responses to: What would you like to say to Dr. Tiller? What would you like others to know about Dr. Tiller?

Previous installments are here and here and here and here and here.

Below are responses from New York, collected at a performance presented in conjunction with the New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) at a May 2 performance. Also included are a few other responses delivered to us. Special thanks to Carl H. Jaynes for putting them all into electronic format.

~ Dr. Tiller -- He defended Women's Dignity -- A humanitarian, A mensch. You are sorely missed.

~ The courage to continue the fight for women's rights for choice will continue.

~ The road to choice (Free) is not easy -- you know about this ... At the end, the right choice always wins.

~ Trust women, you are right. Your courage inspires us to stand in solidarity.

~ A man who trusts women.

~ A man of amazing wisdom & courage!

~ We won't give up the fight for abortion rights everywhere.

~ Thanks for the important work you've done.

~ Freedom is a Fight. Never suffer in silence.

~ Going to have an abortion when it is NOT legal is a haunting experience, which never goes away. Thank you for saving women from experiencing that.

~ I'd like others to know that Dr. Tiller was: a hero; a feminist; a supporter of women's autonomy.

Posted by Cindy Cooper

Pictured above: Slips of paper from Words of Choice events on which people were invited to express their sentiments about Dr. Tiller

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Words of Thanks for Dr. Tiller -- Part 5, Canada and DC

Writing opens a stream that reaches straight to the heart.

And so, as the one-year anniversary approaches of the May 31 murder of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor in Kansas who provided abortion care for many women and families, Words of Choice asked people to share their thoughts -- bouquets of words for Dr. Tiller. What would you like to say to Dr. Tiller? What would you like other people to know about Dr. Tiller?

Responses one through four are here and here and here and here.

From our Canadian friends, Joyce Arthur and Arlette Alcock, come the words to a song, "Something to Say." Holding a sign that repeats a Dr. Tiller motto -- "Kindness Courtesy Justice Love Respect" -- they sang it at a rally for Dr. Tiller last year. The refrain: We don't talk enough & we've got something to say. And the verse about Dr. Tiller:

A man who's earned the name Saint George
So kind and gentle, but they shot him in church
One of a kind, not afraid to stand tall
He saved so many women, a hero to us all.

And from audiences attending a performance in DC sponsored by the DC Abortion Fund, here are the final message for Dr. Tiller. (Other DCAF messages are here and here. Thanks to Carl H. Jaynes for making them available electronically.)

~ Dr. Tiller you are my hero. Attitude is everything.

~ Your work was indispensable. You are missed.

~ Thank you, for all the lives you've changed for making choice a reality; for trusting women and letting us make our decisions and be the heroes of our lives. We will not dwell in caves of fear. Thank you for the reminder that we are humans taking care of each other and doing what we do with love.

~ I aspire to your courage and bravery.

~ Thank you for helping women who had the courage to ask - and for the many lives you saved by performing abortions.

~ He was a fierce protector of a right no one wants to take advantage of.

~ Just to tell him he is very much missed and he did not die in vain.

~ Neither your life nor your death was meaningless.

~ Dear Dr. Tiller,Thank you for understanding & supporting the women who so desperately needed your services.

~ Dr. Tiller, Thank you for all you did & the lives you touched!

~ Thank you for your work, Dr. Tiller.

~ Dr. Tiller - Thank you for your courage and selflessness in enabling our girls and women to know the true meaning of LIFE -- THEIRS! We love you.

~ Dr. Tiller's "Trust women" has become more important than ever.

~ Thank you for your bravery.

~ Dear Dr. Tiller, thank you for being so brave. Don't worry I'm still going to learn to perform abortions. I just hope they are more afraid of me than I am of them.

~ Two words are not enough but say it all - thank you.

~ Thank you!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: A button from Dr. Tiller, with color inverted.

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Words of Thanks for Dr. Tiller -- Part 4, More from DCAF

What do you want to say to Dr. Tiller? What do you want people to know about Dr. Tiller?

In the past month, Words of Choice began collecting bouquets of words for Dr. Tiller, the Kansas doctor and provider of abortions to women across the country. May 31 marks the one-year anniversary of Dr. Tiller's murder.

Dr. Tiller was also known for his "Tillerisms" -- his homilies, sayings and mottos. Our cast read them to audiences as they wrote out their own words on slips of paper. One example, "It is never the wrong time to do the Next Right Thing."

Our first three installments of messages to Dr. Tiller are here and here and here.

Now -- more responses from the audience attending a performance in DC produced in conjunction with the DC Abortion Fund (others of theirs are also here. Thanks to Carl H. Jaynes for turning the messages into computer-ready nuggets.)


~ Thank you for trusting women to make choices for themselves, their bodies, their lives.

~ Dr. Tiller -- We won't stop fighting. Thank you.

~ Trust Women -- Just read the pin.

~ Thank you for being bold and speaking out for those without a voice.

~ You could have performed abortions in New York City or San Francisco, but you stayed in Kansas. I salute your courage, and wonder "when?"

~ Thanks for the courage to do what you did where you live.

~ Your work was indispensable. You are missed.

~ Your work saved women's lives. And we will make sure that others can carry it forward.

~ Thank you for having the courage of your convictions.

~ Thank you for adhering to your principles & paying the ultimate price for it -- your life. You lived your life with conviction & courage similar to great men like Gandhi.

~ Something I'd like to say to Dr. Tiller: When I think of how unfair it is that you were so violently taken from your family, friends, profession, I am speechless. I'm so sorry for what happened to your family.

~ May God Bless you for your sacrifice.

~ Thank you, thank you, thank you for trusting and believing in and honoring women.

~ I want people to know that Dr. Tiller was a hero in the truest sense of the word -- he helped women who were facing extraordinarily difficult circumstances that most of us will never understand. He trusted women, and honored their choices -- he will never be forgotten.

~ I aspire to your courage and bravery.

~ I want Dr. Tiller to know that his life & his death were not in vain and I will never stop fighting to protect choice & the work of abortion providers.

We are posting comments for or about Dr. Tiller. Send to: wordsofchoice@mindspring.com

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above: DCAF event photo by Elisabeth Sowecke

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Words of Thanks to Dr. Tiller, Part 3 - Dave

As the one-year anniversary of the May 31, 2009 murder of Dr. George Tiller approaches, Words of Choice is sharing people's thoughts about this incredible doctor from Wichita, Kansas.

We asked people to write their thoughts down in performances, and posted them in two previous installments, here and here. We also invited others to share their recollections, and this installment, sent in with the note, "I wrote this the day after George was murdered."

"My Thoughts about George"
by Dave

I met George Tiller and Warren Hern about 10 years ago in Australia. I felt like a kid who had met his baseball idols. I couldn't believe that they spoke to me, much less took a picture with me. I still have it.

Over the years I became friendly with George; Warren too, but today I am talking about George. We both dealt with demons in our pasts and that forged a special bond between us. Of course, George had that ability. He made everyone who met him feel special. The truth of the matter is, he was the special one. I always felt, because of this, that I could tell George anything and he wouldn't judge me. If I had a problem, he would be there to help.

George once said, "if you don't have time for your friends, you won't have any friends."

George took me under his wing (it was rather crowded under there, he helped so many people) and guided me along the path in the National Abortion Federation (NAF) and life.

A little story.... I received a call one night, about 2 a.m. New York time, from an attending (physician) in the hospital. They had a problem and wanted me to come and help them. They suggested an approach to the problem and I said "OK." Then I got to thinking -- always a dangerous thing. I've never done what they asked, but George had.

So I told my wife I was going to call George. "It's 2 o'clock in the morning. You can't do that!" "But it's earlier in Kansas," I reasoned. Besides, George is my friend and he always has time for his friends. Well, maybe I was stretching it a little there. But, I figured George had done this a thousand times, I never had.

So I made the call. Jeanne answered the phone. She and George had obviously been sleeping. I explained my situation to George and my plan. "My god, David, that's the dumbest thing I ever heard! You can't seriously be considering that?!" Oops, it seems George is a little cranky. Well, I did wake him up. Well, as you all know, George didn't say anything like that. It's probably what I would have said had I been on the receiving end of such a call at that hour of the morning. But George, in his slow, gentle, patient, thoughtful and cordial manner, told me "Dave I've done what you are contemplating a total of seven times. I don't want to do it an eighth."

Uh oh! That’s not the answer I was expecting. George went on to tell me that I should not go to my office to pick up my instruments. Rather, go to the hospital and assess the situation, he said. The correct course of action will make itself apparent to you.

OK, George. If you say so. So off I went, knowing that I was not going with plan A.
Sure enough, the attending (doctor) met me and said, "I want you to do plan A." I told him that George Tiller told me not to do that, and I wasn't going to. We would have to figure out a different approach.

We examined the patient, and lo and behold, a different, much safer approach manifested itself and all turned out very well. How the heck did George know that?

I then tried to think of other stupid ideas, so I could pick up some more pearls from George.

I once told George that I had a problem that was really troubling me. A NAF meeting was coming up. George said, we'll have some time to talk there. One morning, we ate breakfast together and I told George my tales of woe. He listened, a rare trait indeed, and didn't interrupt at all, rare trait number two. When I was finished, he gave me sound, empathetic, caring, intelligent advice. This man, who probably had more problems in one day than I had in a year, made me feel, at that moment, that my issues were the most important things in his life. When you spoke with George, he gave you his undivided attention. He then asked me to stay in touch with him to tell him how things turned out.

Which, of course, I did.

Did that make me special? Well, I thought so, but countless thousands around the world have George Tiller stories. Who of us (in the choice community) doesn't have their favorite George gem? Who hasn't been touched by his generosity, intelligence, compassion, expertise, and friendship? His love? He has touched so many of us in so many ways, we call him “Saint George.”

I often felt that this made George a little uncomfortable and we spoke about it on occasion. George was no saint. Though when one does saintly things on a daily basis, it may be hard to convince people of that. George was merely one of us. But, as I've said numerous times publicly and privately, George was merely the best of us. He has set the bar so high, no one will ever reach it. But we can all strive to be better, so that we can approach his standard. Maybe collectively we can achieve what this remarkable man did by himself.

I know one day I will stop crying. It's just not going to be today. I love you George and I miss you.

~Dave

[Send your thoughts about Dr. George Tiller to: wordsofchoice@mindspring.com]

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pic above: Memorial demonstration in Union Square, NYC, 2009, shortly after Dr. Tiller's murder, as people sign a giant thank you spread across the ground.

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Words of Thanks to Dr. Tiller -- Part 2, from DC

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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Words of Thanks to Dr. Tiller - Part One, from VA

The words and deeds of Dr. George Tiller are not forgotten.

May 31, 2010 will mark the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Dr. George Tiller by an anti-abortion terrorist.

For the past month, Words of Choice, has dedicated performances to this hero. We had the distinct honor of performing in Kansas with and for Dr. Tiller in 2005 and 2009 (see photo).

At our recent performances, we also collected comments from audiences about Dr. Tiller, a caring and dedicated physician and provider of abortion services. We passed out slips of colored paper and asked audience members to tell us, in their own words, either "What I want to say to Dr. Tiller," or "What I want others to know about Dr. Tiller."

The words people found were moving, thoughtful and powerful.

And now, to celebrate Dr. Tiller's life and work, in several installations, we are sharing these bouquets of words for Dr. Tiller. (Special appreciation to Carl H. Jaynes for putting the comments into an electronic form.)

From Virginia: (Collected at the Virginia NOW State Conference)

~ Thank you for your service for women and for your courage and bravery.

~ Dr. Tiller, thank you for standing tall for women's rights through everything.

~ Thank you for trusting each and every individual woman.

~ Thank you for stepping up.

~ You made a positive difference!

~ Thank you for sacrificing both your life & the quality of your life so countless women could achieve control and quality in their lives in their timing.

~ Your sacrifice for your country will be remembered.

~ Dr. Tiller should have had adequate police protection.

~ I'm so sorry you had to pay for other's stupidity.

~ Dr. Tiller: We will not stop; The thugs will not win.

~ The mandatory motherhood crowd will eventually get the criminal penalties they deserve.

~ Dr. Tiller, thank you for trusting women and giving us the opportunity to exercise our own choices about our lives. Thank you for allowing us the blessings that can come with an abortion.

~ Choice is my religion. - Dr. Tiller

~ A life lived without giving of oneself is not worth living. Dr. Tiller gave his entire self – his life was lived wholly.

~ Bless you - I hold your heart close in the light of love.


Honor Dr. Tiller this week with this simple exercise -- at a staff meeting or lunch outing. We'll post your thoughts, too: send to wordsofchoice@mindspring.com.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pic above: Dr. George Tiller, second from left, with Words of Choice cast members Carl H. Jaynes, Crista Marie Jackson, Claudia Schneider, October 2009 in Wichita, KS.

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Human Rights, the Body & Collective Wisdom

The arts offer the perfect vehicle to embrace the subject of reproductive freedom, and here's an example.

Words of Choice held a Creativity Workshop at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Silver Spring, Maryland, part of a Human Rights Art Festival. In it, we asked Sunday participants to come up with their own definitions for "reproductive freedom." Words of Choice actors then created a performance piece out of the collected words -- our collective wisdom and collective art, if you will. (Amnesty International, which lent its name to this festival, made a point of informing us that it supports reproductive rights only in exceedingly limited circumstances: more about that later on this blog.)

Letting participants articulate reproductive freedom for themselves is a technique we've used successfully in other workshops, such as this one and this one. Ten words or less, we ask.

Here is what the came to mind for the Pyramid participants:

Keep your hands off my body.

The undeniable right to parent when and if you desire.

Legalization of access to birth control and medical abortions.

Women’s choice to become a mother if/when she’s ready.

Love choice decision support honesty. Knowing what you need.

Reproductive freedom to me means all women can control their bodies.

A woman’s choice on whether or not to have children.

Neither the state nor the federal government nor my husband nor my neighbor can force me to carry a pregnancy that I don’t want to full term.

My body
My body
My body
My body
My body

It is the freedom to be sovereign of one’s body.

Reproductive Freedom is the ability to choose if & when to have children.

Reproductive freedom: ability to control one’s own decisions about children & sex.

A woman’s right to choose as a person/woman

Our actors, Claudia Schneider, Carl H. Jaynes and Crista Marie Jackson, then took those words to a quiet gallery in the arts center and made a spoken word piece of it.

Here's what they created:

My body – Love
If and when I desire.
My body – access
The freedom to be sovereign of
My body
My body – support
Not my husband
Not my neighbor
My body – decision
On my terms
The ability to control my own decisions
About children
About sex
My body – HONESTY – CHOICE
KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY BODY.

A simple exercise: remarkable results.

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured: Actors Claudia Schneider and Carl H. Jaynes at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center workshop in Silver Spring, MD

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Thank You Lauren Zuniga for Spoken Truth

Spoken word artist Lauren Zuniga has released a YouTube video that is rapidly mounting the view charts, as well it should. Zuniga, in a brilliant poem and performance, takes aim at Oklahoma lawmakers who passed an idiotic law requiring women who want abortions to view an ultrasound of the fetus.

Oklahoma is not the first to pass a law attempting to deploy ultrasound as the latest weapon of the anti-choice movement. It's just another effort to put pressure on doctors, clinics and patients. But, you know what -- it's a really dumb one because there is no evidence that ultrasound images deter women who want or need an abortion, as described here and here. But that didn't stop Oklahoma, which became the latest captive of anti-choice mythology and hysteria. Fortunately, the courts thought better and put the Oklahoma law on temporary hold. The battle on the law is in the courts.

But Oklahoman Lauren Zuniga has found the righteous outrage over this insulting law (do pregnant women understand that they are pregnant? please!) and put into words as no one else has. And she performs it brilliantly. Watch the 2.49-minute presentation by Zuniga on YouTube here.

The piece is title TO OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS, and here is a taste of Zuniga's text (aimed directly at those Oklahoma "law"makers:):

...It’s bad enough that I can see his
hand prints on my thighs
but now I can see your probing eyes
scraping across my cervix
tattooing my womb with shame
Why don’t you send me a card every Mother’s Day
to remind me of how wretched I am,
sign it 'Your friends at the State Capitol,
making sure you know we do something all day
with your tax dollars ...

Thank you, Lauren Zuniga, so much for your ideas, your words, and your timely and insightful outrage! Book her now! Pass it on!

Posted by Cindy Cooper
Pictured above, picture from Lauren Zuniga's website; See YouTube here.

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