Pro-Choice Fizzle :-( Let's get on with our lives.

The turn out by Pro-Choice activists at parliament today was disappointing, not to mention embarrassing when you compare it to the Pro-Life turn out. Or perhaps I'm just taking The Age pro-life editorial slant too seriously and should wait for some other media coverage. (What, you hadn't noticed The Age's Pro-Life leanings? Jeepers, don't get me started...)

The Australian Law Reform Commission felt that the vocal Pro-Life component represented a mere 10% of the population. Yet the turn-out at the parliament steps would give the impression that the reverse is the case. What's our problem? Is it apathy? Are we still secretly ashamed? Are we simply less organised? Or are we, as I have long contended, simply getting on with our lives?

Why did I do laundry instead of going along, kids and all? Ok, maybe there's the crippling anxiety that makes doing new things on my own nigh impossible, and I used up all my reserves to fight that when I went to Monash on Thursday to meet a scary smart philosopher dude about a PhD... But I feel like I should have been there today. I'm certainly vocal enough from my lap-top. Why did I not put my money where my mouth is and paint myself a sign? (My favourites are: "If you can't trust me with a choice, how can you trust me with a child?" and "Never Again" with a picture of a coat hanger.) I don't really know why I didn't go. I strongly suspect it's because this is one issue in which I am socially isolated. Most of my friends are sensible scientists who just don't get worked up about this sort of thing. (They are busy getting on with their lives.) Friends who have had abortions feel as though they could get one when they needed one so don't see any point in changing something in name only. (They are busy getting on with their lives.) And I strongly suspect that people I haven't spoken to about it find the whole matter distasteful. They'd rather not think about it, are happy to let someone else deal with it, and... guess what? They are busy getting on with their lives.

I am beginning to think a paltry turn out by the Pro-Choice people is worse than no turn out at all. At least if there were no turn out it could have been construed as our decision not to engage with the Pro-Lifers. It would have been far more dignified than the "yelling" reported in the article. Yelling does nothing but attract the press, and often in the wrong way. What matters is contacting the people who will vote in parliament. Let's remain in the civilised majority. Let's write our letters clearly stating our position. Let's make our voice heard in a quiet and dignified manner. Then let's get on with our lives.