Tiller Killing: Really "Senseless Violence?"

One pro-life commentator called the execution of Dr. George Tiller "a senseless act of violence."
Like abortion, Tiller's murder 'senseless act of violence' (But also see Created's comment about this column.)

Violence it certainly was, but is "senseless" really the right term? Some the "standard responses" (see Sarah Palin's in the column below) strike me as extremely inadequate.

Pro-life activist Randall Terry said of "the good doctor" that "he reaped what he sowed." Terry is not going to pretend that he's sad about Tiller's passing.

I am NOT IN ANY WAY a violent person. I can't say the same about George Tiller, who was responsible for approximately 60,000 abortions, many of them of the "late-term" variety. In reality, "late-term-abortion" is a euphemism for the eradication of viable human beings. Is such a thing "against the law?" If it's not, then "the law" is little more than a protective barrier for evildoers.

On my blog, I've been talking about disrespect for life throughout history . . . resulting in the deaths of hundreds of millions of people (Rwanda, Darfur, the Soviet Union, Fascist Germany, Cambodia, Mao's China, and on and on).

"What is man that Thou art mindful of him?" The problem is that for so many dictators and the like man (i.e., humanity) isn't worth very much. I haven't mentioned the unborn yet, who appear to be victims of the general disregard for life.

Was Dr. Tiller anything but a criminal, an enemy of humanity? If so, reasoning with him or carrying a protest sign, does not seem to be quite enough. Those actions seem more like gestures designed to make the protesters feel good rather than to bring to an end what they believe are murderous actions.

Scott Roder, who allegedly shot George Tiller, apparently believed he was taking one life in order to save many. Was that in fact what Roeder was doing? If so, it casts his actions in a new light.

(As you'll see below in this column and the previous one I'm reprinting some of the many comments I've received on this subject.)

Palin on George Tiller's Death

Gov. Sarah Palin today issued the following statement on the death of Dr. George Tiller, a doctor reportedly involved in 60,000 abortions over his career:

Governor Palin's Statement Sunday on George Tiller

"I feel sorrow for the Tiller family. I respect the sanctity of life, and the tragedy that took place today in Kansas clearly violates respect for life. This murder also damages the positive message of life, for the unborn, and for those living.

Ask yourself, 'What will those who have not yet decided personally where they stand on this issue take away from today's event in Kansas?' Regardless of my strong objection to Dr. Tiller's abortion practices, violence is never an answer in advancing the pro-life message."

Governor Sarah Palin

In the next day or two, I'll have more to say about the death of George Tiller, known in the pro-life community as "Tiller the Baby Killer." Much as I admire Gov. Palin, her statement is somehow less than fully satisfying. There is no evidence that Tiller shared Sarah Palin's respect for life.

We have seen societies, ancient and modern, where there has been less than minimal respect for life. They include places like fascist German, Stalin's Soviet Union, Khmer Rouge Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur. They end up as countries that are reminiscent of Thomas Hobbes's "state of nature, " where life becomes "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish . . . and short."

Comment Below from a Friend in the Pacific Northwest . . .

"My first reaction, honestly, wasn't Tiller was shot?!? . . . but Tiller was in CHURCH?!?

"I think in some efforts to be everything to everyone, many Christians, including those with real faith and good intentions, have forgotten to show courage and 'stand up for what is right, even when they're standing alone.'"

My comment on her comment:

"On Dr. Tiller's passing, I can't exactly say I'm shedding any tears. I believe late-term abortions are murder, destruction of the innocent; I believe the shooting of Tiller was a killing, but not a murder. There was nothing "innocent" about the man. Why exactly would his life be worth more than the ones he destroyed?"

A friend from Hawaii comments on Tiller's death . . .

- I've been thinking about this quite a bit since it happened. I also abhor murder (unless one is defending oneself), yet I can't help but think of the countless babies who will be saved because of this one death. It's similar to the old argument about Hitler: if he had been killed before he gained so much power, think of all the innocent lives that would have been saved. On another note, since I've become rather cynical since O[bama] was elected I always think of the "ripple effects" from such events. In this regard, I'm wondering how this will affect the Sotomayor hearings & confirmation process. Will the committee shy away from asking about her position on abortion? We'll see.....

Yet another friend weighs in on Tiller and his Killer . . .

I uphold the Rule of Law when I support trying to get this sort of doctor LEGALLY, not by killing him myself, or joining an organized modern-day “posse” to do so. (Not that you’re advocating either measure….)

Civilizations can’t exist if people are allowed to kill others when they disagree with the state----unless the State Itself is evil (the Third Reich), in which case other measures are understandable (cum Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

I agree that late-term abortion is warranted medically only VERY, VERY rarely, and otherwise it’s like most abortions: murder. BUT, we don’t VALUE LIFE if we take life ourselves illegally and unethically----which is what this killing was, imo.