I was appalled and embarrassed at my school as the sight of a makeshift graveyard caught my attention. This crude representation was apparently planted in the ground to alert me to the number of fetuses that were murdered each day in Canada.

I am confused by the intention behind this display. Was it meant to make the majority “pro-life” population of Trinity Western University more aware of an issue they generally do not contribute to? Was it meant to make the women who have been faced with the option and who made the “right choice” pat themselves on the back? Was it meant to make the women who have made the choice to abort feel humiliated and judged? Whatever the intention may be, I am angered by this seemingly calculated attempt to instill shame. Where is the compassion that Christians have been charged to extend?

Furthermore, the image of the white cross, the symbol of our Saviour, being exploited to instill this very shame in the name of love is ignorant and offensive. I feel sick because Christians already bear the reputation of being judgmental and narrow-minded without further reminders. Instead of setting up a pointless, garish lawn-display, why not use that same time to start up a support group for young mothers on campus?

I don’t know where I stand on the issue of abortion myself and I wholeheartedly applaud the Students 4 Life group for believing firmly in one side of the argument. However, I would encourage them to consider that people from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences will inevitably walk past this demonstration and feel a variety of reactions. I would further encourage these advocates to take another look at the quote by G.K. Chesterton they so readily employ to back their cause: “To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it.”

- Kaylee Harwood