I was able to hear the New York City Council vote on Bill # 371 in downtown Manhattan this past Wednesday, March 2nd. Unfortunately, the bill passed, forcing EMC Centers to be told what to say to their clients.
Many things were running through my head as I engaged in some of the reasons why the City Council members voted for or against the bill. One that really stuck out to me, was the reason from Jumaane Williams. At first, he started his speech saying he wished they would have been less emotionally involved with this bill. He wished that the bill was more focused on the question is it or is it not unconstitutional. But instead the city council has faltered a little bit. That said, he went on to say that he agreed with the bill. However, as he was walking in the City Council room, he saw someone with a sign that read "Men Regret Lost Fatherhood".
As he was speaking about this sign, he significantly paused in his speech. It caught everyone's attention. At first, people couldn't believe what was happening. I couldn't. Then once I realized what was going on, I got so excited. He was crying out in tears the memory of his son's sonogram. People have speculated that he is post abortive.
As I was experiencing feelings of deep emotion full of shock and compassion on hearing his moving speech, out of nowhere there is another voice coming from another person. This person encountered the situation so abruptly. Up until that point, there was such a cloud of emotion in that room you could have cut the air with a knife.
The person who broke this sweet, gentle, and vulnerable air in the room was none other than the New York City Council's Speaker Christine Quinn. She got up from her seat to walk back to Councilman Williams in an attempt to break the emotional tension by saying loudly, "It's ok" and whatever else she had to say.
In my humble opinion, she really didn't care whether or not he was upset. She just wanted to make sure the rest of the members didn't also get caught up in the emotion of the moment. She didn't walk to his side just to comfort him. I understood exactly what she was doing. Cause honestly, I would have done the same thing if I were in her position.
It's all about the leading and persuading of the audience sometimes with these politicians. They will do whatever they have to do to win. What's scary is, it works. I'm trying to figure out what I can do to stop it.
5 comments:
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I'm not sure if you can stop it. But I believe you can change it.
Councilman Williams' cry -- his tears -- was that not the most powerful moment of the Council meeting? Was that not a sign of God's presence? No one there will easily forget what we witnessed. That includes all the yes votes. And most especially that includes Quinn.
Repro Rights and Chambers of Death
By Dave Dowd
Her stony face, hardened in denial, passed
Without ears to hear or a warm heart to feel
Emotionlessly, hustling, walking fast.
Asserted reproductive rights revealed.
The council member’s significant pause
Hung, suspended. The silence spoke volumes.
Deep emotion swelled, breaking of God’s laws
In tears, to his grief, he now succumbs.
“It’s ok”, cutting the air like a knife,
All the emotion left in an instant.
And a vote was taken, adding to strife.
But an observer recorded a moment, gallant.
We’re begging our hearts of stone be broken.
We’re begging our hearts of stone be broken.
WOW....thank you so much for the reading of this blog. praise God. Dave? wow. you are a very gifted poet my friend
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