A right to Life Group tried to force balloons into my children's hands.

[Verve]

Yesterday, at the local county fair, the Right to Life group's expo booth was handing out balloons with a picture of a fetus in a stomach, on them. I told my 9 year old I didn't like that group and not to take a balloon from them. I then got caught up in a conversation with a friend and didn't see my 2 year old and 9 year old having a mild confrontation with them.

My 9 year old said that they enticed my 2 year old over for a balloon and my 9 year old told them "My mom doesn't want us to have your balloons." He said the lady tried to grab his arm while saying "Oh come on, just give the child a balloon!" At that moment, I looked over, grabbed my 2 year old and told my child we'll get a balloon at the next booth. I didn't make eye contact with the lady because I didn't want to make a scene. But now I'm fuming after hearing they were talking to my son.

Using children as a marketing tactic for a heated political topic is disgusting! I'm just furious!

[johnnie]

1. Those two year olds

If ya don't watch them, they can get away from you pretty quick.

[mattclearing]

2. Have you seen the Corporation?

They are just doing what toy companies have been doing for decades.

[jonnyblitz]

3. oh i wish i had your restraint. I would have went OFF!!

I DESPISE those people so much I wouldn't be able to hold it in. I need to work on that i suppose. Anti-choice activists are a MAJOR pet peeve of mine. Women should have control of their bodies.period.

[patrice]

4. There are many "teachers" who went into that profession for

for the same reason. I taught high school for 10 years, I have met them and been recruited by them.

Tax the churches.

[Verve]

10. Huh? Do you mean they recruit teachers to hand out this crap? n/t

[TheFarseer]

15. alot of Catholic school teachers

really believe strongly in that crap and would do it no matter what they did for a living.

[patrice]

31. Not limited to Catholics.

There are a lot of people who regard the teaching profession as a great opportunity to "save"/convince young people to think a certain way and to follow various ministers or youth-group leaders, especially in the primary grades.

[wtmusic]

5. Typical fundie tactic

Brainwash early. Next time, bring a needle.

[demnan]

6. Your 9 year old seems like a nice kid

the 2 year old is just young. I bet your kids are better behaved than the lady's in booth.

[mark11727]

7. Say what...?!?!

"...the lady tried to grab his arm..."

You showed remarkable restraint, indeed.

If this were MY kids, she would pulled back a stump, guaranteed.

[Verve]

9. He didn't tell me about the conversation and grabbing arm incident

until we were in the car on the way home. If I had seen it or known about it sooner, I don't think I would have been so composed. I was using restraint as it was trying to pry a two year old away from a balloon the lady was trying to give her.

[whatever4]

14. Oh, oic, that's a little different. So they were too covert to confront..

Not a lot you could have done about it at the time, was there. Nope. They're too cowardly to do this stuff in front of the parents. Figures.

man, can't say what I'd want to say to that woman that grabbed his arm. God.

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. I would have said give me TWO!

Then lit up a cigarette and use it to pop them both right in front of them! ...and asked for two more to do it all over again!

[whatever4]

12. that works :) nm

[tanyev]

19. Heck, ask for a case!

[trogdor]

34. Kinda did this with some U.S. Tobacco people...

...they were giving away cans of moist snuff. I posed as someone who was interested in trying the stuff, and they gave me about 10 cans of various varieties. Had the wife do the same thing. Every little bit helps.

[Verve]

35. LOL! Great tactic! n/t

[whatever4]

11. Speak up, be rude, we need to be unafraid

to call it for what it is. A lot of these folks are faking their confidence, these conservative snakes trying to use children. Now is the time to be loud, spread the word. Make a scene. Speak loudly.

Your fury should not remain contained within you. It should be directed at the source, as much as possible. Don't let stuff like this go without a pointed word, if not strong condemnation.

Even if it's just something like "I don't agree with you, I believe your tactics are reprehensible and I think people such as YOU are what is ruining our nation." They usually fade back a bit, because these types...it's our one saving grace in all this...these types are fat, dumb and happy in their majority. They are SO used to everyone passively accepting their conservative, Christian, ban abortion and birth control when you can agenda...it fairly well floors them when someone speaks out strongly. Completely invalidating their beliefs, not even paying it lip service. Loudly enough for anyone close by to hear. Many just don't know what to say in the face of blatant, strong disapproval. They just walk away.

WE should not just walk away. Even with our kids nearby. In some ways, it's pretty important that our kids hear our responses to this...this perverted world agenda being pushed and these jerks trying to create it. They need to see us face this evil. They need to understand what is going on, and they need to hear our words about it. They may be facing it themselves, one day. And if they are, consider, it will most certainly be worse than where we're facing now. We still have the memories and the stories and the history to tell us about freedom, free speech and civil rights, but if the neocons have their way, those things will be memories. Memories our kids won't have.

HAVE to speak out. Loudly. Everywhere. It may be the only memory of freedom they have.

[Verve]

17. Hindsight is 20/20!

I do believe I should have said something in retrospect. I like the idea about popping them in front of the booth.

However, I did email the county fair office to complain about this tactic! It's the least I can do.

[whatever4]

23. That's so true

And that's why I wanted to make a point of saying we should be rude. Or, maybe just ruder than we might ordinarily be to a stranger. Be forewarned and forearmed. It's hard to face those situations, but easier if you already know how you're going to act. Take no prisoners, give no ground, these people are WRONG. We already know they're snakes and liars, so, expect them to act that way, before they do, and be ready for it. No surprises here. They shock us with their tactics and their attitude, but do very poorly when attitude and shock is directed back at them. I just wanted to point it out.

I think a lot of us are more mellow than "they" typically tend to be. And furthermore, I believe they think that too. Blow THEIR expectations out of the water, while their own "shock and awe" tactics meet mild disregard, and no surprise at all. Oh...you're a neocon. Yeah, I know you think I'm a godless heathen who doesn't belong in America. yeah. Old news. yawn.

And I think you're all a bunch of back-stabbing illiterate bastards that deserve no respect at all and don't even TALK to me about my country and freedom. Don't even SAY patriotic Americans attack other Americans for their beliefs. You've made a MOCKERY of religious freedoms. Now go the fuck away.

That's great that you wrote to them about it!! Kudos! :)

[lildreamer316]

13. Don't anyone EVER try to touch my child!!

I'm glad you didn't see them do that too; or I'm sure we would be bailing your ass outta jail. Now I'm all upset FOR you. Arg.

[Verve]

22. LOL! You're probably right!

[SoCalDem]

16. light up a cigarette and casually "oops" their balloons

or a safety pin :)

[Norquist Nemesis]

18. See post #8

:evilgrin:

[converted_democrat]

20. Had the same thing happen to our three y/o except it was face painting.

They walked up to us in the midway and asked if she would like to get her face painted for free, we walked over to the tent and they drew up the flanks and would not let us out until they "converted" us. The outside of the tent was just like every other tent, you would not have known that it was full of pro-lifers. My hubby was pissed and almost knocked over their literature table when one of them grabbed him on the elbow. Not a good scene.

[Verve]

24. Not Good!

I was at least able to get my toddler a balloon from another booth. Finding another face painting tent would be pretty far fetched in your situation.

It's such an ugly tactic! They know that our children will not understand if we do not let them take the damn balloon or face painting. They're banking on us caving in. And if we don't, they'll witness yet another tantrum from a child whose parent's beliefs are different from there own. This will then justify their belief system even more because only bad people who don't give into the needs of their own children are pro choice(it's only a balloon or face painting). It's a no win situation for us, and they know it!

[converted_democrat]

26. I took out a tube of lipstick and drew a heart on her cheek.

All was fine after that, as far as she was concerned. My hubby was fuming for a couple of days though.

[Verve]

29. What a quick thinking mom you are! n/t

[jonnyblitz]

33. unbelievable!! that is cool you thought fast and saved the day

though! :thumbsup:

[elehhhhna]

21. Balloons are a major choking hazard for toddlers. (top 5)

How thoughtless.

[Verve]

25. Darn, I should have put that fact in my email to the county fair! n/t

[SalmonChantedEvening]

27. Hmmm

So, the fundies, in order to get their message to your children, would have them violate one of the 10 Commandments. Or is there an exemption clause under "Honor Thy Father and thy Mother" :shrug:

Tagline. Tagline, Tagline, Tagline.

[liberalitch]

28. Brilliant!!! I want to pass out balloons showing flag covered caskets....

That'll make MY point!

[Verve]

32. LOL! A friend of mine thought of passing out dead soldier balloons.

Yet, we DEMs are too nice! That's why these freaks can get away with all the crap they pull!

[DanCa]

30. Of all the frackin nerve

Is there anything that can be done? I mean the freedom to practice religion doesn't mean given a creep the right to push that religion down your throat. Hmmm unless I can go around and take start breaking the jaw bones of some of theses asses.