An anti-abortion protester stands at the side of a road in Washington, DC, demonstration on inauguration day, registering his opposition to Barack Obama's stance on abortion. - Photo by Andrew Wildes
It must have been a tremendous shock to everyone, for it certainly was not expected. Early inauguration morning, while hundreds of thousands of people were trying earnestly to press pass each other in one direction and for one-purpose, anti-abortion protesters stood to the side of the road in demonstration of their opposition to President Obama's abortion policy.
Whatever one's position on abortion might be, the protesters sent a clear message that Obama though immensely popular, does not have unequivocal, unflagging and unanimous support in every quarter.
Is this tolerance?
The demonstrators were avoided like a plague, probably because they were all 'white men' at the inauguration at the first black president.
"Obama is actually for no restrictions on abortion. He says that he's pro-life and wants to be tolerant and stuff. Well, this is Obama's idea of tolerating little kids: they dissect and dismember them," 56-year-old Randy Craw-ford shared. He and his associate had travelled from over 900 miles from Iowa just to protest.
President Obama has already made his position very clear. During his campaign, he declared his resolve to ensure that 'abortion rights' for women are upheld and that efforts to have it legalised are effectively blocked.
"There will always be people, many of goodwill, who will not share my view on the issue of choice. On this fundamental issue, I will not yield," Obama had said during his campaign.
It was in that speech that Obama had promised the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in 2008 that the first thing he would do as president is to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which would effec-tively eliminate all restrictions on abortion throughout the United States.
On these issues of religion and morality, there is usually much division and bitterness, and they are issues that test presidents.
andrew.wildes@gleaner.co