Reality Ignored
Charlotte Ostermann
A few years ago the J-W ran a feature article about the
successful use of graphic pictures of animals used in cosmetic testing. Those who oppose such testing commented that
these awful, offensive pictures had brought the reality of this use of animals
to people’s attention in a way rhetoric alone had not done. They realized that not everyone would
appreciate these horrific images, but that many eyes would be opened by
displaying them in our, thankfully still free, country.
I applaud the student who said of the mangled-baby pictures
displayed at KU, that this is reality, whatever your
opinions of abortion. These images are
very difficult to look at and tug at our deepest emotions, but are pictures of
the reality we currently ignore in this country. All the more reason why
they should be shown on campus.
College students are, historically, concerned with seeing what the
establishment would hide from view, and willing to say, “The emperor has no
clothes!”
I had a powerful revulsion reaction to the displays at Dachau Concentration Camp of pictures and possessions of
Holocaust victims, but I decided the only thing I could do was to bear the
truth and be a witness to it in honor of those whose lives were crushed and
broken. I beg anyone who goes near the
genocide display to stop and look carefully in honor of all those in our cruel
world who have died unremarked and undefended.