Anti-abortion Billboards in Minnesota

[Wheezebucket]

Where do these religious anti-abortion people get all this money for billboards? How much does the average billboard cost in the midwest? It can't be that cheap. Driving down 35w alone I see no less than 7 anti-abortion billboards, and I lose count once I hit the cities. They're *everywhere*. And how effective is 'WHAT?! I COULD FEEL PAIN BEFORE I WAS BORN!' really? I wonder how many people have seen that and thought 'you know what? That ugly screaming baby billboard is right, abortion is lame'.

I hate billboards.

[Bigt]

A few of them in my area also. I haven't traveled 35W in a while but noting traffic conditions on this road, how could anyone pay any attention to any billboard and not get whacked?

[ChristineR]

I'd guess that the local billboard owner is a rabid anti-abortionist and puts these on boards that would otherwise say THIS SPACE FOR RENT.

[strathmeyer]

I recently drove from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and back and was amazed how the landscape changed in Kansas and Missouri. I had never seen an anti-abortion billboard myself, and was amazed that they were more nonsensical that the bumper stickers. Because of them I would never live in Kansas or Missouri. Already wouldn't raise children in Kansas. It's scary to think that there are entire sections of the country that actively discourage sane, normal people from living there. Guess I should never go near Clearwater.

[Wheezebucket]

I'd guess that the local billboard owner is a rabid anti-abortionist and puts these on boards that would otherwise say THIS SPACE FOR RENT.

This guy would have to own damn near every billboard in Minnesota for that to be the case - they're spread out quite a bit, all over the state. Even going from the cities down to Mankato (ESPECIALLY when you hit St. Peter, but those make sense. There's also the big 'JESUS' billboard).

[Achán hiNidráne]

Clear Channel, who known for being in bed with right-wing interests, owns a large chunk of the the bill boards in Wisconsin. Maybe they cut the Jesus-freaks a discount?

[Wheezebucket]

Well I did a little googling and I found this site - http://www.prolifeacrossamerica.org/

Since 1989 PROLIFE Across AMERICA's Media Mission is to reach out through
Billboard, TV, radio and newspaper ads to people who may not be reached in
any other way. Our ads create an "Atmosphere of Life" in a "culture of death."

The site answers most of my questions -

Our billboards have appeared in 36 states and three small areas of Ontario, Canada as well. What began initially in 1989, as a Minnesota organization is expanding and growing – thanks to the enthusiasm and support of people across the country.

and -

The average cost of a billboard is $350 to $3000 per month – depending upon the size of the billboard and the number of people who will see the ad on a frequent basis (artwork and production costs not included).

Apparently they pay for them almost entirely through donations. You can also request an 8-minute CD "which gives a short pictorial view and summary of our pro-life Media Mission". I'm gonna see if I can get them to send one to me.

[Wheezebucket]

PROLIFE Across AMERICA's new 2007 Spring Billboard Campaign has three distinct themes:

"Embryos are just tiny babies - Heartbeat 18 days from conception." (featuring Babies Patrick and Gianna).

"Before I was even born my heart was beating! Heartbeat 18 days from conception." (Featuring Baby Jakob).

"Before I was even born I could smile! Heartbeat 18 days from conception." (Featuring Baby Josh).

[Seismosaurus]

"Before I was even born I could smile! Heartbeat 18 days from conception." (Featuring Baby Josh).

So... if a "heartbeat 18 days from conception" is important, does that mean that abortion is okay before 18 days in these people's minds?

[strathmeyer]

So... if a "heartbeat 18 days from conception" is important, does that mean that abortion is okay before 18 days in these people's minds?

Yeah, this was the one I kept seeing that particularly bothered me. It's normal for a child to not learn to smile until 3 months of age. The normal age at which the heartbeat forms in the fetus is 6.5 to 7 weeks. At 18 days, the child is still an embryo.

If these people are better than us, why can't they get their point across without lying?

[Loss Leader]

Guess I should never go near Clearwater.

For the record Clearwater, Florida is no picnic either.

[skeptifem]

the ones i have seen were ghetto home made ones on peoples personal farms near the highway. "abortion stops a beating <3" was the one i always remember. these are the same yeehaws who were all for the war and killing people (and children! OMG!) they never met who already have lives. hypocrites.

[JoeTheJuggler]

So... if a "heartbeat 18 days from conception" is important, does that mean that abortion is okay before 18 days in these people's minds?

Does it even mean that the real moral question concerns stopping a beating heart? If so, the slaughter of every chicken, cow and pig for meat involves stopping a beating heart.

Oh, they mean stops a beating HUMAN heart--well, that's just begging the question, isn't it?

Even so, open heart surgery often involves stopping a beating human heart.

[Loss Leader]

Even so, open heart surgery often involves stopping a beating human heart.


Less and less these days. My pulmonary valve was replaced without even bypassing the heart, let alone stopping it.

[ChristineR]

You could get 18 days if you counted from implantation, as opposed to conception or last menstrual period. The sources I looked at that gave six weeks were using last menstrual period, which is typically two weeks before conception and 2.5 weeks before implantation.

[skeptifem]

open heart surgery often involves stopping a beating human heart.


hahaha. i would love to see that on a billboard next to the abortion one. i would lol.

[strathmeyer]

You could get 18 days if you counted from implantation, as opposed to conception or last menstrual period. The sources I looked at that gave six weeks were using last menstrual period, which is typically two weeks before conception and 2.5 weeks before implantation.

Never thought of that, thanks! Everyone I've ever spoken to about child development uses the same concept of age.

And yes, Loss Leader, that was the Clearwater I was speaking of. It's a big country, but I get around.

[Bigt]

In a perverse way, I rather like the idea of these billboards. I seriously doubt they've convinced anyone to change their position, but they do waste money that might be put to other more annoying methods.

[Bellatrix]

It is an inevitiblity that when driving in this country you will be preached at and told how to think woth some of the worst kinds of lies and tricks. The Billboards are simply another one of the rightwing's scare tactics. You tell a young expectant mother that her unborn child already has a heartbeat, can feel pain (which would be a miricle concidering when the nrevous system is formed) and can smile or giggle as soon as she concevies, then she will be frightened and may not a make a rational choice. I'm an advocate for adoption, but honestly scaring women from making the choice that is right for them and their families is just wrong.

[Glen.Nogami]

Is there indeed enough of an embryo at T+18 Days to smile? More, has such fetal glee been documented?

[Sceptic Realist]

Is there indeed enough of an embryo at T+18 Days to smile? More, has such fetal glee been documented?

Seeing as how the group of cells isn't even an embryo until the second month, I doubt it. It doesn't even form organs until the beginning of the second month. It's officially considered a Fetus after nine or ten weeks. Fetal glee? No. Embryonic Glee, perhaps....xD

[ChristineR]

Fetuses spend a lot of their time learning how to swallow and spit and (rhymes with spit), and when this is seen on ultrasound parents often interpret it as the fetus trying to communicate with them. I'm not sure exactly when this happens, but it's apparently around 12 weeks, long after most abortions are done for "lifestyle" reasons. Abortions this late usually accompany some sort of serious medical issue, and are exactly the sort of abortion that even many pro-lifers would allow exceptions for.

[Ove]

Does it even mean that the real moral question concerns stopping a beating heart? If so, the slaughter of every chicken, cow and pig for meat involves stopping a beating heart.

Oh, they mean stops a beating HUMAN heart--well, that's just begging the question, isn't it?

Even so, open heart surgery often involves stopping a beating human heart.

Off course if we are talking about a CRIMINAL there's no moral questions to stopping his hart, -permanently..

[Wheezebucket]

Well on my drive down 35dubs this morning I noticed they had the new boards for this season up and running. They're even less pleasing to the eye when blown up 100x.

[ponderingturtle]

hahaha. i would love to see that on a billboard next to the abortion one. i would lol.

I have always wanted to put up a big sign after a sign that said "Jesus is the Answer" that said "What was the Question?"

Because 2+2=Jesus just does not make much sense

[Glen.Nogami]

Fetuses spend a lot of their time learning how to swallow and spit and (rhymes with spit), and when this is seen on ultrasound parents often interpret it as the fetus trying to communicate with them. I'm not sure exactly when this happens, but it's apparently around 12 weeks, long after most abortions are done for "lifestyle" reasons. Abortions this late usually accompany some sort of serious medical issue, and are exactly the sort of abortion that even many pro-lifers would allow exceptions for.

Ok, so, 12 weeks is...

84 days.

That's, uh, a lot more than 18, huh.

[JoeTheJuggler]

These billboards (along with the "Pornography Kills" one I see near an adult bookstore on I-44 in Missouri) always make me feel like I'm living in a Flannery O'Conner short story.