THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 6, 1995 TAG: 9501060011
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Shannon was murdered on Dec. 30, 1994. The gunshots rang all the way down the East Coast, Boston to Norfolk, louder than anything my ears have ever heard. Her death was a consequence of the violent conflict that has plagued this nation for quite some time: pro-life, pro-choice.
Although there are opinions on the issue, I am not writing to discuss mine. I am not writing to discuss who is right or who is wrong on the abortion issue.
I am not writing to have someone rage at me because I am mourning the loss of a good friend who had worked in a Planned Parenthood office.
However, I am writing to express my absolute disgust with the comments and attitudes of the director of Pro-Life Virginia, the Rev. Donald Spitz, who has thanked John Salvi ``for what he did.'' What John Salvi allegedly did was commit murder.
I am talking about one wonderful person - no one else. Parents frequently say, ``I am not here to discuss what your friends do; I am here to discuss what you do.'' I am here to say the murder of Shannon Lowney was wrong. The person who killed Shannon Lowney is not a hero.
How can the reverend show appreciation for the murder of any human being when he claims to be fighting a war against murder of human beings? Please tell me how anyone can consider himself a reverend, a man of the church, and at the same time give thanks for the act of murder.
It truly sickens me to hear the praise from Mr. Spitz. My nausea comes from neither a pro-life nor a pro-choice opinion. It comes from disgust and horror at the murder of a friend.
BETHANN TATEROSIAN
Norfolk, Jan. 4, 1995 by CNB