This past Sunday, May 31st, abortion doctor George TIller was shot on the steps of his Lutheran church by a staunch pro-life activist in Wichita. Though it is inconceivable to me to take another persons life for a cause (especially one called “pro-life”), I wanted to see what the rest of the staff felt about the issue of cause-related violence. Hence today’s question:

What is the farthest you would go for a cause you believe in? Would you kill or commit another crime if you believed strongly enough in something?

Check out our answers below, and feel free to leave your own in the comments box

1. Zack, Co-founder and primary contributor:

Absolutely not. I could never kill for a cause. It’s so backwards to think that a cold-blooded murder could bring about positive change. From a more pragmatic point of view, its a great way to show the rest of the country that you are not credible in your beliefs. It’s scary to think that there are people out there that champion Tillers’ killer, but for everyone else I hope this can shift the tide to the Kansas pro-choicers. 

2. Michael, Co-founder and primary contributor:

I would put my own body in harm’s way for a cause I believed in, but I don’t think I’d be able to risk someone else’s well-being.  I’ve always considered myself a pacifist.  

3. Rocky, Music Editor:

I’ve found over the years that homicide’s not really my style. (Although if it was, I’m not sure I’d go telling on myself all over the interwebs…) I’m not, however, above a little b&e or a little espionage to get what I want. Let’s keep it strictly white collar, unless of course there’s a threat of grave bodily harm.

4. Corey, Managing Editor and Staff Contributor:

I wouldn’t because strategically it usually just builds sympathy for the other side, who can then victimize themselves.  I also tend to believe that being “open-minded” means accepting that there are people with other opinions and that the battle isn’t against their freedom to accept it but with the general public – to convince them not to follow that person.

That being said, I would do it in some cases but only to save lives; I would have taken down Hitler, for example.  As crazy as it seems to most of us at this site, that’s what this man thought he was doing (or at least that will surely be his defense.)

5. Chris, Theatre Editor:

I’ve never quite understood the complete breakdown in logic that allows someone to kill someone else in order to prove that they think that killing is wrong.  No, not only would I not consider it, I can’t conceive of ever doing something so extreme.  Like Hans said, some trespassing (without damage to property) or perhaps some light espionage, sure.  But I think violent criminals that act in the name of some cause do far more damage to that cause than good. 

6. Ed, Staff Contributor:

I agree with Corey & Wendy. People on the extreme right believe late term abortions specifically kill children that could live outside the womb and consider abortion a “holocaust,” citing 60,000 plus “babies murdered” each year. An analogous comparison would require asking, “if science could predict homosexuality in the womb, and, if those pregnancies were being terminated intentionally and with malice (not saying that about women who currently choose to have an abortion), how far would you go to stop a campaign to destroy us?”  I would kill to stop what we would all consider genocide, and I would take it one step further. If a malevolent power took control of the US and tried to eliminate our liberties, I would kill to protect our freedoms.

7. Wendy, Tampa Editor: 

The only way I would kill for a cause is if the other side’s tactics were so horrendous they made killing necessary. Think The Holocaust or The Rape of Nanking. Even in the face of atrocity, I like to believe I would reserve killing as a last resort.

However, my willingness to put myself at risk of bodily harm is much greater if I believe in a cause. Standing up for what you believe can be dangerous, and this has been the case throughout history and cultures. I would rather die as a woman who stood up for intellectual and cultural freedom than living a quiet, hidden life because the things I stand for aren’t accepted.

Editorial Staff:

8. Hans B., Editorial Assistant:

I don’t think I could be driven to kill in any situation unless my life or the life of someone I loved were in imminent danger and there were no other option. Petty crimes for a cause, maybe – like trespassing – but I think that reducing yourself to violent crime is a big turnoff for people in the middle ground, and winning the support of the fence-sitters can be rather important when it comes to advancing a cause. TNG