I hate going to the dentist. Especially to have major work done. Nevertheless, this morning I went in to get a dental bridge. Over 2 hours in the dentist chair with drills and needles and my mouth blocked open. Yuck.
As I was leaving I noticed the protesters on the sidewalk. My dentist's office is in the same complex as the Planned Parenthood office, and they often are out there with their abominable signs. I usually go to the dentist at the end of the work day, so they are gone by the time I get there. But today I went in the morning. I looked at them for a few seconds, then marched over to the Planned Parenthood office. There were four or five people in the waiting room, a young woman, a mother with a child and a couple of slightly older women. I went to the window and told the clerk that I wanted to donate. She beamed and thanked me for my support. Then I got into my car and drove by the protesters. There were two old men who looked tired and bored. It is a pretty quiet area, not a lot of people to harangue. The sidewalk is too far from the parking lot to really make the PP patrons feel afraid. I wondered if their hearts were really in it, or if they were protesting as a sort of tithing to their church. I stopped briefly and told them that, whenever protesters were bothering Planned Parenthood when I was in the area, that PP would get a check, and that I had just made a generous donation on their behalf. One made a comment about wasting my money. I replied that the protesters being there benefitted Planned Parenthood, and drove away.
Not dramatic. No confrontation. I just took an action that overrode theirs. It makes me feel good, and hopefully makes them discouraged. And my mouth feels better too.