Conversations at the Ravalli County Fair

It was an eventful day at the Ravalli County Fair again this year (as eventful as a county fair ever is). My wife, daughter, and I made the usual stops. We visited the animals and got some nice video of the young one meeting goats, sheep, and cows. We made a stop by the petting zoo and witnessed a toddler nearly drown a chicken in a water trough. I guess chickens don't float (perhaps she felt this one needed to learn how to swim)! No worries though, the chicken was saved by the mindful attendant and the child received some animal justice as only a goat can dispense. After being released following the chicken incident, the toddler ran over and slapped the goat in the face, and doe, needing no assistance, turned and head butted the young child in the middle of the chest nearly knocking her off her feet. Again, no worries, all three, chicken, goat, and toddler suffered no physical or psychological trauma and no tears were shed. I just wish I had gotten the entire event on camera.

Next, we met some friends and had a sampling of fair food. We shared steak kabobs, fries, and a reuben. To put a cap on the evening, for dessert, my wife and daughter gorged on a funnel cake until they were both sick to their stomachs (deep fried dough has a way of doing that).

My wife volunteered to man a booth at the fair this year. So, while she worked I checked out the commercial building. The commercial building houses salesmen, local political groups, and activists. I took a quick swing through to see which booths required closer inspection and then made my return trip. My first stop was the Right to Life booth.

Right to Life

For those who don’t know, I have been participating in a conversation over at The Great Abortion Debate and wanted to get a first hand impression of some Pro-Life supporters. The booth was manned by three sweet soft spoken ladies. They were so soft spoken that I was forced to lean far over their table to hear them over the noise of the building. I asked them where the money went that their organization raised. They answered that the majority went to pay for cribs and supplies for new mothers that were financially strapped. “Good deal!” I thought. I asked what percentage of their money went to lobbying efforts and they said that none of the money raised locally went directly for lobbying, but that they did contribute to organizations at the state and federal level that did support efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade. “Not so hot,” I said to myself. I asked if any of the raised funds went towards education and preventive methods such as birth control. They declined to answer that question which I can only assume meant, “No.” By not doing this, the group is not fully addressing the issue of reducing unwanted pregnancies.

Whilst talking, I scanned the brochures and information in their booth. I took exception to the way in which the booth was adorned. Let me explain. I expected the pictures of aborted fetuses, plastic fetuses representing the different stages of development, and the Pro-Life propaganda displayed merely to inspire an emotional reaction, but I think it misrepresented the woman I was speaking to. The booth broadcast a message of single-minded non compromising ideals, none of the qualities I found in these three women during our brief meeting. I found the ladies’ conversation and non confrontational approach very agreeable despite our obvious differences on legalized abortion. I felt if we talked longer we would have discovered more common ground. So, I left with a mixed message,… as well as with a “Life is Precious” balloon, though that might have had something to do with the outspoken little girl standing next to me pointing and crying “ba-oon, ba-oon.”

The Right to Life booth was overall a positive experience despite our differences over abortion rights. I can't say as much about my discussions with the ladies manning the anti-zoning booths, but that conversation will have to wait until tomorrow.