As I’ve been hearing about the doctor who was recently murdered for performing later term abortions, I realized for hundredth time how cleverly the self-proclaimed “Pro-Life” people have outwitted the Pro-Choice people when it comes to using language to advance their cause.
Dr. Tiller was referred to over and over again on the news as an “abortion doctor.” He wasn’t. He was a gynecologist, one of whose services (a relatively minor one) was to perform abortions. And the people who mourned his death were labeled (for the hundredth time) “pro-abortion.” An amazingly stupid and inaccurate designation, even by the standards of the American media, because these people never advocate abortion, they simply advocate the right to chose to have one if that is what a pregnant woman desires.
The other side of the abortion issue is still always referred to as the “pro-life” side, a cunning little phrase that in and of itself suggests that people who oppose their views are anti-life. Which if actually true, would mean that they probably wouldn’t exist, having killed themselves by virtue of being pro-death.
Personally, I think debates about abortion, like all debates, should be conducted using a level language playing field. But since pro-lifers have chosen to play dirty linguistic pool, let me offer the following terminology that might benefit pro-choice people. Since you are pro-choice, start referring to those who oppose you as “no-choicers.” This term has the advantage of being absolutely correct. For while pro choicers don’t advocate what choice a pregnant woman and her doctor should make, pro-lifers only advocate one choice. Their own.
Pro-choice or no-choice. The right terms to use in order to make one’s own choice.