When Words Are Iffy

Why let facts get in the way of some good propaganda?

Here’s what progressives need to do: Never use the Cells Are People metaphor, even in arguing against conservative policy. Never use the term baby or unborn child to refer to a blastocyst, embryo, or fetus.

Stop using the term abortion. It has misleading properties. When we speak of “aborting a mission,” the mission was intentional and planned, and the original idea was to bring it to an end state. What happens with an unwelcome pregnancy is nothing like this. The pregnancy was not intentional, not planned, and there was never any intention of bringing it to an end state. Rather, what is desired is development prevention, keeping any development from happening. That development can be prevented at many stages, from unfertilized cells (via morning-after pills), to blastocyst to embryo, from embryo to fetus, from fetus to a non-fully-formed-human, to an unviable human (one that can’t live outside the womb). The earlier the development prevention, the better for the woman.

Never use the expression partial birth abortion. It’s a conservative political tool, not a medical reality. Here’s the Texas GOP in its 2012 platform: “We oppose partial birth abortion.” The term was invented by a hired, conservative language professional. The image is grisly, and that was the point. But no such thing exists. The medical condition it is supposed to represent is one where a potential child cannot survive, either because it has no brain, or because of some other equally awful condition. And usually, the mother’s life is at risk. This has nothing to do with either giving birth or with more common reasons for preventing development.

Whenever possible, avoid the term morning-after pill. It evokes a prototypical frame of immoral behavior, bad decision-making, the inability to “just say no” at a party or during a date. It excludes the fact that the treatment can help rape victims prevent development, be used in cases where other birth control methods failed, and so on.

Never evoke the Consumer Frame. It has been introduced to the debate by the term Pro-Choice, and is now used everywhere. For example, in the GOP’s 2012 platform, where a decision for development prevention is labeled as a woman ordering an abortion, as if she were shopping. The frame hides the fact that such decisions are never made easily and are commonly made by men and women, and often their families, together.

Yes, about all of those things....


Blastocysts:

Definition of a blastocyst:

• An embryo which has developed to the point of having 2 different cell components and a fluid cavity
• Human embryos from in vitro fertilization in culture in an IVF lab, or developing naturally in the body, usually reach blastocyst stage by day 5 after fertilization

(Sidebar: by the same people who make money making designer babies, too. Hhmmm...)



Embryo and fetus:

The embryonic period in humans begins at fertilization (penetration of the egg by the sperm) and continues until the end of the 10th week of gestation (8th week by embryonic age). ...


The fetal period begins at the end of the 10th week of gestation (8th week of development). Since the precursors of all the major organs are created by this time, the fetal period is described both by organ and by a list of changes by weeks of gestational age.

Yes, scientific terms can be baffling if people don't look them up, like immediate postprandial upper abdominal distention . Let's hope the preferred audience is either illiterate or so dyed in the wool they wouldn't believe rain is wet, either, or that "development prevention" is an ultra-fancy word for birth control with that pesky word "birth" in there.



"Partial birth abortion" is an accurate description given that:

The abortion practitioner instrumentally reaches into the uterus, grasps the fetus' feet, and pulls the feet down into the cervix. The reason this is done is not as a medical necessity, but to avoid actually birthing the baby. If the baby were fully born, killing it would be considered murder. The fetus is then pulled down the birth canal until it has been entirely birthed except the head. Surgical scissors are forced into the base of the fetal skull while the fetus is lodged in the birth canal. This blind procedure risks maternal injury from laceration of the uterus or cervix by the scissors and could result in severe bleeding and the threat of shock or even maternal death. A suction apparatus is introduced into the hole in the base of the skull and the fetus' brains are removed through aspiration. The baby is then born dead. The entire procedure is performed on the fetus without the use of anesthesia even though it is clearly capable of feeling pain (studies have shown that the ability to feel pain begins early in the second trimester.

And:

James T. McMahon, MD, of Los Angeles, CA, in detailing for the US Congress his experience with more than 2000 partial-birth abortion procedures stated that only 9% of those involved maternal health indications (of which the most common was depression).In fact, the insertion of instruments into the uterus is not without risks, since 1 out of 6,000 of these kinds of procedures results in the death of the mother (death from childbirth is 1 out of 13,000).

What does a potential child look like? How can such a being be defined? Does he have eyes, legs, arms, a stomach and jam hands?



The term "consumer frame" is rather apt description seeing as abortion is an industry. Planned Parenthood receives federal funding and pulled in $18.5 million for 2009-2010. Whatever did Planned Parenthood do with that 18.5 million, aside from lobbying and referring women elsewhere for mammograms? Could they or any other organisation have had family counseling sessions for pregnant customers?

I'm Under 18, Can I Have an Abortion Without my Parents' Consent?

The answer to this varies from state to state. Few states, including California, allow minors (people under 18) to obtain an abortion without parental consent or notification. However, most states require parental consent, notification or permission from a judge (known as "judicial bypass").

My State Requires my Parents' Consent, Can I Get an Abortion in Another State Where Parental Consent is Not Necessary?

You can go to another state where you do not live to get an abortion, but due to laws about minors crossing state lines, it is advisable to travel with an older sibling, grandparent, or aunt. ...

Do I Have to Tell the Father of the Fetus That I Want an Abortion?

The father need not be told anything at all. The decision is completely up to the pregnant teenager.

Does the Father of the Fetus Have Any Say in My Decision to Have an Abortion?

The father has no say in decision-making. The decision is completely up to the pregnant teenager. The father's consent is unnecessary and he has no right to be notified.

  

This tension is especially visible in abortion clinic waiting rooms.  Interviews at clinics confirm that at least 70 percent of the women having abortions view abortion as immoral, or at least deviant, behavior. (1)   Rather than choosing according to their own moral beliefs, most women are acting against their belief systems.  They feel "forced" by circumstances, or loved ones, to violate their consciences for the sake of some "other good." 

But I thought families made these decisions together.



Like I said, why let facts get in the way of some good propaganda?