I hear Bukwark pundits repeatedly define their perspectives as pro life, but they clearly aren’t categorically against abortion in all cases. They’re pro choice along a spectrum of circumstances. I’ve worked in a clinic that provided abortions. Nobody is pro abortion.
A few weeks ago I heard a caller on a radio program (POTUS channel, satellite radio) identify himself as pro-life, but then went on to say he supported every woman's right to make up her own mind about it. This confused me. I said to myself, "this guy is actually pro-choice but he doesn't know it." I now think perhaps a lot of people fall into this category - maybe because the pro-life side has contorted the debate for so long, and the term "pro-life" sounds like a better thing to be?
YES! I had this EXACT discussion with my niece, who grew up in an Evangelical church. She called herself pro-life, but didn't think it was up to her or anyone else to make that decision for someone else. I wrote back to her (this discussion was via text) that she basically just described the quintessential pro-choice position. She just couldn't bring herself to ID as pro-choice, because the Rs have so successfully propagandized that term to be pro-abortion. There is NOTHING that is "prolife" about making abortion illegal; it only leads to death and suffering for living, breathing women.
Whoa, some people around here bust a gasket when you try to change wording to be more clear or inclusive.
That said, pro-birth seems to be catching on since people are starting to wake up to the fact that pro-life people aren't actually pro-life at all but are just pro-birth.
Exactly this.
I hear Bukwark pundits repeatedly define their perspectives as pro life, but they clearly aren’t categorically against abortion in all cases. They’re pro choice along a spectrum of circumstances. I’ve worked in a clinic that provided abortions. Nobody is pro abortion.
A few weeks ago I heard a caller on a radio program (POTUS channel, satellite radio) identify himself as pro-life, but then went on to say he supported every woman's right to make up her own mind about it. This confused me. I said to myself, "this guy is actually pro-choice but he doesn't know it." I now think perhaps a lot of people fall into this category - maybe because the pro-life side has contorted the debate for so long, and the term "pro-life" sounds like a better thing to be?
YES! I had this EXACT discussion with my niece, who grew up in an Evangelical church. She called herself pro-life, but didn't think it was up to her or anyone else to make that decision for someone else. I wrote back to her (this discussion was via text) that she basically just described the quintessential pro-choice position. She just couldn't bring herself to ID as pro-choice, because the Rs have so successfully propagandized that term to be pro-abortion. There is NOTHING that is "prolife" about making abortion illegal; it only leads to death and suffering for living, breathing women.
A couple participants on The Focus Group podcast said that too. Said "I'm pro-life but I think women should be able to decide for themselves." UM WHAT
We need new terminology.
Whoa, some people around here bust a gasket when you try to change wording to be more clear or inclusive.
That said, pro-birth seems to be catching on since people are starting to wake up to the fact that pro-life people aren't actually pro-life at all but are just pro-birth.
I did not get one today or yesterday.
You're not alone.
Pro-Rights and Anti-Rights.