The word "abortion" and hate language

[Luke2220]

In this era of politcal correctness, and utilizing language that doesn’t offend anyone, is it considered “hate language” to use words that describe abortion; ie. you must use the word “abortion”; anything else would be considered ‘hate language’ ?

I don’t understand why the media or society at large, use that word (abortion), and not call the action as it really is? Murder! Why not call a spade a spade?

That is, if it were stated:

1. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to perform abortions.
   vs.
2. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to murder childern that have not been born?
   Is it hate language, or deemed slanderous to state the facts as in case 2) ?
   Why do we soften the language for such a horrific crime?

Peace,

Luke2220

 

[snowflakeinlove]

I find that a lot of times people avoid even the word abortion. It’s “a woman’s right to choose”…

 

[Bezant]

In this era of politcal correctness, and utilizing language that doesn’t offend anyone, is it considered “hate language” to use words that describe abortion; ie. you must use the word “abortion”; anything else would be considered ‘hate language’ ?

I don’t understand why the media or society at large, use that word (abortion), and not call the action as it really is? Murder! Why not call a spade a spade?

That is, if it were stated:

1. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to perform abortions.
   vs.
2. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to murder childern that have not been born?
   Is it hate language, or deemed slanderous to state the facts as in case 2) ?
   Why do we soften the language for such a horrific crime?

Peace,

Luke2220

Have you followed an abortion discussion?

Look how much blah-blah-blah there is in the recent abortion threads: crying, bickering, name-calling. It’s an inherently divisive and emotional minefield because the topic is so sensitive.

By all means “call a spade a spade,” but if you actually want to be persuasive, you must be open to other opinions without unnecessarily provoking a negative reaction.

 

[Angelsflight]

I honestly think abortion should be a banned topic, with all the fights that go on in there…

 

[mharren]

Abortion is a medical term. And I was actually under the impression it was politically incorrect to call it that. Apparently we’re supposed to call it ‘Termination’.

Spontaneous Abortion = Miscarriage, S.A. is a politically incorrect.

Fetus = Baby/Child , but Fetus is politically incorrect.

Murder is also known as Homicide, and you could kill the unborn by other means than the medical procedures that constitute ‘abortion’. You could pick-axe the abdomen or something.

I’m trolling. And yeah, call it what it is, I think it forces us not to forget what it is and not to hide behind lines in the sand. In medicine we become particularly desensitized to it and we’re coached to be that way and use very specific terminology.

Regards,

• Mharren

 

[MidnightSun12]

By all means “call a spade a spade,” but if you actually want to be persuasive, you must be open to other opinions without unnecessarily provoking a negative reaction.

I have to speak up here and it’s not my intention to appear condescending.

If we substituted the word “abortion” on this thread with the word “holocaust” (ie. the like-for-like replacement one intrinsice evil for another) would you go on record saying that you want people to be open to other opinions on the issue of the death camps in order to avoid provoking a negative reaction?

Some issues simply have no room for compromise or common ground.

 

[stevekehl]

In this era of politcal correctness, and utilizing language that doesn’t offend anyone, is it considered “hate language” to use words that describe abortion; ie. you must use the word “abortion”; anything else would be considered ‘hate language’ ?

I don’t understand why the media or society at large, use that word (abortion), and not call the action as it really is? Murder! Why not call a spade a spade?

That is, if it were stated:

1. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to perform abortions.
   vs.
2. Dr. John Doe is licensed by the state to murder childern that have not been born?
   Is it hate language, or deemed slanderous to state the facts as in case 2) ?
   Why do we soften the language for such a horrific crime?

Peace,

Luke2220

This is kind of like depersonalizing an enemy during war time. Enemies are given derogatory names so soldiers can kind of not view them as people. It makes it easier to kill a “skinny” or a “rag” than it is to kill Bob or Phil. Same thing with abortion. Using terms like fetus or terminate or choice rather than baby or child or murder. It makes it easier to deny the truth, babies are being sacrificed for convenience.

 

[mharren]

I use the terms abortion and fetus and spontaneous abortion because it’s the medical language I am used to communicating in, but I try to make a point of saying Baby or Child when talking to couples about their unborn children, but just me.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about is ‘hate speech’ though. Calling abortion murder isn’t slanderous because it’s not incorrect. Calling an OB/GYN that performs abortions a Baby Killer though not incorrect might just be rude, but I’m not sure any of the terms Pro-Lifers seem to use really constitute ‘hate speech’.

 

[Qwestions]

The abortion topic definitely should NOT be banned! If even one abortion proponent finally “gets” the gravity of this despicable violation of God’s commandment by reading yet one more discussion, then all the time in wording the comments will have been worth the combined effort if that one person changes his stance. If he/she then works avidly to turn around the present nationwide acceptance of this heinous crime, our efforts will have been even more worthwhile. Even the woman who brought the federal case resulting in the landmark Supreme Court decision permitting rampant abortion had a 180-degree change of heart, according to what I’ve read. We can never give up decrying this abomination.

 

[St_Francis]

I use the terms abortion and fetus and spontaneous abortion because it’s the medical language I am used to communicating in, but I try to make a point of saying Baby or Child when talking to couples about their unborn children, but just me.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about is ‘hate speech’ though. Calling abortion murder isn’t slanderous because it’s not incorrect. Calling an OB/GYN that performs abortions a Baby Killer though not incorrect might just be rude, but I’m not sure any of the terms Pro-Lifers seem to use really constitute ‘hate speech’.

If, however, it would defintely please those who support legalized murder of unborn babies to get us to believe it’s hate speech that we shouldn’t use.

 

[Luke2220]

That’s easy to answer. Because abortion is not legally or by definition considered as murder, so it would be inaccurate for the media or society to call it that. (Although it is defined that way in the Catholic world).

I guess that was the genesis of my question wrt to ‘hate speech’: since abortion is not widely considered to be murder, then would addressing abortionists as ‘murderers’, would that be considered hate speech? ((that was probably a better way to phrase the question! Thanks for helping to get it out of me)).
I see the answer expressed here on the forum is: “NO, it is not 'hate speech.”

I appreciate, and am troubled by your reply ("…because abortion is not legally or by definition considered as murder…" ).
The same was true of smoking of smoking in the 50’s & 60’s. It was popular, it was kewl, your “T-zone” would be happy! [Camels Dr. recommended smoking commercial: > (

).
Astounding foolishess in this day; thank goodness that public opinion is changing.

The abortion discussion must continue; because like smoking, the education of our society must continue to reverse the lie that has been widely accepted, as per the good poiint that DaddyGirl brought forward.

Peace. And thanks to all.

Luke2220.

 

[Bezant]

If we substituted the word “abortion” on this thread with the word “holocaust” (ie. the like-for-like replacement one intrinsice evil for another) would you go on record saying that you want people to be open to other opinions on the issue of the death camps in order to avoid provoking a negative reaction?

Some issues simply have no room for compromise or common ground

Is it a problem seeking an answer, or an answer seeking a problem? I think it’s the latter and have not seen more than superficial comparisons between abortion and genocide.

 

[MidnightSun12]

Is it a problem seeking an answer, or an answer seeking a problem? I think it’s the latter and have not seen more than superficial comparisons between abortion and genocide.

I have to respectfully disagree there. 1/6 of the American population has been brutally murdered and to think that these acts are not ultimately aimed at the destruction of a civilization just doesn’t make sense to me. Satan very much has a plan to see entire nations dissappear from existance and whether his evil message is being relayed through men like Hitler with the promise of racial purity or is coming through the television sets to ordinary citizens with the promise of “personal comfort” seems, to me at least, irrelevant.

But we don’t have to substitute the word “abortion” with “holocaust”… we could pick any other intrinsic evil that is condemned by the Church that just happens to not be in flavor today. Would you be open to other view-points on the issue of slavery? How about racism?

Remember that the Church’s stance on abortion is accompanied by the promise of infallibility. As Catholics, we must show the exact same disgust towards abortion (and even birth control) that we show towards any other issue of intrinsic evil!

 

[Arizona_Mike]

I find that a lot of times people avoid even the word abortion. It’s “a woman’s right to choose”…

Actually, even that term is becoming archaic, as it just won’t do to imply that the end of that phrase is “a woman’s right to choose (an abortion).” Secular society doesn’t want to remind women about the monumental nature of such a decision, and needs to make it seem just one more choice an “empowered woman” can make about her own life. The current PC code-phrase for abortion is “women’s health care decisions,” or simply “women’s health care issues,” as if an abortion is the same as the choice of a physician, or a regular annual check-up, or deciding which gym or wellness center to choose.

Orwell would understand the misuse of language, certainly.

George Orwell, although an agnostic, was adamantly opposed to abortion. Here’s a section from his autobiographic novel “Keep the Aspidastra Flying” where his stand-in character learns his girlfriend is pregnant, and considering an abortion: orwelltoday.com/abortionorwell.shtml.

It’s interesting that Orwell’s protagonist makes the decision to marry his girlfriend and save the baby’s life not because of any religious feelings, but after he examines the scientific evidence for fetal development and concludes it is a life.

Interesting article on Orwell’s views on abortion: catholicity.com/commentary/stricherz/08545.html

 

[Bezant]

Remember that the Church’s stance on abortion is accompanied by the promise of infallibility. As Catholics, we must show the exact same disgust towards abortion (and even birth control) that we show towards any other issue of intrinsic evil!

Have you come across a Church teaching that condemns legal abortion as genocide?

 

[mharren]

I don’t feel disgusted by evil. I just try to avoid it. Am I supposed to display disgust or other out-ward negative signs of what I am told is evil?

I never considered that until the post above.

 

[MidnightSun12]

I don’t feel disgusted by evil. I just try to avoid it. Am I supposed to display disgust or other out-ward negative signs of what I am told is evil?

I never considered that until the post above.

We must hate sin, but love the sinner. We must see the devil at work in those who sin and hate what the devil is doing to that sinner’s soul. That said, we must see the potential for great good inside the sinner and desire to help free the sinner out of love.

But, yes, I believe it is necessary to hate that which is evil in order to love that which is good. Whether we are ending a human life in the bowels of a gas chamber or using an abortionist’s knife is exactly the same in the eyes of God and desereves to be detested with the exact same ferocity.

 

[mharren]

Doesn’t that mean I’m judging…and condemning? I think I might have more than enough evil in me to deal with and certainly not good enough to tell others how to conduct themselves in the eyes of God.

But I kinda get what you said. Thank you!

Regards,

Mharren

 

[Richard320]

In this era of politcal correctness, and utilizing language that doesn’t offend anyone, is it considered “hate language” to use words that describe abortion; ie. you must use the word “abortion”; anything else would be considered ‘hate language’ ?

I don’t understand why the media or society at large, use that word (abortion), and not call the action as it really is? Murder! Why not call a spade a spade?

Precision.

Look at some headlines.
Family found suffocated in closet at their home
Teen ‘stabbed foster mother to death’ in front of her own terrified daughter
Girl, 13, shot dead in front of her sister on school bus

All 3 were murdered, yet a more descriptive term was used.

Although Abortion isn’t used much by the pro-death side. Termination is the current euphemism.