Reply #366: actually, it's the exact same thing [View All]

[paulsby]

a person like you referring to a gun rights advocate as a "gun nut" is the EXACT same thing as an anti-choicer referring to a abortion rights advocate as an "abortion nut"

let's compare.

first of all, the gun rights advocate need not even own a gun, let alone an "assault weapon". he is advocating for the RIGHT of people to make that CHOICE.

i don't own an "assault weapon" (by most definitions of "assault weapon". i support the choice of others to do so).

similarly, an abortion rights advocate needs never to have an abortion/make that choice herself. they are advocating for the RIGHT of women to make that choice for themselves.

the gun rights advocate need not "love guns", own a gun, etc. just like i support the right to jury trial, the presumption in court of innocence etc. for a criminal suspect doesn't mean i LOVE criminal suspects, crime, or am a "civil rights nut", etc.

the fact that you cannot see that you are doing the EXACT same thing as the anti-choicer referring to an "abortion nut" is yet another proof positive that close minded ideology is the same no matter what the issue at hand is. it's all about demonizing opponents, imputing motives without evidence, and closing one's mind.

assigning mental illness terminology to those who hold beliefs about civil rights that you disagree with is also demeaning to those with actual mental illnesses, but that's another issue.

it's a pat, thought-free way to demonize one's opponent (sidestepping their ideas and going straight to personality/mental illness issues) without addressing the facts at hand.