It's the criminalization, Stupid!

[Isere]

I have supported abortion rights as my single-issue for many years. You can, therefore, imagine my dismay over the recent election.

I am writing everyone I know to urge a change in vocabulary so that we might reclaim our message on women's reproductive rights.

Heretofore, we must abandon the term "pro-life" and replace it with "pro-criminalizaton." Every elected official who proclaims to be anti-abortion must be labeled as "pro-criminalization." That puts the spotlight exactly where it should be and forces the public into an awareness of the gravity of the situation. We should be asking the anti-choice folks questions such as "who should go to jail and for how long?" We must drive home the reality that criminalization is the intended outcome of the anti-choice movement.

Anti-choice advocates have used language to their great advantage by renaming a little-known and little-used medical procedure "partial-birth abortion." Who could be against that? The very term "pro-life" is a misnomer and grants the bearer a high ground that is undeserved because it does not take into consideration the life of the mother.

Could we please stop allowing our opponents to define the vocabulary of the debate?

All together now: "It's the criminalization, Stupid!"

[aquart]

1. Excellent. NEVER use their terminology. Never.

[K-W]

2. Seconded.

The issue is not the morality of abortion. It is whether or not it should be criminalized.

[LisaLynne]

3. You know, I like it ...

When I think about abortion rights and winning over the 'other side', I always think about how I would talk to my mother about it. She is stridently against abortion and yet, not Republican. Go figure. Anyway, I think this might be a way to get people to think about it. You don't have to agree with abortion or think you would have one to see the dangers in making it illegal. Hmmm!!

[K-W]

5. There is a very persuasive case for pro-choice to anyone.

You just have to find someone with an open mind.

If your goal is to reduce abortions, criminalization is an AWEFUL policy. All it will do is reduce the number a little and drive it all under ground.

If you truely believe that abortion is a tragedy, then take the steps that are likely to significantly reduce it or stop it. Family planning is the only rational choice.

[Tesibria]

8. well -- except as noted below -- MOST "Family planning" methods

result in abortions and therefore -- are "evil" (in the views of the pro-life folks)

[K-W]

10. The open mind thing is key.

Obviously alot of people assume anything that doesnt sound like it came from Pat Robertson is automatically filed under bullshit. These people are probably unreachable, its just a matter of making them the fringe minority again.

[Tesibria]

12. i agree --

the REpubs have used partial birth abortion as their "shock and awe" campaign.

We need to use the "no fertility treatments/no birth control" as our shock and awe.

And -- other than the fringe -- most will get that.

[rkc3]

9. Criminalizing abortion would throw a few more underprivileged women in

prison. We already throw the underprivileged men there, why not take the other half of the great unwahshed in there too.

This would be a boon to one of the greatest employers in the nation - the penitentiary system.

[seabeyond]

4. you are right, now that i have had to explore the issue

and talked with many many people that are anti abortion, my line to them is what do you do with these girls. jail. the breeder male, jail too. the kids, foster homes.

tell me what we do with those that break this law you want

i cannot get a repug to give me an answer. i tell them, you must.

[Tesibria]

6. we also need to point out to these "security moms"

.. what it really means to be so opposed to stem cell research:

1. Stem cell research is evil b/c it uses a human embryo.
2. It is evil to destroy human embryos, even for a good purpose.
3. Since it is evil to destroy human embryos, fertility treatments that result in flushed or extra embryos are evil.
4. Since it is evil to destroy human embryos, birth control methods that result in preventing embryos to attach ... etc... are evil.

Therefore, both the birth control pill AND many fertility treatments MUST be criminalized as well.

[rkc3]

13. I tried that line last week - nearly got killed at the office.

Ron Reagan made that point on Stern last week - in vitro clinics should be shut down since they destroy thousands of embryos a year.

My right wing nutjob co-workers went through the roof - "it costs $500 a year to keep them viable. Who wants that expense?"

I replied - "So destroying embryos for the sake of convenience is different from abortion in what respect?"

It probably didn't help that one woman's husband is shooting blanks after getting his vasectomy (from his first marriage) reversed.

Finally, since birth control and fertility treatments are the right of the middle class, it is likely these would never be criminalized.

[Tesibria]

16. IT IS THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF SAYING THAT

Embryos must be protected.

You're right -- but that is what will "swing" them back. Trust me -- the RW/Evangelicals and RW/Catholics FULLY believe this.

[rkc3]

17. We need to remind Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell of the number of

embryos destroyed at in vitro clinics, let them run with it, and sit back and watch - could be very interesting.

[The Spirit of JFK]

7. Coopting the term Pro-Life was a coup for them...

Face it, we are ALL pro life...

I think we need something like Pro-Life/Pro Choice.

And the need to be "Anti" something...Anti-Personal Decision, Anti-Choice..Anti-Individual

[Tesibria]

11. ...

Being pro-9 month gestation period is NOT being pro-life.

That's their position. Once the baby is born -- she's on her own.

But ... she must be born.

The TRUE pro-life position is to -- well -- to be actively PRO-life. To adopt policies that will reduce the number of abortions, because more women will feel that they have the supports necessary to have the baby.

It doesn't mean criminalizing abortion -- it means creating a society where LIFE (not just fetus-hood) is valued.

[K-W]

14. And where people can make intelligent decions

about reproduction because they have been provided with proper education.

The real battle here is the battle to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

[bvar22]

15. Exactly

Most of the people who wrap themselves in the pro-life euphemism begin to waffle badly when asked what PENALTY they would like to inflict on the mother....the Death Penalty?....Life in Prison?

[Isere]

18. That's just the point!

We need to take away their cloak of euphemism! Let's force them to reveal themselves for what they are: people who want to put doctors and women in jail!
I hope everyone will pass on this language and take it upon themselves to correct anyone who uses "pro-life."

[MagickMuffin]

19. Pro lifers are an oxymoron's

because most all of them believe in the death penalty...

I don't believe that it is a man's decision to make regarding a woman's reproductivity.

When the partial birth ban was signed into law, there was not ONE WOMAN present at the signing. There were only men....

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/images/20031105-1_p35410-21-515h.html

[Eric J in MN]

20. Good idea.

They do want to lock up doctors who perform abortions.