What’s in a word? Plenty! By using certain widely accepted terms and phrases, we unwittingly advance the war on the innocent human person. To help remedy this problem, below are some brief questions and answers, based on the pro-life lexicon. By using the right words, we say what we mean and help others see the truth.
Why use “preborn” and not “unborn”?
“Unborn” has a negative connotation that suggests the baby himself is a negative. “Preborn” has a positive connotation that suggests the baby is preparing to be born. We are speaking about someone who already exists and is preparing for the next step: birth.
Why use “expectant mother” and not “pregnant woman”?
“Pregnant woman” suggests that the woman alone deserves protection by law and in the culture and that therefore she can do whatever she wants with her body, including the baby within it.
“Expectant mother” recognizes that the woman is already a mother and also recognizes the baby within her. It therefore implies that both of these people deserve protection by law and in the culture.
Why use “pro-abortion” and not “pro-choice”?
“Pro-choice” is a euphemism coined by abortion promoters to confuse the public. It has a positive connotation, implying that babies are mere objects that one can keep or destroy, and that choosing to kill a preborn baby is a morally acceptable right. It also shifts attention away from the baby, his human dignity and right to life, and what the always-violent act of abortion would do to him.
“Pro-abortion” is an accurate description of the belief that abortion should be permitted and correctly focuses on the act of abortion itself—which conjures up very unpleasant E-mail this article from ourimages. And that’s precisely why abortion supporters resent and avoid this term, and all the more reason why pro-lifers should use it.
Why don’t we acknowledge “reproductive technology” as a legitimate term?
“Reproductive technology” implies that human fertility is nothing more than a mechanical function of the human body that can be tinkered with, chemically altered, or surgically “corrected” by abortion. Within this framework, pregnancy is seen as a disease and children produced in laboratories as mere cellular material that can be gestated, frozen, experimented upon, or destroyed.
“Procreation” is the term traditionally used to denote the propagation of mankind. It has a positive connotation, and implies that the creation of a child is a miracle requiring a man, a woman, and the gift of God’s love. It therefore helps us understand why practices such as contraception, sterilization, and in vitro fertilization are wrong, and that abortion kills God’s gift of a preborn human being.
Facebook Comments