Someplace this week, in one of the many blogs and news sites I frequent, I came across a comment on an article about abortion. The writer pleaded with the author of the article, and I guess those of us reading it, to quit using the term “pro-life”. It seems he had an issue with it because so many people claiming to be “pro-life” were, to his way of thinking, supporting multiple policies that resulted in death. I can only assume that he meant capital punishment and war. His suggestion for new terms were, of course, pro-choice and anti-choice. Being a bit of a word fanatic, this suggestion did not exactly meet with my approval. You see, it’s just not accurate. If, indeed, we are to throw out the term “pro-life” because it does not accurately portray those bearing the title, we must seek a new set of words that do just that.
One of the problems I have with the whole “choice” thing is that both sides believe that women have a choice in their “reproductive rights”. We just disagree with what that choice is. Those supporting abortion rights believe that a woman should have the right to “choose” what to do with a baby she didn’t plan on and doesn’t want. One that will inconvenience her at work or school or make her body less attractive. Those that abhor abortion believe that the time to make the choice is before that unwanted child is conceived. Actions have consequences. Oftentimes, those consequences are inconvenient. C’est la vie.

The other problem I have with that terminology is that it only addresses the “choice” of the woman. The father of that child does not, usually, get a choice. The child certainly does not get a choice. So you see my dilemma.

So, what are our options, then? I suppose we could use the terms pro-abortion and anti-abortion, but that would certainly result in an outcry from their camp. No one is “pro” abortion, they’ll say. It’s just sometimes an unfortunate and sadly, necessary thing. They aren’t for killing unborn children, they just aren’t against it.

OK, I guess we’ll have to get technical then. This is where my nurses training stands me in good stead. I suggest that, from now on, we use the terms “pro-feticide” and ” anti-feticide”. Surely, this won’t upset anyone, as they don’t believe a fetus has any worth anyway. If the child is not yet capable of breathing on its own, it’s alright to kill it. Gee, I hope none of those folks find themselves in need of respiratory resuscitation anytime soon.