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Poor choice, poor vocabulary: exhibit sensationalizes abortion
Cristina Cala
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Opinion
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Abortion is not a decision Americans have to make as a society. It is a decision women are entitled to make as individuals. That's why the choice is legal. Legalizing abortion is not the responsibility of society. Roe v. Wade took care of that in 1973.
Through the Youngstown State University College Republicans, the Genocide Awareness Project, a photo-mural exhibit that compares abortion to genocide, visited campus Wednesday and today. The exhibit makes a poor comparison.
The misinformed College Republicans should have looked up the definition of genocide before hosting an exhibit with this crude and false comparison. Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group. Women who chose abortion don't do it out of hate, or with the intent to kill the entire race of babykind.
It is not only wrong to call abortion "genocide," but it is wrong to sensationalize a choice that is private and legal.
The GAP exhibit in front of DeBartolo Hall displayed images that, so to speak, speak for themselves. But what are they really trying to say? Of course images of dead fetuses are horrifying. Of course they are grotesque, and heartbreaking. Yet sensationalizing abortion is equally distressing.
George W. Bush has sent thousands of American men and women, more than 160,000 stationed right now, to Iraq since March 2003 — men and women who kill. American "patriots" back home support these troops who kill for their country.
How is it that conservatives support killing an innocent Iraqi civilian but are enraged by aborting an undeveloped fetus? Shouldn't it be the same to you Republicans? Try rationalizing, as you have done so well during Bush's presidency, that Iraqi civilians are living people with families, and undeveloped fetuses are collections of cells.
U.S. troops are sanctioned to kill, and Republicans back home rejoice over it, beam with patriotic pride, but then condemn women who legally, individually choose to have an abortion. Families who have lost loved ones to the War in Iraq didn't get to make that choice, Mr. Bush.
Free speech is a legal choice — just like abortion. Reasonably exercising the former right to attack the latter, the GAP, College Republicans and their supporters have sensationalized abortion, incorrectly compared it to genocide and subjected the public to unwelcome images, but they have not revoked America's right to choose.
Through the Youngstown State University College Republicans, the Genocide Awareness Project, a photo-mural exhibit that compares abortion to genocide, visited campus Wednesday and today. The exhibit makes a poor comparison.
The misinformed College Republicans should have looked up the definition of genocide before hosting an exhibit with this crude and false comparison. Genocide is defined as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group. Women who chose abortion don't do it out of hate, or with the intent to kill the entire race of babykind.
It is not only wrong to call abortion "genocide," but it is wrong to sensationalize a choice that is private and legal.
The GAP exhibit in front of DeBartolo Hall displayed images that, so to speak, speak for themselves. But what are they really trying to say? Of course images of dead fetuses are horrifying. Of course they are grotesque, and heartbreaking. Yet sensationalizing abortion is equally distressing.
George W. Bush has sent thousands of American men and women, more than 160,000 stationed right now, to Iraq since March 2003 — men and women who kill. American "patriots" back home support these troops who kill for their country.
How is it that conservatives support killing an innocent Iraqi civilian but are enraged by aborting an undeveloped fetus? Shouldn't it be the same to you Republicans? Try rationalizing, as you have done so well during Bush's presidency, that Iraqi civilians are living people with families, and undeveloped fetuses are collections of cells.
U.S. troops are sanctioned to kill, and Republicans back home rejoice over it, beam with patriotic pride, but then condemn women who legally, individually choose to have an abortion. Families who have lost loved ones to the War in Iraq didn't get to make that choice, Mr. Bush.
Free speech is a legal choice — just like abortion. Reasonably exercising the former right to attack the latter, the GAP, College Republicans and their supporters have sensationalized abortion, incorrectly compared it to genocide and subjected the public to unwelcome images, but they have not revoked America's right to choose.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 15
TLS
posted 10/04/07 @ 2:12 PM EST
Well done! I would like to know how many foster children each of these anti-abortionists are planning to adopt. If they are adamant that abortion is wrong, that means forcing women and/or couples to have unwanted children. (Continued…)
Karen
posted 10/05/07 @ 3:04 PM EST
Do you honestly believe that children born with disabilities, deformities, or born mixed race should be murdered? I'm sure there is something wrong with you ( well, plenty of things but that's another time and place ) but yet we all put up with you. (Continued…)
Sarah Terzo
posted 10/08/07 @ 6:34 AM EST
I find this part interesting:
"Of course images of dead fetuses are horrifying. Of course they are grotesque, and heartbreaking."
Why would the results of a simple, legal operation be 'heartbreaking?' It isn't heartbreaking to view "products of conception" or "part of a woman's body" that has been removed. (Continued…)
Denaja
posted 10/08/07 @ 4:19 PM EST
"Of course images of dead fetuses are horrifying. Of course they are grotesque, and heartbreaking." Why would the images of abortion victims be "horrifying", "grotesque" and "heartbreaking" if, as you claim, the pictures merely show "undeveloped fetuses (that) are collections of cells". (Continued…)
Colin
posted 10/08/07 @ 6:40 PM EST
Currently, the dictionary definition seems to exclude abortion from being considered genocide. What is truly startling is that the rationale that people use to justify genocide is exactly the same rationale used to justify abortion. (Continued…)
Bobby
posted 10/10/07 @ 7:41 PM EST
Outpatient abortion procedures are the #1 procedure done on a daily business. It is legal, so why not show the public what is done legally behind the doors of the abortionist? We turn on the health channel and watch open-heart surgeries, face-lifts(pretty nasty), knee transplants and so on. (Continued…)
Rachel
posted 10/16/07 @ 10:09 PM EST
Who gives anyone the right to know whats best for u.... i feel if a woman feels her only choice is abortion then she should do what she feels is right. (Continued…)
Elaine
posted 10/18/07 @ 12:08 AM EST
Please compare these numbers:
How many women have abortions as a result of sexual assault?
How many women have abortions as a result of consensual sexual activities outside of marriage?
How many women have abortions as a result of personally life threatening medical problems?
How many women have abortions as a result of perceived defects in their unborn baby?
How many women have abortions because their unborn baby is a healthy girl instead of a boy?
How many women have abortions because their unborn child in 'inconvenient'?
How many newborn babies are on waiting lists for loving adoptive homes?
How many loving couples are on waiting lists for newborn babies?
TLS wrote: "I would like to know how many foster children each of these anti-abortionists are planning to adopt. (Continued…)
Kate
posted 11/01/07 @ 5:56 PM EST
What about women that are victims of rape? Most anti-abortionists would give a little bit on this situation, since the sex was forced... and this is what makes their argument flawed. (Continued…)
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