Re: "The War of Words on Abortion"

1.10.19

To the Editor:

 Charles C. Camosy (The War of Words on Abortion, 1.10.19) argues that being identified as ‘anti-abortion’ rather than ‘pro-life’ is a manipulation of language that serves to obfuscate what is really at play; i.e., his concern for vulnerable populations.  But these two points of view are not contradictory.  Rather they fit logically; the flip side of the proverbial coin.  This in not the case with regard to Camosy’s own wordplay.

He laments, following Pope Francis, our  ‘throwaway culture’ and conflates racist and prejudiced attitudes towards immigrants, minorities, the disabled, the elderly, and prisoners with individuals who support a woman’s right to choose abortion.

Camosy wishes to be understood as pro-life rather than anti-abortion and cautions against dehumanizing language in the discourse around the abortion issue.  Is it not dehumanizing to categorize those who differ with his position as expressing a ‘throwaway’ mentality?  I think so.

Respectfully submitted

Larry S. Sandberg