I’m old enough to remember a segment in Reader’s Digest called something like “Build a Better Vocabulary” – hell, I’m old enough to remember Reader’s Digest! Whenever I would find a stack of Digests at my grandparents, I would dive right into that feature and try to learn something new.
Anyway, back to topic: for those who look to messaging to solve our many woes, here’s an update:
There’s a lot in these improved phrases, mostly it seems like the Democrats are stripping away some (unintended?) value judgments:
- Choice v Decision: Giving up “choice” for “decision” does feel stronger; it might be simple semantics, but choice felt weak, while decision feels informed.
- Safe, Legal, and Rare framing bothered me because the “rare” part seemed to be giving up ground to the theocrats. Accessible doesn’t have a value associated with it.
- Unwanted v Unexpected: Unwanted plays right into the scolds hands and passes another judgement. Unexpected might also backfire down the road, but it is better than unwanted.
- Conscience v Refusal of Care: It is no one’s business why anyone wants an abortion. Their conscience shouldn’t be even a part of the decision. This change I like.
- Back Alley Abortions v Criminalizing Healthcare: this one bothers me the most. Back Allies and coat hangers were real, even if the Yutes of Today have no experience with them… yet. I am guessing that when they tested it in a focus group because for the moment abortions are safe, legal and accessible, it probably tested badly. Get back to us in a couple of years (sadly) when the Mob is in charge of abortions. At any rate, I don’t like white washing our history.
It is an overall improvement and makes for stronger language, and clearer messaging. I don’t know if this is too little too late, but I’ll try to give it a go when addressing abortions moving ahead.
Mock Paper Scissors 
Unexpected is as bad as unwanted. There are many women who have to terminate wanted, planned for pregnancies.
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Very good point. I stand corrected (as usual).
Rgds,
TG
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It was their framing, not yours, old chum. I just wish they’d avoid using qualifying terms.
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There’s nothing wrong with saying “I don’t want to have a baby right now.” There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I can’t have a baby right now.” There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I can’t afford to have a baby right now.” There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I’m not healthy enough to have a baby right now.” There’s nothing wrong in saying, “It’s none of your fucking business why I don’t want this baby right now.”
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Exactly.
It’s no one else’s business, ever. Women are not required to explain anything.
Rgds,
TG
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I remember Reader’s Digest. Always did the vocabulary quiz. Humor in Uniform. Campus comedy. Life in these United States. But Word Power expanded my vocabulary and thinking. But back to the point. Word choice is an essential element in arguing a critical issue persuasively. I just retired after 30+ years of being a Public Defender. Gauge your jury (or audience). Paint a convincing word picture (even if you have to tailor your language) and then argue from the heart.
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I think women should have something to say about this. I am a son of a bitch.. I think women should have something to say. All we hear is Republican male viewpoints.
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alleys, not allies. allies are what we have with nato and have nothing to do with dirty back streets.
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