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Yes, Definitions Matter in All Discussions on Abortion

Yes, Definitions Matter in All Discussions on Abortion

Last updated on: October 26, 2024 at 3:51 pm by Dennis Knapp

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Yes, Definitions Matter in All Discussions on Abortion 2024-10-26T15:51:06-06:00 Dennis Knapp

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Recently, I wrote a couple of articles expressing my views on politics and abortion. Specifically, how Vice President Kamala Harris’ extreme views on abortion bar all faithful Christians, Catholics or not, from voting for her. Whereas the seamless garment argument may apply to Democrats of the past, it no longer applies to Democrats in the present. Furthermore, for faithful Catholics, the United States Conference of Bishops released an official statement advising US Catholic voters to Protect Children in Law and Against Abortion. Unsurprisingly, this cannot happen with a vote for almost all current Democrat politicians.

Now, I have received some heat and criticism for my last two articles. For this article, I address some of those criticisms directly. The abortion issue demands clarification, and with it above all other issues, clearly defined words matter.

Words Matter

How we define things matters. Words either give or take away value. For example, in the comment section in my previous article, I referred to the unborn as a “preborn children,” in my own critique of Governor Tim Walz’s extreme abortion stance. I stated:

He publicly supports the killing of preborn children.

In response, a commenter made the following statement:

There’s no such thing as a “preborn child”, and the phrase “publicly support” suggests actively promoting something, like supporting a football team. There’s a huge difference between saying that women should have the right to have an abortion within defined legal limits and “supporting the killing of unborn children”. The fact that you have to use such inaccurate and loaded language suggests you can’t argue your position on merit.

Well, as a father of three children, I know for a fact that at one time, all my kids were “preborn.” Furthermore, I too experienced birth and so I too belonged to the category of the “preborn” (as do all humans, regardless of how their prebirth “ended”).

All pregnancies end. Abortion intentionally kills (terminates) a child before birth. To deny this fact means one denies the personhood of the unborn/preborn. By calling abortion a “right” and denying the existence of a real child in the womb, abortion proponents play word games that take away value. Sadly, proponents of abortion only take this value away from unwanted children. The wanted receive value, while the unwanted do not exist (“no such thing”). Again, words matter.

Why Focus on Abortion?

Another criticism by this same commenter concerned my continued focus on abortion as a primary issue when voting. This commenter called such a focus “bizarre.” I find “bizarre” the lack of concern for the unborn as a primary good.

Your continual focus on abortion as if there are no other issues is bizarre.

This reminds me of a quote from the late great Ronald Reagan, who stated:

I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.

Oh, the irony! Someone not aborted thinks my focus on it is “bizarre.” This commenter sees no issue with denying some of the unborn that which they now enjoy—a chance at life.

Whataboutisms…

Moreover, the commenter goes on to lay out some whataboutisms that they consider more important than abortion in the upcoming election.

What about Trump’s stated intention to set the US military on US civilians, his stated intention to imprison his political opponents…

The only lawfare witnessed against a political opponent in the 2024 election concerns Trump himself. Democrats in both New York and Georgia made it their mission to use the law to imprison him. Recently, Megyn Kelly (a lawyer) summarized the lawfare against Trump. (Please forgive the long quote).

E. Jean Carroll: they changed the law so that she could bring a civil lawsuit against him, and she did. New York jury. New York went 87% for Joe Biden. That fix was in right from the start.

The fraud that Latia James brought against him has never been brought. There are no victims. The banks, who were involved, said “we didn’t lose a penny. What are we doing here. We weren’t damaged, nobody was complaining, except Tish James who ran for office saying, “I will get him.”

Then you have Alvin Brag who is a George Soros funded prosecutor who doesn’t like to prosecute any crime in New York City where I live for 17 years except if your name is Donald Trump.

Let’s go down to Georgia where Fanny Willis and Nathan Wade couldn’t keep their libidos in check long enough to actually bring this case against Donald Trump.

It’s a repeat of what was happening in January 6th up in the case with judge Chutkan, who loathes Trump, and has sentenced almost every J6 defendant to way more jail time than their counterparts would get. Those are falling apart because of presidential immunity, which was handed down by the Supreme Court who said you cannot bring a criminal case against a sitting president for any official act. Those cases have been gutted also a Supreme Court ruling saying the same one defendant in general.

And that leaves us with Florida and the documents and Trump has torn that apart because Jack Smith wasn’t properly appointed and isn’t the right Council. But there are other issues they haven’t even gotten to presidential immunity there. And so that one’s going nowhere as well. And by the way, they’re going to appeal it up to the 11 Circuit. 11 Circuit is conservative. And thank God so is the current Supreme Court. They’re not going to tolerate that nonsense.

Sorry, but when Democrats break the status quo and then complain when others threaten to do the same, the concern rings a bit hollow.

Tariffs

…his braindead economic policies like raising the cost of living by thousands through tariffs…

Trump uses tariffs as a leverage tool to gain better terms with US trade partners. I seem to remember the total lack of inflation under Trump. Inflation occurs when too much money chases too few goods. Economics 101.

Immigration

…his racist policy of repatriating immigrants – which would also crash the economy, his insanely expensive border wall…

The federal government’s main responsibility is maintaining and securing our border. Also, unskilled and undocumented workers drive wages down. Why do you think VP Harris lacks union support?

Military

…his contradictory policies of bringing lots of military personnel home but also increasing America’s influence…

Man, the Left has really bought into the militarist mindset these days… I lack the room here to address international politics, but I must mention that the world was not on fire when Trump occupied the White House.

Ukraine

…his intention of helping his pal Putin by abandoning Ukraine?

If elected, this war will end. Unfortunately, Trump needs to clean up Biden’s mess. Considering this, I think no one gets everything they want.

Trump, Vance, and Project 2025

Not to mention the high likelihood that he’d expire (or lose what few brain cells he’s got left) before the end of his term leaving you with the slimy Vance ready to implement Project 2025.

Anyone familiar with the news knows that neither Trump nor Vance has nothing to do with Project 2025. For the record, I wrote a full article detailing that fact here. Furthermore, those who know him, like Piers Morgan, claim Trump’s mental faculties remain intact. Funny (not really) how such comments came off as agist when applied to Biden in 2020, but now seem not so when applied to Trump.

Back to Abortion

But yeah, it’s all about abortion, even though Trump doesn’t even support a ban.

I hope that I proved in the above that it’s not “all about abortion.” However, I remain firm in my conviction that abortion DOES sit at the apex of all issues, at least for Christians. True, Trump did adjust his position this time around. Honestly, I consider this move a political maneuver to remove the traditional Democrat attack against Republicans. Even given this move, Trump remains the most prolife president in US history by putting those in place to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Final Thoughts…

To conclude, I implore all eligible in the US to vote. I do so myself recently by taking advantage of early voting in Texas. I hope all Catholics listen to the USCCB and vote to protect children in law and against abortion. This cannot happen with a vote for Kamala Harris.

Now, get out and vote.