Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Nat Hentoff: Abortion and the English language
Jewish World Review ^ | 12/5/06 | Nat Hentoff

Posted on 12/05/2006 1:32:50 PM PST by Caleb1411

Thanks to C-SPAN, a vital public service, I was able to see and hear on Nov. 8 the two hours of oral arguments at the Supreme Court on one of the most persistently passionate controversies in the nation — partial-birth abortion; or, as its medical practitioners call it, intact dilation and extraction.

What fascinated me throughout the debate — and the reactions of the justices — was, as George Orwell put it, the way language can be, and is so often used, "as an instrument which we shape for our own purposes." Only rarely did any participant speak plainly about the procedure.

In his essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell said, "What is above all needed (in honest speaking) is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way about."

During the two hours, I often heard references to "fetal demise." What they were actually talking about, some of us would say, is the killing of a human being.

That plain intent of abortion slipped in briefly when Solicitor General Paul Clement, speaking for the government, said the important issue is whether this form of abortion "is to be performed in utero or when the child is halfway outside the womb."(A child? Where?)

Justice John Paul Stevens quickly interrupted: "Whether the FETUS is more than halfway out," he corrected the solicitor general.

"Some of the fetuses, I understand in the procedure," Justice Stevens added, "are only 4 or 5 inches long. They're very different from fully formed babies."

Babies had again crawled into the discussion — but not for long. The abortion procedure at issue is D&X, intact dilation and extraction, which removes babies from existence. Years ago, the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who was for abortion rights, nonetheless called this D&X procedure, "only minutes

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: abortion; prolife; scotus
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

1 posted on 12/05/2006 1:32:55 PM PST by Caleb1411
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rhema; MHGinTN; cpforlife.org; Salvation
George Orwell said of the language of "orthodoxy" that it "seems to demand a lifeless, imitative style." That was what I heard nearly all the two hours of "orthodox" oral argument at the Supreme Court on whether banning D&X would be unconstitutional.

Whatever the decision, doctors will still be able to dismember the baby. Yes, the baby.

2 posted on 12/05/2006 1:35:07 PM PST by Caleb1411 ("These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own." G. K. C)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Caleb1411
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
--Samuel Adams (1722-1803), letter to John Pitts, January 21, 1776
3 posted on 12/05/2006 1:35:54 PM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Caleb1411

Justice John Paul Stevens quickly interrupted: "Whether the FETUS is more than halfway out," he corrected the solicitor general.
"Some of the fetuses, I understand in the procedure," Justice Stevens added, "are only 4 or 5 inches long. They're very different from fully formed babies."

It would have been funny, if right there, the Solicitor General had said, "With all due respect, your honor, with that statement alone, it's quite clear where you stand on the issue."


4 posted on 12/05/2006 1:39:00 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Caleb1411
In his essay "Politics and the English Language," Orwell said, "What is above all needed (in honest speaking) is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way about."

I find my conservatism is rooted in this concept, more than anything else. I am a conservative about the meaning of words. Time and time again, liberals on other forums have decried me as some kind of Neanderthal for taking such a view. I'm just not sophisticated enough, you see, to understand all the nuances of meaning.

Horsecrap. I've been around long enough to have witnessed the destruction of clear meaning by individuals, corporations and government time and time again, in their efforts to circumvent the consequences of the dictionary meaning of words. If words can be slotted to whatever meaning is useful, then laws, contracts and the Constitution have no meaning other than what a robed priesthood deems them to have. Which is why the battles over the Supreme Court have become so vicious - because, with the acceptance of the infinite elasticity of meaning, SCOTUS becomes the final arbiter of all things in our society.

5 posted on 12/05/2006 1:40:56 PM PST by dirtboy (Objects in tagline are closer than they appear)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: threeleftsmakearight

bttt


6 posted on 12/05/2006 1:42:30 PM PST by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

I'm sorry, what is "btt"?


7 posted on 12/05/2006 1:44:20 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: threeleftsmakearight
Certainly during his confirmation hearings he bent backwards to give the impression that he was impartial on the matter and coming to the bench free from prejudice one way or the other on abortion.

Who could have guessed he would have gone this way? / sarc

8 posted on 12/05/2006 1:44:33 PM PST by Jason_b
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: threeleftsmakearight
Back
To
The
Top
9 posted on 12/05/2006 1:47:22 PM PST by BenLurkin ("The entire remedy is with the people." - W. H. Harrison)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Jason_b

Or, he has "grown".


10 posted on 12/05/2006 1:47:33 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Okay, now I'm really confused. What does that even mean?
Sorry for my ignorance.


11 posted on 12/05/2006 1:49:02 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Okay, now I'm really confused. What does that even mean?
Sorry for my ignorance.


12 posted on 12/05/2006 1:49:14 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin

Okay, now I'm really confused. What does that even mean?
Sorry for my ignorance.


13 posted on 12/05/2006 1:49:15 PM PST by threeleftsmakearight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: threeleftsmakearight

I'm sorry, did you "say" something?


14 posted on 12/05/2006 1:52:51 PM PST by rabidralph (The pajama-wetters are at it again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
I'm picky about the meaning of words also. From conception to week 8 it's called an embryo. From week 9 until birth it's called a fetus. From birth until age 2 it's a baby (a bit longer for liberals) Just use the scientific terms that we all understand and don't cloud the issues.
15 posted on 12/05/2006 1:58:08 PM PST by Raymann
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Raymann

For simplictiy the term used should be 'human.'

Everyone understands what a human is, and there is no question that an embryo/fetus/baby is a human. It's a scientific certainty.


16 posted on 12/05/2006 2:05:45 PM PST by Deut28 (Cursed be he who perverts the justice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Deut28; Raymann
The terms embryo and fetus have been altered to where they are something less than human, and therefore disposable without twinges to the conscience. Just as Hitler deemed Jews and Slavs as subhuman and therefore worthy of extermination.

And that is one reason Hentoff (and I) are pro-life. To not fight dehumanization and murder of a fetus is to not fight dehumanization and murder of all humans.

17 posted on 12/05/2006 2:12:07 PM PST by dirtboy (Objects in tagline are closer than they appear)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: threeleftsmakearight

Bttt means you are posting to a thread to get it back into the latest posts display.


18 posted on 12/05/2006 2:12:42 PM PST by dirtboy (Objects in tagline are closer than they appear)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: dirtboy
Define the meaning of the words and you define the argument.

Define the argument and you have won the argument.

19 posted on 12/05/2006 2:16:35 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Those who call their fellow citizens Sheeple are just ticked they were not chosen as Shepherds)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Raymann

I'm picky about the meaning of words also. From conception to week 8 it's called an embryo. From week 9 until birth it's called a fetus. From birth until age 2 it's a baby (a bit longer for liberals) Just use the scientific terms that we all understand and don't cloud the issues.

In normal discourse we stick with english. Fetus is latin for baby.


20 posted on 12/05/2006 2:17:07 PM PST by freedomfiter2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-86 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson