Anti what? I’m pro a finer choice of words
One answer may be contained in a letter to this newspaper. On Thursday last, Rory O’Donovan wrote eloquently about abortion advocates’ misuse of language. He was miffed at the phrase ‘pro-choice’ instead of ‘pro-abortion’. He said: “As a pro-lifer, I feel the language of those seeking abortion rights has been softened and accommodated to the point where it resembles the cute puppy-dog playing with toilet paper, while the primary purpose of the product is never mentioned.”
Mr O’Donovan didn’t intend the irony of his use of the phrase ‘pro-lifer’. If you’re blaming the other side for misuse of language, don’t describe your side with a term that is more inaccurate. ‘Pro-life’ suggests an attitude to life that is more positive than that of people who don’t share your view. So, for example, someone who devotes his/her life to helping other people is not pro-life because he/she is not opposed to abortion?
