Abortion Terms

Those favoring legalized abortion use certain terms when discussing abortion. Here are some examples:

Products of conception: Pro-lifers might consider this term quite offensive. While we do NOT speak for anyone favoring legalized abortion, it could be said that such a term reduces a human being to the status of a byproduct. Human beings have infinite value. No matter the stage of life, they cannot be considered the equivalent of, for example, smoke coming out of an exhaust pipe. If a human being in his or her earliest stages of life is "product of conception," then we are ALL "products of conception."

Embryo/Zygote/Fetus: These three terms are legitimate terms for the early stages of life in humans and some animals. However, whether one is an embryo, zygote, fetus, or full grown adult, it does NOT diminish that person's value as a human being. Killing an embryo/zygote/fetus is just as evil as killing a baby/child/adult human being. All of us were once an embryo, a zygote, and a fetus.

Clump of cells: This term has been used by some to justify the killing of unborn human beings. If a human life can be reduced to a "clump of cells," how can one object to removing such a clump? From a biological perspective, ALL human beings are complex cellular organisms. EACH of us, therefore, is a "clump of cells." The unborn baby is a "clump of cells" just as much as the human adult. Calling a human being a "clump of cells" is not an excuse to kill a human being at ANY stage of life.

Mass of Undifferentiated Tissue: This is simply ridiculous. It is suggested that anyone using this term thoroughly study the stages of development of a human being. They may find that this is a "mass of undifferentiated tissue" that has arms, eyes, a head, etc. It should be noted that some people are against crisis pregnancy centers having ultrasound machines. These ultrasound machines allow women to see the "mass of undifferentiated tissue." For those who talk so much about "choice," the pregnant woman should have the CHOICE to see the images.

Just as it is important not to allow the abortion issue to have exclusive domain over the word "choice," it is equally important to examine some of the terms frequently used by those favoring legalized abortion.

Terms such as products of conception and mass of undifferentiated tissue are downright absurd. They would logically be considered offensive to anyone who values human life.

Some who favor legalized abortion use terms such as embryo, zygote, and fetus with utter disdain. It is truly sad when such disdain is displayed towards humans in those stages of life. This is compounded when we recognize that we were ALL in those stages (including those who favor legalized abortion). Merely because a human being is in such a vulnerable and helpless stage, there is no justification to kill said human. There are many who are not well versed in the battle between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death. It is important to educate those people. When they hear terms like "embryo," "zygote," or "fetus," they should realize that these are stages of human life like childhood and adulthood. Being in these stages does not make a person any 'less human' nor does it justify killing.