Abortion is a flash point issue in many ways, all the way down to what words we use to describe the opponents in the debate.
Four online commenters objected to the word "anti-abortion" in the headline about the Missouri Pro-Life Caravan's trip to a rally in Washington, D.C. The headline on Bill Lambrecht's Political Fix story reads: Hundreds from Missouri join DC anti-abortion rally. One comment, from avehomer, says: " 'Anti-abortion' is a pejorative. To the Pro-life movement, it's analogous to an ethnic slur."
For reference, the Associated Press story has the headline: Abortion foes on annual march in nation's capital.
This is what the Post-Dispatch stylebook says:
Use "anti-abortion'' and "abortion rights.'' Avoid "pro-life'' and "pro-choice'' except in quoted matter or in titles.
That mirrors the Associated Press style.
Reporters are very careful with using "pro-choice" and "pro-life" only in quotes or in names of organizations because people on both sides of the abortion debate object to those terms. A search through the Post-Dispatch electronic archive shows that these terms mainly show up when used by columnists or in letters and editorials.
The terms "anti-abortion" and "abortion rights" attempt to describe the competing sides in the debate by including the word "abortion." But with such a complex and heated issue, even those terms fall short for some readers.
Follow me at twitter.com/frankreust.
