St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Tuesday January 22, 2002

Pg. B16

HEADLINE: THE POWER OF THE WORD

THE LAMENTABLE attempt by some leaders on both sides of the abortion issue to link their opponents to terrorists is infammatory as well as intellectually lazy.

Dr. Wayne Goldner -- a New Hampshire abortion provider who is speaking in St. Louis tonight -- told Post-Dispatch reporter Jo Mannies anti-abortion extremists, "are no different than Osama bin Laden." Last week, Nancy L. Sasaki, head of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, said the threat to abortion rights was like the threat to women's rights in Afghanistan. "The war on terrorism has highlighted atrocities against women in Afghanistan," Ms. Sasaki said. ". . . But we must remember that President Bush has an ultra-conservative agenda on domestic issues such as the right to safe, legal abortion." On the other side, demonstrators departing for the national pro-life march in Washington carried 9/11 signs. "Every Day is 9-11 for the Unborn in Our Land," read one brought along by the Rev. Carl Mohme of Florissant. In a speech, local anti-abortion activist Connie Eller referred to RU-486 and the morning-after pill as "chemical warfare." And Saturday night, Archbishop Justice Rigali told hundreds of Catholics here that the Jan. 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is "etched in our minds and hearts" like Sept. 11. In both instances, he said, "an attack from within was launched against life in our country." He said that Roe attacked "the twin towers of life and truth."

To compare the impact of the Sept. 11 attack to Roe v. Wade creates more heat -- but no more light -- around both issues.

Of course, polemicists can reach for comparisons. There have been attacks on abortion clinics that have killed doctors and nurses and left patients terrified.But there is no comparison between these sporadic attacks on people involved in abortions and the murderous attack on civilians on Sept. 11. The women's rights argument is even more far-fetched. It is absurd to compare the Taliban's oppression of women to the Bush agenda.

Abortion opponents argue that both 9/11 and Roe involve the mass destruction of innocent human life. But how could anyone compare a terrorist plot to hijack airliners and kill 3,000 people to a constitutionally protected -- if controversial -- medical procedure designed to safeguard women's health and guarantee their right to reproductive freedom?

To his credit, Archbishop Rigali fosters civility in the monthly marches to the Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis. And, to her credit, Paula Gianino, chief executive of Planned Parenthood in St. Louis, distinguishes Archbishop Rigali from extremists. But leaders on both sides of this divide should remember that overheated words and facile comparisons do nothing to advance a meaningful debate.

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One question entered my mind after reading this: if people from both sides of the issue continue to create analogies such as September 11 to stregthen their debate, how can either side come to an agreement? The answer is, they can't. Toleration for the other side is the only way to go.

It is unfair to parallel the possibility of our nation becoming anti-abortion with the current conditions in Afghanistan. Yes, people that are pro choice may think that it would be an unjust decision, but it is far from poverty and government abuse. In addition, the United States is currently far from Afghanistan's conditions. This is the reason why I say to both sides: STOP MAKING THESE HORRIBLE ANALOGIES! If anti-abortion happens, I will not act like it is the end of the world. It will be only be another government decision that I disagree with. Believe me, there are plenty others. It really won't effect me personally (well it could, but I'm not going to let that happen to the best of my ability) so why should I think it's such a tragedy?

On another note, I wonder what all the anti-abortion groups will do when they have nothing more to preach about. Actually, I don't really care. After all, it's a free country you know.