I am writing in response to the Feb. 24 article “Reproductive freedom: Liberating or damaging?”

I found some of the language in the article objectionable and perhaps even unconscionable. The “abortion debate,” as it exists currently, is hardly a debate at all. It could perhaps be best described as a protracted argument based upon belief. If you decide to adopt one of the mutually antithetical positions on abortion (i.e. either vehemently for, or vehemently against) your decision is in some sense ultimately based upon a belief of yours.

That said, I was quite dismayed by the irresponsible rhetorical tricks displayed in the article in question. I was particularly perturbed by the phrase “reproductive choice/reproductive freedom” which occurred at least twice in the article.

No reasonable person would deny that individuals should have the “freedom/choice” to reproduce if they wish, in the sense of seeking out someone with whom to conceive a child, and subsequently conceiving said child. The abortion debate is not about one’s freedom to reproduce, but is instead concerned with something altogether different.

If, instead of obfuscating reality through such rhetoric, we were to engage in a serious conversation about abortion, then perhaps there would be less idiotically manipulative behavior being perpetrated by those who have a vested interest in convincing you that they are right (regardless of their stance on abortion).

David Crabtree

Graduate Student

Mathematics