ABORTION AND THE MISUSE OF THE MEDIA
Contributed by: Sandra M Winn (swinn@gas.uug.arizona.edu)
The news media has long been a bane to those who would like to keep this
country's government in line with Judeo-Christian principles. Heated topics
like legalized abortion, and the forbiddance of prayer in schools, all have
had their moments of "slanted" coverage in a media that make noisy claims to
it's "objectiveness".
Sadly, our American news media isn't always as unbiased as they'd like us to
believe.
I will never forget a pro-life rally that was held in Washington D.C. a few
years back, attended by thousands of people. Dr. James Dobson spoke at the
rally and later reported that there was so little news coverage that it was
ludicrous. He further pointed out that rallies of much smaller proportions
were lavishly covered by the media, especially if they were generally pro-
abortion, or just anti-Christian in principle.
Can we really attribute these considerations of presenting one story over
another as to what is merely "news worthy", or is there something much more
premeditated afoot?
Some current news items generated by the recent shootings of abortion
clinic workers, brought this "coloring" of the news to sharp focus. These
seem to fall into some definite categories of subtle ploys used by the
press to deliberately drive home it's "politically correct" points.
USING TERMS THAT DESENSITIZE THE PUBLIC TO REALITY
Long has been the battle of pro-life supporters to combat the language used
to describe the unborn. "Fetus", "fetal material", "tissue", "product of
pregnancy" and other terms are constantly flung at the public to take away
from otherwise unenlightened minds the fact that these are *people* we are
talking about. Very little people, but people nevertheless.
Read an excerpt from an article entitled "Fetal Transplants Researched".
CHICAGO (AP) -- Less than 1 percent of fetal
tissue from spontaneous abortion and tubal
pregnancies that must be terminated is usable for
transplants, a study found. [Implication - "so let's
start getting people ready for another source of
this 'tissue'". S.W.]
Transplants involving fetal tissue offer hope
for people with difficult-to-treat ailments such as
Parkinson's disease, immunological disorders and
spinal cord injuries. [The subtle laying of ground
work for justification of abortion - the high dollar
biotechnical advantages it could have. S.W.]
But research in the area has been controversial
because of the fear that it might encourage
elective abortions...["Might"?? S.W.]
...Cefalo and the researchers said the future of
fetal studies may lie in culturing tissue from a
minimum of samples [now babies are being referred to
as samples! S.W.], especially with the expected
approval of the abortion pill RU-486, which one day
could vastly reduce the number of fetuses from
induced abortions, he said.
---end of quote---
This last statement is especially chilling in it's implications. Should
the research into possible medicinal uses for "fetal tissue" make major
breakthroughs in the treatment of Parkinson's and other diseases, and
should the "expected approval" of the controversial "abortion pill" come
through, there will be even less "samples" available. It is not
inconceivable that women would be offered some monetary benefit in becoming
impregnated for the sole purpose of "fetal tissue harvest".
This "objective" article and others like it are laying a vast labyrinth of
groundwork to generate public support of "fetal tissue" as a viable
source of fantastic future cures for "mankind".
But there's more...
UNTOWARD AND DELIBERATE FOCUS ON INFLAMMATORY ISSUES
The following article is reproduced in it's entirety.
Casualties Of The Abortion War
By The Associated Press
A list of those slain or wounded in attacks on
abortion doctors:
--Shannon Elizabeth Lowney, 25, a receptionist
at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Brookline, Mass.,
and Leanne Nichols, 38, a receptionist at Preterm
Health Services in Brookline, slain in separate
attacks Dec. 30, 1994. Five other clinic employees
or volunteers were wounded. John C. Salvi III of
Hampton Beach, N.H., was charged with first-degree
murder in those attacks after his arrest Dec. 31
following the firing of shots at a clinic in
Norfolk, Va.
--Dr. Garson Romalis, seriously wounded Nov. 8,
1994, in his home in Vancouver, British Columbia,
by a sniper firing an assault rifle. No arrests
have been made.
--Dr. John Bayard Britton, 69, and his volunteer
escort, retired Air Force Lt. Col. James Barrett,
74, fatally shot July 29, 1994, as they drove into
the Pensacola Ladies Center. Barrett's wife June,
survived gunshot wounds. Paul Hill was sentenced to
die in Florida's electric chair.
--Dr. George Tiller, shot in the arms Aug. 19,
1993, as he drove away from the Women's Health Care
Services clinic in Wichita, Kan. Rachelle
``Shelley'' Shannon was convicted of attempted
murder and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
--Dr. David Gunn, 47, fatally shot March 10,
1993, as he walked to the Pensacola Women's Medical
Services clinic. The assailant, Michael Griffin,
was sentenced to life in prison.
---end of quote---
No commentary is needed to discern the intentions here. Whereas this list
is a reflection of tragic incidents, it is unprecedented in it's
implications - "look at all the violence caused by anti-abortion activists
- heinous acts that belie their so-called 'rescuing' of lives by the murder
and harm of others" it seems to scream. To me, it is a subtle slam at
right-to-lifers, to undermine and destroy the credibility of all of us who
support the biblical premise that all life is sacred.
One of the most effect forms of brainwashing is to "defame" a belief in
something or someone by destroying it's credibility. It's hard to tear down
something that has a history of impeccable integrity. It's fairly easy to
tear down (in the eyes of the public) something that can be shown as
corruptible. What better way to lose public and (more importantly) political
support for the ban of legalized abortion, than to "prove" it's supporters
are hypocrites - which leads us to the next method of media manipulation.
AN EFFORT TO UNDERPLAY, DISCREDIT, AND SLANDER BIBLE BELIEVERS
Abortion War Hits Front Line
By DAN SEWELL
Associated Press Writer
Abortion opponents show up daily at the clinics
in the region where Gunn and Britton practiced.
Some are there only to pass out information
pamphlets urging women against abortion; they
express opposition to violence against
abortionists...
...Derzis has developed a close friendship with one
regular protester and said ``there are some good,
well-meaning people who protest.''
*But* [emphasis added] videotapes made by Scott Morrow, a
Birmingham police officer Derzis hires for the days
abortions are performed, show protests where
emotions grow to fever-pitch.[Who could fail to be
unemotional over realization that human lives are
being brutally destroyed in a nearby building?
Expressed emotion is not necessarily a preamble
to violence. S.W.] In one, a protester begins
leaping into the air and shouting, and
another speaks in tongues. ["Look at these ridiculous
displays - who in their right mind could take these
people seriously," this statement seems to imply.
"Surely such actions only punctuate the idiocy of
these people and their cause". S.W.]
``I'll die for what I believe in, will you?'' a
protester on tape shouts at Derzis, adding:
``You're going to.''...
---end of quote---
What is ominously missing in articles of this kind is the FACTS of
abortion. The tactic here is to take the reader's focus away from the
true issue of the murder of the unborn, and place it on the protestors -
always putting them in the worst light possible. These recent shootings and
killings have only added more material for the media to publicize to
discredit the whole right-to-life movement.
PLAYING UPON PEOPLE'S FEELINGS
Slain Doctor's Son Fights On
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- The slaying of Dr.
David Gunn outside a Pensacola women's clinic in
1993 eliminated a prolific abortion provider. But
in its aftermath, a new voice arose -- that of
David Gunn Jr.
``David Jr. has really become a national
spokesman and a symbol,'' said Ron Fitzsimmons,
spokesman for the National Coalition of Abortion
Providers. ``He knows it, and he knows how to use
that role.'' [So does the media... S.W.]
Gunn, now 23, has been featured in national
advertisements for abortion rights groups and stays
busy on the talk show and campus lecture circuits...
...``I can't just be quiet,'' Gunn explained. ``I
really believe that I'm trying to keep someone else
from being hurt.'' [He would make a great pro-life
activist where his focus on the murder of the unborn
as well. S.W.]
He was always ``pro-choice,'' he said, but
became active in the debate only because ``we're
dealing with murders now. ["Now"? - as if the whole abortion
issue wasn't about murder to begin with! S.W.]
They're talking about killing human beings and
calling it justifiable homicide.'' [This statement
could be rewritten to say, "They're talking about
killing human beings and calling it abortion". S.W.]
Gunn's talks remind listeners that the doctor's
slaying cost him and his sister a loving father,
and he also talks about the violence and warns
``that it could happen here.'' [Now folks, believe
me, I am in great sympathy for the man in the tragic
loss of his father...but is he using it as a platform
to justify further murder of the unborn?? Please read
on S.W.] He believes his father was the victim of a
conspiracy by anti-abortion extremists, though activists
deny it.
He also serves as a rallying figure for those in
the abortion business. He led a procession of
abortionists to the spot where his father was
killed, and has served as an escort at clinics
undergoing mass anti-abortion demonstrations in
Little Rock, Ark., Jackson, Miss., and here...
...He does think often about his father.
``I just miss him,'' he said. ``I would trade
anything to have him back.''
---end of quote---
I can somewhat identify. I had an abortion in 1979 because I believed my
mother when she told me it wasn't a "baby" until you could feel it move.
"It's just a blob of cells," she said. I had gotten myself pregnant at an
"inconvenient" time in "embarrassing" circumstances. I finally came to the
decision to abort my baby through the influence and assurance that it "wasn't
a baby yet". So, believing those around me - who were no doubt
influenced by the media at that time, and taking the "easy" route, I had
an abortion.
Only when I became a Christian in 1985, did the full horror of what I had
done start to sink in. Through the ministry of "Last Days", founded by the
late Keith Green, I began to understand the truth about abortion. As I
looked through the pictures in their magazine of aborted babies, the full
realization that it was NOT just a blob of cells hit me like a ton of
bricks.
I too would trade anything to "have him" (or her) "back".
I don't blame David Gunn, Jr. for wanting to vindicate his father's
untimely death. I can understand the need he has for doing *something* he
feels is worthwhile to somehow assuage the pain he feels over his loss. But
to use the issue of abortion to do this is, in my mind, a sorely misguided
use of his energies. He could have just as well entered the fight against
violent crime in this country.
But I guarantee you, he would not have been as successful on getting on
talk show and campus lecture circuits, had this been his emphasis.
Please understand -- I in no way condone the killing of ANYONE for any
reason. The killings of these doctors and workers is as abhorrent to me as
any murder would be. My whole point is that the media has a powerful
position to sway the minds of the American public in what they present
and in the way they present it.
Be assured; the deliberate use of media, in subtle and not so subtle
ways, is a constant and intentional method of gaining public support for
the continued slaughter of the unborn.
In His Name:
Sandy Winn
Tucson, Arizona - the never ending beach
swinn@gas.uug.arizona.edu
jexy18a@prodigy.com
swinn@iclnet93.iclnet.org
All my words are my own and do not reflect the views of my
employer, the University of Arizona.
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