KERNEL EDITORIAL: Anti-abortion group doesn't promote intelligent dialogue
Kernel Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Opinions
UK Students for Life has embarked on a campaign to spread awareness of their opinion on the controversial issue of abortion by bringing an anti-abortion group called the Genocide Awareness Project.
While all individuals and student groups should be encouraged to express their opinions, especially during a presidential election year, the strategies that Students for Life employed for the purposes of conveying their side of the abortion issue are inappropriate and are not conducive to the intellectual discourse that ideally should take place on a college campus.
The images used by GAP utilize a scare-tactic technique meant to upset students into supporting the anti-choice stance rather than giving them facts on the issue or encouraging them to take the time to examine the subject intellectually and for themselves. Shocking students into agreement with a particular stance is not an appropriate practice for a college campus where all sides of any topic should be considered when making an informed decision. The posters do not provide information or data to undecided students or create an environment where conversation is encouraged; instead, they work against the intellectual discourse that is at the very heart of a college campus.
This board must also reject GAP's claim that abortion is an act of genocide. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group." No particular racial, political or cultural group is being deliberately or systematically targeted by individuals who choose abortion. Deliberately calling abortion an act of genocide is more than a mistake in diction, it's irresponsible and deceitful.
In addition, we are disappointed by the lack of efforts that the GAP organizers put into publicizing their event prior to its commencement. Publicizing the event beforehand not only helps the group's efforts to reach a broader audience, it also invites dissenting individuals and student groups to give their own presentations on the subject, thus inciting an actual discussion that is meaningful to those involved. Still, it's not too late for abortion-rights groups on campus to organize events aimed to inform the campus of their opinions and the reasoning behind them.
In the future, we would like to see both anti-abortion and abortion rights groups holding events on campus that encourage discussions among the student body. Displaying bloody and repulsive images may have its shock value, but it does little to promote an intelligent discussion on the issue of abortion.
While all individuals and student groups should be encouraged to express their opinions, especially during a presidential election year, the strategies that Students for Life employed for the purposes of conveying their side of the abortion issue are inappropriate and are not conducive to the intellectual discourse that ideally should take place on a college campus.
The images used by GAP utilize a scare-tactic technique meant to upset students into supporting the anti-choice stance rather than giving them facts on the issue or encouraging them to take the time to examine the subject intellectually and for themselves. Shocking students into agreement with a particular stance is not an appropriate practice for a college campus where all sides of any topic should be considered when making an informed decision. The posters do not provide information or data to undecided students or create an environment where conversation is encouraged; instead, they work against the intellectual discourse that is at the very heart of a college campus.
This board must also reject GAP's claim that abortion is an act of genocide. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group." No particular racial, political or cultural group is being deliberately or systematically targeted by individuals who choose abortion. Deliberately calling abortion an act of genocide is more than a mistake in diction, it's irresponsible and deceitful.
In addition, we are disappointed by the lack of efforts that the GAP organizers put into publicizing their event prior to its commencement. Publicizing the event beforehand not only helps the group's efforts to reach a broader audience, it also invites dissenting individuals and student groups to give their own presentations on the subject, thus inciting an actual discussion that is meaningful to those involved. Still, it's not too late for abortion-rights groups on campus to organize events aimed to inform the campus of their opinions and the reasoning behind them.
In the future, we would like to see both anti-abortion and abortion rights groups holding events on campus that encourage discussions among the student body. Displaying bloody and repulsive images may have its shock value, but it does little to promote an intelligent discussion on the issue of abortion.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Byron West
posted 4/04/08 @ 9:21 AM EST
I find the Kernel editorial board's view on this subject to be predictably myopic. Like it or not, abortion has horrific consequences, and you need to know this is what they look like. (Continued…)
mysticalrose1004
Lauren Marquis
posted 4/04/08 @ 9:46 AM EST
For a journalistic publication that claims to be promoting free speech and student rights, I believe that in this case the Kernel is doing neither. The GAP was not breaking any laws and was completely within their rights having that display. (Continued…)
Jesse
posted 4/06/08 @ 3:23 PM EST
As a volunteer with GAP first at the University of Louisville, then at U of K, and finally at Transylvania, I can assure you that GAP does indeed foster discussion. (Continued…)
Carol Tomljanvovich
posted 4/08/08 @ 3:06 PM EST
It's too bad that the babies pictured in the photo displays don't have an "intelligent voice" with which to state his/her viewpoint and argument against abortion. (Continued…)
Sheree Lally
posted 4/08/08 @ 3:50 PM EST
What kind of discourse is needed when the only question should be whether or not abortion takes a life? If abortion takes a life, then we needn't talk about the numbers of soldiers killed in the Iraq war because the total number to date is less than the number of lives taken each day by abortion across the land. (Continued…)
Rob Ludwig
posted 4/08/08 @ 4:46 PM EST
When you get down to basics, one abortion is murder. Only multiple abortions are genocide.
Debbie Ekpenyong
posted 4/08/08 @ 8:45 PM EST
Dear Sir/Madam:
After reading your article I have some questions and wonder if you would be willing to answer them. The first is ...Is shocking untruthful or simply inconvenient? It seems that there have been other exhibits allowed on the College campus that are shocking (like a cross dipped in a bucket of urine) but no one seemed to care about the shocking nature of that except those to whom the cross represents something sacred. (Continued…)
Joan Smith
posted 4/08/08 @ 9:48 PM EST
As a Registered Nurse specializing in Labor and Delivery and Emergency nursing,I totally agree with showning the reality of abortion. After the legalization of abortion graphic pictures were used to inform people as to what abortion is, it is not a pretty picture, and the pictures were very accurate and yes hard to look at. (Continued…)
Peggy Parrino
posted 4/09/08 @ 11:39 AM EST
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. Knowing what abortion really is sets one free to decide whether it is right or wrong. The pro-choice side does not want anyone to see what abortion does to our youngest human beings because it wants to choose to destroy them for its own convenience. (Continued…)
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