Gary Nelson: What do we call sale of babies’ bodies?

The study of language and how it is used to influence popular thought is an interesting topic. For instance, those who have violated immigration rules by entering this country unlawfully were once called illegal aliens. Today we call them undocumented workers or undocumented immigrants. Not sure where that semantic sophistry will go next.

At one time there were those who were identified as pro-life, and there were those who were considered pro-abortion. Being in favor of abortion seemed a bit negative for some folks, so they began to identify themselves as pro-choice, which put a much more positive spin to it. Who wouldn’t want the right to choose?

But the recent years have found that the choice mantra was a bit tarnished, since those women who feel they have to seek an abortion rarely feel like they had any kind of choice in the matter. Quite the contrary. So the language has spun into the need for reproductive rights of the patient. And for an employer to refuse that as part of their health-care plan is simply cruel.

Now, insofar as dismembered fetuses are being sold for profit, should we properly call it cannibalism?

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Gary Nelson: What do we call sale of babies’ bodies?."