Self-contradiction is epitomized by Exhale, the online service for post-abortive women that presents abortion as a tragedy for some and victory for others. The pluralistic themes of its electronic greeting cards have sparked some controversy, leading to a March 16 CNN Headline News interview/debate featuring the FRC's Dr. Charmaine Yoest (VP Communications, Reasoned Audacity) and Exhale Executive Director Aspen Baker.
I suggest you watch the short video clip - click here. The first question is a logical fallacy and is directed to Charmaine: "What's wrong with lending someone support, especially at a time when a woman may need it more than every." Can you say Plurium Interrogationum? It's when an interviewer uses a question with a false, disputed, or question-begging presupposition.
No, it didn't phase Charmaine. Here's her response:
It's very important to lend women support following abortion. In fact, for years the pro-life movement has been talking about the reality of the post-abortion depression. And so from that perspective we're really pleased to see that the reality of what woman deal with after abortion is getting out there and its really interesting to me to see the abortion movement try to come to grips with that.But the truth that they are not coming to grips with is they're glossing over the loss of life of the unborn baby and that's what these woman are grieving and you really can't have it both ways. It's a little schizophrenic to say 'I'm grieving with you' [and] 'I appreciate your loss' without really coming to terms with that loss and you're not helping women in that.
For example, I think what they are trying to do here is kind of make an analogy between a miscarriage and abortion. But when you look at the data on post-abortion depression there's a tremendous difference between the grief trajectory that woman experience between miscarriages and abortion.Aspen is asked whether or not Exhale glosses over the loss of a baby. Her answer does exactly that:So what really troubles me about these cards is this whole effort to gloss over the very deep reality of the grief that post-abortion woman are feeling.
Everyone's experience with abortion is unique and we've talked with thousands of woman and men through our after abortion talkline and have heard [the] wide range of feelings and experiences and responses and needs that people have in relation to an abortion. And so, the wide range of themes that we have on the ecards really respond to what we have heard from woman themselves.But what about the unborn baby?
Charmaine suggested that every woman needs help after an abortion and we agree. Groups like AfterAbortion and Racheal's Vineyard are better help than a confusing "get well" (?) card.
Previously:
A Hallmark-Like "E-Card" for Post-Abortion Women
1. Good work, Charmaine!
2. It's great that CNN is paying attention to this. It's about time the fact that women don't just dance gaily out of abortion clinics started to get some coverage.