extremists

[keryx]

Planned Parenthood sent me an email today about Harriet Miers' 'extremist views' being exposed, and it made me giggle, in a gallowsy way.

Was anyone really suprised [sure we're not happy about it, but were you really shocked?] to find out she's adamantly anti-abortion? I mean, hello - evangelical Christian! I'm sure there are evangelicals who are pro-choice, but it's not exactly the norm.

I'm a bit bothered by the disrespect that movements exhibit towards each other. Being strongly anti-abortion isn't any more extremist than my staunch pro-abortion position. Calling someone "extremist" is just a means of discrediting them, and it shouldn't be. Extremists make change happen; they're visionaries and activists if you agree with them, after all.

Comments

[keryx.livejournal.com]

My disagreement stems from a desire to understand the other side, I guess (although as you mentioned, the word choice here is a niggling detail, doesn't matter that much) - from their perspective, anyone who wants to increase access to abortion is practicing murder or at least reckless disregard for life.

And of course, I feel the same about them.