A recent change in a writing and style guide used by major news organizations has some people questioning the motive behind the modification.
The Associated Press (AP) is a 170-year-old organization and boasts on its ethics page that “more than half the world’s population sees AP news content on any given day.” Yes, its platform is wide and powerful so its message matters.
The organization tweeted on Tuesday a new change to its stylebook in how late-term abortion will be defined.
“Do not use the term ‘late-term abortion.’ The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines late term as 41 weeks through 41 weeks and 6 days of gestation, and abortion does not happen in this period,” it tweeted.
“Instead, use the term ‘abortion later in pregnancy’ if a general term is needed, but be aware that there are varying definitions of the time period involved. Be specific when possible,” the tweet continued.
Do not use the term “late-term abortion.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines late term as 41 weeks through 41 weeks and 6 days of gestation, and abortion does not happen in this period. pic.twitter.com/KjT1k9rDSS
— APStylebook (@APStylebook) December 6, 2022
The tweet generated a slew of responses attacking the organization for the new guidelines put forth to refer to late-term abortion.
Why argue semantics?
Let’s just stick with “murdering the unborn.”
That covers all the timelines.— Mister Retrops (@_retrops) December 6, 2022
Since babies are viable outside the womb at 22 weeks we really should just be calling 3rd trimester abortions exactly what they are: murder
— Liz Mac (@TheLizMac) December 7, 2022
The change in terminology is yet another grab for power over political narratives under the guise of being “politically correct.”
This is the same association that ordered its journalists not to use the term “riot” to describe the destruction caused by Black Lives Matter and Antifa during the summer of 2020 because it “suggests uncontrolled chaos and pandemonium” instead of focusing on the “underlying grievance” of Black protesters against the system.
The change in terminology of late-term abortion is just the latest in a long line of changes that have catered to the radical left and its agendas. In recent years, we’ve seen changes in the definition of vaccine by the CDC, the meaning of fascism and even the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is changing definitions to appease political agendas.
Let’s call a spade a spade and say what this really is. This is an attempt to neutralize the horrific reality of taking a full-term baby’s life away.
For those who believe in the sanctity of life, there is no “proper way” of labeling this heinous act. For those who believe life is disposable if you don’t want it, they try to render it harmless and comfort themselves by renaming it.
