La Shawn Barber comments astutely on NPR's new guideline on how to talk about the abortion debate. NPR instructs its staff to no longer refer to pro-life people as "pro-life," but instead as "abortion rights opponents." NPR bills that a "neutral position." Uh huh. In addition to the original "Bill of Rights," Barber observes:
Our rights have expanded to include the right to health care and housing we can’t afford, the right of privacy to kill unborn babies, and the right to not be offended. In 2010, these rights are on the same level as the right to free speech, free exercise of religion, and free association.
She goes on to suggest how lame stream news organizations should henceforth frame their stories:
- Refer to abortion supporters as “right to life opponents”
- Refer to gun control supporters as “gun rights opponents”
- Refer to “hate speech” backers as “speech rights opponents”
- Refer to racial preferences advocates as “constitutional rights opponents”