A rose is a rose, by any other name.
Yet, language is — sometimes — everything. The words we choose send messages and leave impressions. We’ve heard of “colorful language,” but in fact, all language is colorful — it colors the narrative we’re building.
As a bit of insight into the politics of HuffPost:
On Sunday, the site covered an event I wrote about as well: Tiffany Haddish’s cancellation of her Atlanta standup show (see my article here).
The Girls Trip star pulled out in protest of Georgia’s fetal heartbeat bill, set to go into effect in 2020.
In HuffPost’s piece, as noted by The Daily Caller, one word not found in their own description of the law is “heartbeat.”
Rather, the word is put in quotes; it seems the implication is that it’s wrongly used. As in, “Milli Vanilli were ‘singers’ who skyrocketed to fame.” Or so as to indicate, “They’re callin’ it this, but we ain’t!”
Judge for yourself:
The ‘heartbeat’ abortion law, signed by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) last month, bans the procedure as soon as a doctor can detect fetal cardiac activity, which typically happens about six weeks into a pregnancy — when many women are not yet aware they are pregnant.
To be fair, it’s an excellent writing practice to avoid repeating words and phrases. Since “heartbeat” is used at the beginning of the sentence, rewording the next instance is right on the money. But the Caller points out that the “cardiac” phrase is often used by HP in relation to abortion.
A few instances include “Illinois Passes Sweeping Abortion Rights Legislation” (in which they refer to “so-called ‘fetal heartbeat’ bills”), “Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards Signs 6-Week Abortion Ban,” (“[T]he Louisiana House passed what it termed a ‘fetal heartbeat’ bill”), and “Netflix Warns It May Rethink Entire Georgia Investment Over Abortion Law.” (“[C]hief Content Officer Ted Sarandos sounded the alarm on the law banning abortion once cardiac activity is detected in an embryo ― which bill sponsors inaccurately refer to as a “fetal heartbeat.”).
Want more? How ya like them apples:
“The Lawmakers Behind ‘Fetal Heartbeat’ Abortion Bans Are Lying To You” (“[I]t’s also based on the false premise that a ‘fetal heartbeat’ — a phrase often included in the bills’ titles — even exists at that stage of pregnancy”).
Technically, they’re not wrong; the first beats don’t come from a fully-formed heart.
Week 6, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic:
Growth is rapid this week. Just four weeks after conception, the neural tube along your baby’s back is closing. The baby’s brain and spinal cord will develop from the neural tube. The heart and other organs also are starting to form.
Structures necessary to the development of the eyes and ears develop. Small buds appear that will soon become arms. Your baby’s body begins to take on a C-shaped curvature.
If you’d like to read more, please check out this and this. The pulse comes from what will develop into the heart.
Yet, the gestational term “heartbeat” was in common use long before this current political debate.
Is HP’s avoidance of language an ode to biological accuracy or is it something else?
Food for thought.
Wanna steer even clearer of any indications of life? Check out The New York Times’s choice of words, back in May:
The measure would require an ultrasound test for any woman seeking to terminate a pregnancy, and forbid abortion if the test detects embryonic pulsing — which can occur before many women know they are pregnant.
All this language talk has gotten me frazzled. I’m gonna kick back and listen to some tunes.
Though he’s moreso known as an actor, Don Johnson had a great song back in the day — 1986’s “Cardiac Activity”:
And Kelly Clarkson came back with a vengeance in 2014 — got her pop ditty “Chest Cavity Pulsing Song” on my playlist.
Then I might switch over to Amy Grant — her “Every Cardiac Activity” is terrific.
If HuffPost plays music in their office, they might wanna put the kibosh on John Lennon. Sure, he wrote the left-wingingly iconic “Imagine;” but there was also this, from 1969’s Unfinished Music No.2: Life With The Lions album:
Embryonic pulsing, ladies and gentlemen.
-ALEX
Relevant RedState links in this article: here
See 3 more pieces from me:
Male Hurdler Competing In The NCAA Women’s Division Tells ESPN It’s The Women Who Have The Advantage
Find all my RedState work here.
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