One of the most popular and beloved characterizations of the unborn child was not about a child at all nor was it about abortion. It was Theodor Geisel’s [Dr. Seuss’s] powerful message “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” spoken by Horton, the elephant in Dr. Seuss’s classic Horton Hears a Who. His rationale for his unwavering efforts to rescue the residents of Whoville, who were “too small to be seen by an elephant’s eyes,” was encapsulated in the phrase “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
To proceed, this approach is problematic for pro-abortionists, as it humanizes and draws attention to the littlest American. It was also not well-received by Geisel’s widow, who expressed concern that people were “hijacking” Dr. Seuss characters or material to advance their own agendas.
I recently re-read Horton Hears a Who, a children’s book by Dr. Seuss. It is not a one-dimensional work, but rather, part of a larger, multifaceted narrative. The book offers a multitude of insights and observations, many of which are lyrical in nature. It teaches life-affirming lessons about the importance of protecting the voiceless, the centrality of standing up for the powerless, and the absolute necessity of never allowing ridicule to detour you from doing what is right.
I recently re-read this article due to a particularly contentious column written by Mary Sanchez. The article’s headline, “How the language is shifting on abortion,” was particularly noteworthy. It appeared to be a response to a physician on Fox News who was discussing heartbeat laws in the context of the Associated Press’s new politically correct guidelines.
“I can only quote Dr. Seuss who said, ‘A person is a person no matter how small,”‘ said Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, founder of MyCatholicDoctor. “And likewise, a heartbeat is a heartbeat, no matter how small.”
Berchelmann was riffing off Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who,” the whimsical story of an elephant with a big heart and acute hearing. He hears the people, an entire community of Who’s in a speck of dust and insistently embarks on protecting them, eventually saving all of Whoville. It’s a great children’s story.
And then she lowers the hammer:
But to cite a line from this story, instead of having an adult conversation about human development, is in line with the idea that a stork delivers babies to parents.
Two points merit consideration. First, I have previously addressed the changes to the AP’s Stylebook on several occasions. The “abortion topical guide” is an ill-considered addition. For example
“Do not use the term ‘late-term abortion,’” The AP intoned. “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.”
The final week of pregnancy is the only period during which a “late-term abortion” can be performed. This is because, as previously stated, abortions do not occur during this period. Therefore, a late-term abortion is not possible. As previously stated.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone not employed by the abortion industry (or similarly influenced, such as the AP) would accept the veracity of such claims. It is therefore necessary to ascertain the source of this information. Is it Planned Parenthood? If so, it is evident that they have no vested interest in the matter. Consequently, when they state that there is no such thing as a ‘late-term abortion’, it can be assumed that this is indeed the case.
Secondly, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is a valuable resource for those advocating for abortion rights. ACOG’s stance on the matter is clear: it is not accurate to refer to the fetal heartbeat as a “heartbeat.” Instead, ACOG recommends using the term “cardiac activity.”
However, this assertion is not entirely accurate. Christina Francis, the CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists (AAPLOG), informed Fox News Digital that the AP’s reliance on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is flawed.
“ACOG only denies the existence of the embryonic heart when it inconveniences the pro-abortion agenda.”
“By six weeks’ gestation, the human embryo has developed an organ that contracts rhythmically to pump blood through its body, aiding in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood — in other words, a heart.”
Sanchez concludes with a flourish:
Some of the proposed vocabulary may appear too clinical and devoid of emotion to be employed effectively by either anti-abortion or abortion rights groups. However, if the objective is to achieve fairness and accuracy, as it should be for news reporters, this is an excellent starting point.
A starting point and conclusion could be fairness and accuracy. It is regrettable that neither ACOG nor Sanchez are anywhere near the starting block, let alone the finishing line.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
