To say that it is a tad schizophrenic would be an understatement.
Two-thirds of the country said the term “pro-life” describes them well, while 70 percent of the country said the term “pro-choice” describes them well. Researchers said people think they’re both. Those who are opposed to abortion think it is among the most critical issues for the country—those who support abortion don’t think it’s a critical issue.
Biiig surprise there. For fetus fetishists, abortion is the ONLY issue.
The study also looks at attitudes towards equal marriage. Millennials (aged 18-29) are way more accepting of same-sex relationships than their elders, but view abortion about as insanely as their parents and grandparents.
HuffPo speculates:
But, why are Millennials so much more supportive of equal marriage for gays and lesbians when compared to the general public than they are of abortion?
My view is that the sheer volume of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people who have come out over the last 25 years has helped to transform public perceptions of same sex relationships. Millennial youth have known GLBT people as family, friends, fellow students, and work colleagues for decades. They know their stories and have glimpsed the reality of their lives. The thought that these individuals should somehow be denied the same rights as straight folks strikes Millennial youth as a social and moral non sequitur. It just doesn't make sense.
When it comes to abortion on the other hand, millennial youth do not have a comparable experience of knowing the stories of women who have had abortions -- whether pre- or post-Roe v. Wade. Plus, the anti-choice movement has successfully stigmatized abortion with its tactics of clinic intimidation, restrictive legislation, and conservative religious opposition.
But see? This is where the The MTV Effect comes into play.
MTV has two teen pregnancy shows: 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom.
About 17% of Americans have seen one or both teen pregnancy shows on MTV and they're more likely (65% to 56% of people who haven't watched the shows) to say abortion should be legal and to say it's morally acceptable (48% to 40%). PRRI [Public Religion Research Institute] calls this 'The MTV effect."
People are more inclined to have a positive view of the legality of abortion if they consider it in the context of an individual situation, if they know someone who had had an abortion, or if they've watched MTV's reality show on unmarried pregnant teens.
Simple. You know gay people; you accept that they have rights. You know or know of young women with unplanned pregnancies; you accept they should have options.
Now here's a genius remark:
“At the end of the day, Americans are committed to the availability of abortion, and conflicted about its morality,’’ Jones said. “I would call it a stable tension.’’
Yeah. Or USian batshittery.
In any event, the challenge for sane, pro-choice Merkins is huge but clear: normalize abortion.
In stark contrast, Canadians have moved on. A recent poll in the Sudbury Star showed that 85% of participants do not want abortion 'debate' reopened vs. only 13% who do.
Canada -- despite our
(March 2010, EKOS poll).
3 comments:
You say "pendants" but do you mean "pedants"?
Old silly joke. . .
Marriage equality bill introduced in New York today. ( http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/andrew-cuomo-sends-ny-gay-marriage-bill-to-the-state-legislature.php ) And the governor has already said that he wouldn't do it until he was sure he had the votes to win. The foundations of the citadels of hate are slowly eroding into dust.
SAY not the struggle naught availeth,
The labour and the wounds are vain,
The enemy faints not, nor faileth,
And as things have been, they remain.
If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars;
It may be, in yon smoke conceal'd,
Your comrades chase e'en now the fliers,
And, but for you, possess the field.
For while the tired waves, vainly breaking,
Seem here no painful inch to gain,
Far back, through creeks and inlets making,
Comes silent, flooding in, the main.
And not by eastern windows only,
When daylight comes, comes in the light;
In front the sun climbs slow, how slowly!
But westward, look, the land is bright!
Arthur Hugh Clough
Post a Comment