A Persuasive Sign, But How So?
According to Aristotle, the art of rhetoric aims at persuasion. The rhetorician seeks to motivate a change in belief or opinion. It is with this definition in mind that I shake my head at a sign apparently distributed by the American Life League that reads, “BURY OBAMACARE WITH KENNEDY.” Some thought might have gone into the sign’s use of alliteration; I’m not sure what the writer of the sign was thinking regarding its persuasive effect.
It’s in the interest of the American Life League, which is currently engaged in a campaign against the current healthcare reform plans, and even against prominent and respected Catholic organizations for their advocating urgent healthcare reform, to persuade people that it truly and genuinely operates in the service of life. Those who attack healthcare reform efforts run the risk of appearing apathetic towards people’s real life needs. They may care deeply for such needs, of course, but a perception to the contrary is likely and ought to be considered and countered. Matthew Yglesias, for example, sees the American Life League as “apparently the kind of pro-life organization that thinks that it would be terrible if people who get sick could have access to medical care.” I don’t think that’s a fair description on his part, but it indicates how the American Life League is being perceived by people outside the pro-life movement—the very people it needs to persuade if it hopes to fulfill its agenda.
The sign makes use of the language of death, particularly the language of violence and killing: “BURY OBAMACARE” implies first killing “OBAMACARE” since “OBAMACARE” is still alive. I have no doubt that the phrase “WITH KENNEDY” is being widely perceived as exploitative of the recently deceased, disrespectful to the late Senator, and not a very pro-life thing to say. The meaning of these metaphors and their inconsistency with the name of their source won’t be lost on those who view this sign. Unfortunately, it is much more likely to promote the belief that pro-life groups really aren’t pro-life than it is to promote healthcare reform that respects life.
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In their own way, ALL is being very helpful to the President. Keep on keeping on.
That sign was distributed by ALL? Disgusting.
Just another act of ignorance by members of the pro-life movement that makes me want to have nothing to do with my fellow Catholic pro-life brothers and sisters. It’s too bad they don’t understand Consistent Life Ethic….
Disgusting. Also interesting to note that the signs look remarkably like Obama campaign/Organizing for America signs in color scheme. Clearly trying to play off that, as well.
Remember, Judie Brown is on record defending torture. Her advocacy on this issue is actually setting back the pro-life cause, dramatically.
Most of the big pro-life organizations are anything but. The National Right to Life Committee cannot be trusted, for example. I know a few of the higher ups in that organization personally and have had first hand experience with how they “work.”
MI: can you explain? I’m curious.
“I don’t think that’s a fair description on his part, but it indicates how the American Life League is being perceived by people outside the pro-life movement . . .”
I’d say that it is a fair description of how ALL is perceived by people within the pro-life movement.
Well, I won’t get into the people I know or what I have seen them personally do, but I’ll say that at one time I went to the same parish as a family who was actively involved with the NRLC. A couple of them held high positions on the national level of the organization. It is often said that the NRLC is simply a tool of the republican party and that’s is indeed a fact. But more, I witnessed these people actively undermining the teaching of the u.s. bishops and breaking church policies in the way they distributed their republican materials. They are also deeply and directly connected with an insidious, fascist brand of “Christian” politics, the “Take Back America for Christ” kind of stuff.
I assume that the sign was a reference to all the talk about passing health care reform for Teddy Kennedy. I don’t perceive anything violent in the message.
The point isn’t that it’s violent. The point is that it is grossly uncharitable and only serves to confirm the views of many in the “moderate middle” that the pro-life movement has nothing to do with true compassion or true Christianity. If we want to end the laws that victimize the unborn, we need to make more people pro-life. Crap like this makes more people pro-choice. It really does not take a rocket scientist to see that.
But, of course, because I think that it is possible for the pro-life movement to become over-zealous and end up taking actions that are counterproductive to its efforts to protect the unborn, I must be a “pro-abort.”
Mickey, I didn’t make that accusation. It’s not my intention to accuse you of supporting abortion. The original article did make reference to the signs as using the language of death, violence, and killing. I don’t think that’s a fair assessment, so I said so. I also don’t think the signs are uncharitable.
Appallingly bad judgment by the ALL. Tasteless and unnecessary.
Respecting life also includes a proper respect for the dead. To exploit the death of Kennedy to make a “clever” statement against health care reform not only is tasteless, it is indicative that ALL doesn’t understand the fundamental interior dispositions one must have to truly respect life. Uncharitable? Guess it depends on what you mean. In any case, there is certainly no charity in this little stunt.
I believe that the point of the signs was to call President Obama on his exploitation of Kennedy’s death.
Except the President did not exploit Senator Kennedy’s death.
The sign was disgusting and is further indication that no decent person should have anything to do with ALL.
ALL give no indication of actually caring to win protections for the unborn. Their behavior matches the tactics of the Communist Party in the 1930s and 1940s — to drive out the decent elements so they are in control of of a movement (be it the workers movement or the pro-life movement).
ALL appears to put its own lust for center stage over protections for the unborn.
I felt that his speech to Congress did exploit Senator Kennedy’s death. Many other people have called for passage of the bills “for” Ted Kennedy. I can’t speak to ALL’s tactics overall.
I felt that his speech to Congress did exploit Senator Kennedy’s death. Many other people have called for passage of the bills “for” Ted Kennedy.
How you “feel” about it is irrelevant. It is not “exploitation” to press for something that the deceased person fought for in his or her life.
Michael, I was trying to phrase that politely. If you’d prefer, let me say it bluntly: the President’s speech was disgustingly exploitative, riddled with lies, and slanderous. No one is entitled to free passage of his favorite legislation upon his death.
Pinky – Whether you say it in a manner polite or impolite, what you are saying about “exploitation” is inaccurate.
Pinky,
The only slander is what you said about the President.
Obama and Kennedy were friends. Kennedy endorsed Obama. At face value, calling for the passage of the kind of reform that Kennedy fought for all his life doesn’t seem to exploit his death, but to honor his life. And it hardly refers to some entitlement after death. If it is worthwhile to do then, yes, do it for the one who stood for it in life. If you don’t think it is worthwhile, then just say so.
Whereas ALL proclaims “bury it when you bury him!” Whether one agrees at all with a proposed health reform or liked or disliked Kennedy, that kind of adolescent crap violates basic manners and civility; something conservatives used to, in theory at least, say they stood for.
The anti abortion fringe–the ones who get all the attention–seem far less concerned about saving babies than about indulging their own vindictiveness. People like ALL’s Judie Brown to name just one, long ago gave up any pretense of civility and turned the movement into a magnet for vengeful people seeking a place to unload their anger and frustration for whatever is lacking in their sorry lives. Today’s anti abortion movement provides them the camaraderie of others like themselves and a “Christian” outlet for their hatred. Not surprisingly, the movement has become a mirror image of today’s Republican Party, the town hall screamers, marginalized and adrift in a sea of anger. Pitiful really.
Exploiting Kennedy? huh? Healthcare reform was the cause of Kennedy’s life. There is no better way to honor is legacy than to finally get healthcare reform passed.
Can we get Blackadder, DarwinChristian and more reasonable conservatives to post here more often?
*gasp* healthcare not tied to employment ? Commies! We WANT pre-existing conditions, dammit.
What to answer an insurance guy when he points out a pre-existing condition ? “Well, I wasn’t born yesterday!”
That concept alone condemns the system. Pre-existing condition. Unreal. Socially, this country is about 100 years behind other industrialized nations.
As Brecht said, the dumbest calves elect their own butchers. You’ll find plenty of people advocating their own getting shafted. Nono, I WANT to pay extra for COBRA ! (ever been on that? lmao good times) Socialism eww! I LOVE new doctors every time I change my job, and having no insurance is only motivating me /sarcasm.
Even my doctor-cum-bachelor wife used to react with disdain to the term socialized. Must be drilled into people here from early on. Are there more idiots here than in Europe or are they just more vocal and powerful here ? The special feature is definitely the unholy union of “Christianity” (which has about as much Jesus in it as “I can’t believe it’s not butter butter”) with what can only be rabies. If anything, that’s Christendom.
the term socialized. Must be drilled into people here from early on. Are there more idiots here than in Europe or are they just more vocal and powerful here ?
The term ‘socialism’ has negative power here because it is considered something foreign and not because of what it is. That is why it is used against Obama, who is no socialist. Because he is Kenyan; he is Black; he is not ‘one of us.’ ‘Socialism’ fits quite well.
None of the venom like that against the President was ever directed against Walter Reuther, who was this nation’s most effective Socialist.
like soccer and the metric system, Kurt ;)
Exactly Gerald.
And may I ask, if European Socialism is so bad, why did the American Right wing support massive CIA funding of the western European Socailist parties during the Cold War?
Kurt, I don’t know about Blackadder or DarwinChristian, but in general sites attract people by treating all participants with respect, and listening to all points of view.
I can see all the Commie kids play football (American football should be called handball) in the huge communist err community park across the street. Those reds will stop at nothing.