Interpersonal Tips

Remain Calm and Empathetic

Bear in mind that abortion is a topic that really inflames people’s passions, so you want to do your best to keep the conversation on a rational, intellectual plane. It is of paramount importance to go overboard in being respectful and sensitive, even if the other person is being angry and confrontational. Doing so will give you the moral high-ground in the discussion and make it more likely that your words will have an impact.

This is such a touchy topic not because anyone likes abortion per se; rather, people feel very strongly about the social problems for which abortion is seen as a solution. When we condemn the solution, they consider it a callous disregard for those problems or even a promotion of them. Therefore, you should be quick to acknowledge with great empathy the personal and social problems that underlie the practice of abortion. Stress that pro-lifers absolutely have a duty to address the larger social and cultural disorders of which abortion is a symptom.

Acknowledge Common Ground

Another tactic for earning respect is to emphasize common ground. You should not pretend to agree with the pro-choicer more than you do or dwell on common ground at the expense of the overall argument. But, when points of agreement come up, draw attention to them. Doing so will make it easier for the other person to identify with you; as a result, he will subconsciously be more open to considering the intellectual merit of your arguments on points of disagreement.

Don’t Reinforce Negative Stereotypes

Avoid reinforcing negative stereotypes. The media likes to characterize the pro-life movement as a bunch of dogmatic religious fanatics incapable of thinking critically, trying to shove an out-dated medieval doctrine down the throats of society. Religion has something valuable to contribute to this topic, because ultimately one can argue that the dignity that attends personhood has its roots in theological concerns. For better or worse, though, our society has taken this dignity for granted and abstracted it away from its religious origins, so we can appeal to it without getting into sectarian dogmas. As we said before, society is rightfully wary of letting sectarian dogma dictate policy, so explicitly bringing religion into the discussion can be counterproductive, especially in a secular context like a university.

Be Sensitive with Analogies

Use caution with racially sensitive analogies. Lots of pro-lifers like to talk about the “Abortion Holocaust” or compare their mission to that of 19th-century abolitionists. The analogies might be legitimate and useful if understood properly, but some people will be so offended that you’re co-opting a sensitive or sacred element of their ethnic past that they won’t be open to hearing you out. So be sensitive and know your audience.