Calling Evil by its Name

Francis W. Porretto has a Sunday Rumination up today over at Eternity Road entitled The Naming of Names. It is a discussion yet again of the importance of calling things by their actual names, and not letting the Left get away with changing the language in an effort to change the debate. If you allow them to "name" things, and to frame the debate, you have already lost the argument. He gives as an example, partial birth abortion, which is sometimes referred to as "Safe medical procedure." Of course the real name of this heinous act is "infanticide." Here's the money quote:

The power of names is nowhere so clear, or so important, as in our struggles against the death cults of our time. Death cultists must numb us to the moral implications of their proposals; therefore, they use euphemisms, linguistic diversions, and when attacked, slander and vilification of their opponents. They know the power of names, and seek to have it employed solely in service to their cause. Dare not call it a "partial-birth abortion;" that's far too accurate! No, it must be a "safe medical procedure" to ensure "women's health and safety." Dare not call it "mercy killing;" no, no, what we do here is "the ending of intolerable suffering" of one who has no remaining "quality of life." And "embryonic stem-cell research" must be referred to exclusively as "the pursuit of scientific knowledge," inarguably in the interests of all Mankind. After all, who doesn't want to live forever, regardless of the price...or of who must pay it?

If human life is sacred -- if each of us, however puissant or helpless, has a natural, God-given right to his life -- then the above is a vileness beyond quantification. It must be opposed at every turn. The principal battlefield, victory over which is critical to victory in any other forum, is the power of names.

Just so. Go read the whole post.