
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 27, 1993                   TAG: 9303290411
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SHOULD SEMANTICS SHAPE CONVICTIONS?

THE TRAGIC shooting death that occurred outside the Florida abortion clinic has generated a lot of rhetoric for media consumption.

We see in Associated Press stories references to an individual identified as an "anti-abortion activist." We rarely see a release that makes reference to "pro-life" advocates. In contrast, we may hear the clinic protesters refer to the professionals within as "the baby killers." In an age of communication, we attach great significance to semantics.

To quote Carl Sagan, "In our everyday life, we effortlessly incorporate cultural motifs and norms and make them our own." The best example would be the prevalent acceptance of the media expression "abortion rights." Many Americans now believe what the courts have affirmed: Abortion is a constitutional right! JOHN WOOLWINE ROANOKE

by CNB