Who Broke the Baby? What the Abortion Slogans Really Mean

Rating:
Summary: Credible and Convincing
Review: Dr. Garton continues to bring credible and convincing analysis of the sloganizing of the prochoice movement. This is not a book for the close-minded.

Prochoice people will naturally dislike this book, but for the open-minded prochoice person looking to get an understanding of how some prolife people see the abortion debate, "Who Broke the Baby?" will be quite informative.

At first glance, these slogans hit the core fears of a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, and feed at her most selfish intentions, that her life is more sacred than any other life. Broken down by Dr. Garton, these slogans are seen in their proper light, as fear-mongering mantras designed by people who are not concerned with her or her unborn baby.

Dr. Garton presents to women that they do have a choice, and shows them how they are being manipulated. Similarly, the media might not have had time to think about this bumper-sticker statements, but "Who Broke the Baby?" gives reporters a chance to know how they are being used.

Yes, there are a lot of issues that are complex for a mother to be to deal with. There is no denying the financial and logistical troubles she may face... but confusing her with the muddled thinking of men and women who think having childen is an insult to femininity is not the answer.

Recommended by C Everett Koop, and consistent with the theologies of both evangelicals and Catholics, Dr. Garton's book transcends denominations as she herself is part of mainline protestants, a Lutheran.

I fully recommend "Who Broke the Baby?" by Jean Staker Garton.

Anthony Trendl

Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking book - even after 22 years!
Review: Dr. Jean Garton, co-founder and president of Lutherans for Life, probes the true meaning behind much of the rhetoric and slogans used to justify abortion. She tackles all of the euphemisms:
"Every woman has a right to control her own body", "Every child a wanted child," "terminating pregnancy," "a fetus is not a person," "freedome to choose," "abortion is a private matter," "kids are gonna do it anyway," and many more.

This book should be required reading for anyone interested in life-issues. It is both intelligent and lucid. Written in a very easy to understand manner I cannot imagine someone holding onto pro-choice views after reading this fine work. It also avoids a lot of the emotionalism that many bring to the debate, presenting a very logical case.

Formerly an abortion supporter, Dr. Garton presents a personal, intelligent, and solid case for supporting a Culture of Life.

Rating:
Summary: Rhetoric full of distortions
Review: I get so TIRED of books that so slickly attempt to "know" what women who believe in pro-choice REALLY believe. I don't know ANY woman who IS pro-choice who thinks abortion is a good thing. Those of us who believe that it should be the woman's decision about what happens to our own bodies believe precisely that. We do not "believe" in abortion and many of us would not elect abortion if faced with that decison. What we DO believe is that no one else as the right to make our decisions FOR us. I know women who have chosen to abort who have gone through great agony in reaching that decision and who came to that decision only after much hard, serious thought, many painful discussions with other women AND men, and many, many sleepless nights. And after aborting, they continued to second-guess their decision for some time, until finally coming to terms with the fact that they did what was right for THEM given the circumstances of their lives. Women who believe in pro-choice do NOT "believe" in abortion -- they believe in their FREEDOM to make the most appropriate choice for them depending on the situations in which we live. People who decide to read books on this issue should be prepared to do so with an open mind and allow themselves to THINK based on what they read and to give themselves permission to CHANGE their minds accordingly. Passionate, unreasoned persuasion is no persuasion at all; it is nothing but acquescing to the rhetoric of mob behavior.

Rating:
Summary: Rhetoric full of distortions
Review: I get so TIRED of books that so slickly attempt to "know" what women who believe in pro-choice REALLY believe. I don't know ANY woman who IS pro-choice who thinks abortion is a good thing. Those of us who believe that it should be the woman's decision about what happens to our own bodies believe precisely that. We do not "believe" in abortion and many of us would not elect abortion if faced with that decison. What we DO believe is that no one else as the right to make our decisions FOR us. I know women who have chosen to abort who have gone through great agony in reaching that decision and who came to that decision only after much hard, serious thought, many painful discussions with other women AND men, and many, many sleepless nights. And after aborting, they continued to second-guess their decision for some time, until finally coming to terms with the fact that they did what was right for THEM given the circumstances of their lives. Women who believe in pro-choice do NOT "believe" in abortion -- they believe in their FREEDOM to make the most appropriate choice for them depending on the situations in which we live. People who decide to read books on this issue should be prepared to do so with an open mind and allow themselves to THINK based on what they read and to give themselves permission to CHANGE their minds accordingly. Passionate, unreasoned persuasion is no persuasion at all; it is nothing but acquescing to the rhetoric of mob behavior.

Rating:
Summary: Whoever controls the rhetoric controls the debate
Review: This book is all about the language of the abortion debate. It uncovers and dissects the rhetoric which the abortion choicers use to obfuscate the fact that abortion is the brutal axe murder of a defenseless child. For far too long, the abortion choicers have determined the language with which this political debate is discussed. The pro-life movement has allowed this to happen. Euphemisms have always been the tool of those who would hide the truth. The whole purpose of the book is to uncover the subterfuge. It does an excellent job of this. Unfortunately, many sincere people in the pro-life movement have fallen victim to the terminology of those who would excuse this horrible inhumanity to these tiny children. I urge every pro-life person to read this book thoroughly, commit to memory the information therein, and never again to let anyone get away with using language to rob people of their inalienable rights. The use of language in this manner has always been the tool of those who would legitimize evil. Do not let this continue to happen! Read this book and heed its message. Our very civilization depends on it.

Rating:
Summary: Poignant Arguments Against Abortion
Review: This book is an excellent addition to the library of any pro-life advocate. It contains carefully detailed political, scientific and biblical facts which get right to the heart of the pro-life/pro-choice argument. The author takes the focus off the woman and puts it where it rightfully belongs: on life itself. I plan to buy several copies of this book to give away as the need arises.

Rating:
Summary: Poignant Arguments Against Abortion
Review: This book is an excellent addition to the library of any pro-life advocate. It contains carefully detailed political, scientific and biblical facts which get right to the heart of the pro-life/pro-choice argument. The author takes the focus off the woman and puts it where it rightfully belongs: on life itself. I plan to buy several copies of this book to give away as the need arises.

Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is extremely academic and extremely intellectually stimulating. It doesn't try to argue against abortion with emotion, but rationality and scientific data. It amazed me because it addressed the exact arguments for abortion I'm always told, which makes such arguments seem like programming methods. BUY IT!

Rating:
Summary: Unpacking prochoice's slogans
Review: This is righton book which debunks the words that the prochoice movement uses. In an actual experience, Garton shows that most of the public listens only to the rhetoric being fired back and forth across the media, and never stops and asks the question about each slogan, "what does this mean?"

She does this for us in this book. As our culture has turned not to valuing all life, this small volume adds immensely to the Christian understanding.

Rating:
Summary: Great BOOK! VERY TOUCHING!
Review: This was a great book ,very touching and moving too. it's a must read for anyone. this book is simple to read and looks over some tough cases concering abortion and so on, i think that this book is great for anyone who is pregaunt and is considering abotion or someone who has gotten one or anyone that is pro-choice or pro-life