This new West Kelowna billboard is designed to spark debate on abortion rights.
Image Credit: Submitted/Kelowna Right to Life Society
August 04, 2021 - 6:30 AM
A new anti-abortion billboard in West Kelowna simply says “Abortion is Not healthcare” and “Pregnancy is not a disease.”
But, a news release issued by the Kelowna Right to Life Society suggests that those who have a different view are like the Nazis or American slave owners.
“Language is a very powerful tool in shaping public perception and swaying public opinion,” the news release states. “As history has shown, positive, appealing terms can mask even the most egregious injustices. The unthinkable realities of Auschwitz and Dachau were obscured by talk of ‘relocation centres’ and ‘work camps.’ The American public bought the idea of a ‘constitutional right’ to own slaves. In much the same way, abortion has been sold as ‘freedom of choice,’ ‘healthcare’ and ‘a reproductive service.’”
Being likened to Nazis is not new to the Kelowna and District Pro-Choice Action Society.
“They’ve done that more than once,” Donna Campbell, chair of the group, told iNFOnews.ca “I don’t know what we can do about their opinion of us. We don’t go out and try to attack them but it seems to be very important for them to be attacking us.”
The two have clashed over billboards in the past. A complaint to Ad Standards resulted in a billboard being removed that read “Our right to life does not depend on our location.”
It was ordered to be taken down by Ad Standards because it was considered to be denigrating to women and misinformed the public by suggesting late-term abortions are common in Canada.
A newer billboard that read “Abortion Hurts Men, Too,” and “Many Grieve their Lost Children,” also triggered a complaint in 2019.
READ MORE: Anti-abortion billboard in West Kelowna still standing despite complaint
Campbell will talk to other board members to determine if this latest effort is worth challenging but noted it’s an “onerous task” trying to demonstrate that the language is unacceptable.
She did agree that her group considers abortion to be healthcare and can certainly agree that pregnancy is not a disease.
“That goes right along with their usual tactics to try to twist things just a little bit so it almost sounds logical unless you have a critical mind,” Campbell said. “Most people actually get more angry at these billboards. They do themselves more of a disservice than they realize.”
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