By Luis Zaffirini

What would an advertisement for "abortion services" look like? It would likely encourage women facing an unplanned pregnancy to abort and display a price and contact information.

However, if it is a news article, you'd expect contact information for a pro-life organization, information about fetal development, alternatives, and information about abortion complications and the real psychological consequences.

So what did readers of the D.C. area Washington Hispanic get in an article titled "El aborto, ¿opción o encrucijada?" (roughly, "Abortion: Option or Crossroads?") which ran in its "health" supplement in late September? Essentially a two-page advertisement for abortion that ran in a free, Spanish-language publication available throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

It was obviously aimed at dismissing any doubts Hispanic mothers might have about aborting their unborn babies. If we think about the target audience, it makes even more sense than usual that advocates would portray abortion as a risk-free (physically and psychologically) "procedure." After all, Hispanics are culturally pro-life.

So, how does the article attempt to turn Hispanic women against their own values?

The article starts off with a list of hard cases including women forced to have sex to cross the border and women whose pregnancies threaten their lives. The author then jumps to ask the central question: what can woman expect when seeking an abortion?

"El aborto, ¿opción o encrucijada?" also discusses religion as a factor in a woman's decision whether or not to abort. The author offers comfort by claiming that "while religion may always seem to demonize abortion, there are Christian groups which take into consideration sexuality, economic condition, and other reasons" as if pro-life religious groups are indifferent to or unaware of these factors.

Visiting an abortion clinic is considered a way a woman can "educate herself adequately," according to the "article."

However, you are warned that you will likely confront the aforementioned demonized Christians protesting outside the clinic as well as a lot of daunting paperwork.

So, where to turn? On the same page in bold, red letters are the words "FOR INFORMATION: PLANNED PARENTHOOD" followed by their 1-800 number and in the center of the page in bold, red letters is the average cost of procuring an abortion.

Assuming the woman procures an abortion, the article then discusses what to expect afterwards. The article states that abortions cause no physical or emotion scarring. Quoting a female doctor, it says depression afterwards is due to hormonal changes due to the "procedure." The last sentence of the article quotes the same doctor, saying it is not the abortion itself (the "procedure") that leads to psychological problems but a woman's values prior to the procedure.

So much for fair and balanced.

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