Reason Fails in Politics, Religion, and Morals

Abby Johnson's recent speech at the 2020 RNC illustrates the power of evocative imagery to stimulate moral sentiment. People respond with disgust to the imagery she created and, predictably, lashed out at those who support abortion.

Her speech also illustrates the tight connection between politics, religion, and morality. In this case, the US Republican Party + Evangelical Christians + the Purity foundation of moral sentiment.

Johnson is also skilled at persuasion as she frames the election as a choice between two radical activists and a prolife president (North).

Of course, the opposition party (Democrats) or commentators responded to point out factual errors (e.g., Hesse) and expose the woman's antiequality beliefs. But facts, challenges to Johnson's morals, and logical arguments are never as powerful as images that evoke disgust. Disgust can energize avoidant behavior (e.g., not voting for pro-choice candidates), verbal attacks toward perceived threats (e.g., Democrats), and even violence.

Counterpoint imagery

One might reasonably ask if those supporting a woman's right to choose have equally evocative imagery to present. The prochoice movement has tried to argue that prochoice does not mean proabortion. That is of course true, but a statement does not appear to help dispel the abortion-disgust imagery.

Years ago, the horrific image of Gerri Santoro who died of a back-alley abortion made news and became a symbol of the prochoice movement (Arnold). Pitting this image of a woman who chose an abortion compared to a baby evokes different responses. It appears to have evoked fear in women of what could happen if abortion ever became illegal.

However, the death of a pretty pregnant woman in Ireland where abortion was illegal at the time did get considerable attention (BBC). The published images show her face but not her death linked to the denial of abortion. Her story became the basis for changes in abortion law in Ireland (thejournal).

A more powerful image evoking caring is that of the 16-year old pregnant girl who died because chemotherapy treatment was withheld due to antiabortion law in the Dominican Republic (Romo, 2012).

Perhaps more shocking is the story of a 10-year old girl in Brazil who became pregnant following repeated rapes by her uncle. She reported abuse since age 6. Rape evokes disgust toward the rapist and caring and compassion toward the victim--especially when the victim is a girl!

The law allowed abortion in cases of rape. The case went to court and the judge granted permission for an abortion but the hospital refused.

However, the story resulted in considerable divisions with many Evangelicals and Catholics calling the authorizing doctor a murderer (Lima, 2020). The girl did travel and obtained an abortion.