In George Orwell’s infamous novel 1984, the dystopian regime proclaimed self-contradictory slogans such as “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.” Some in the Colorado legislature are attempting to employ that same legal strategy in a new spate of pro-abortion bills. 

If passed, it will be illegal for pregnancy resource centers to lie to clients. No, they aren’t referring to Planned Parenthood’s repeated lies about their services, mission, and income. Instead, the law is to prevent pro-life centers from saying they offer abortions, something no one has credibly accused them of doing in the first place.  

The irony is thick. Those who support the taking of life in the womb do it in the name of dignity, with false accusations, while fretting that those who wish to save preborn lives are deceptive and harmful. This is as much Orwellian “doublethink” as in the book. They might as well say: “Harm is medicine. Death is life. Truth is lies.” And, sometimes they do.