Code Words, Donuts and Peanuts

Every so often a story that seems innocuous sits upon your mind as there is something about it that bothers you. This is one that I do not know whether to laugh or weep.

Ahead of Inauguration Day last month, Krespy Kreme Doughnuts issued the following release:

"Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American's sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies -- just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet 'free' can be."

The American Life League, an anti-abortion group, attacked Krispy Kreme for this add. The American Life League told it’s supporters that if they could be supporting abortion advocacy if they were to buy a Krispy Kreme donuts. Reason, because of the phrase “freedom of choice”. The League and its President Judie Brown sees “choice” as a code word, that when the word is used it is “synonymous with abortion access” and an endorsement by the user of abortion rights on demand.

Ms. Brown goes on to say "Celebrating his [Obama’s] inauguration with 'Freedom of Choice' doughnuts - only two days before the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to decriminalize abortion - is not only extremely tacky, it's disrespectful and insensitive and makes a mockery of a national tragedy. "A misconstrued concept of 'choice' has killed over 50 million preborn children since Jan. 22, 1973. Does Krispy Kreme really want their free doughnuts to celebrate this 'freedom.'”

Ms Brown is free to hold her views and she is free to see conspiracies under every twist of a word. Contrary to Ms Brown’s gravely mistaken views, people use “choice” without any sinister connection to the abortion debate. “Choice” is no more the exclusive domain of pro-choice movement or a code word for the same than is “saved” and “salvation” the exclusive domain of the church or a code word for a person being born-again.

Just as saved and salvation applies to hundreds of non-religious situations so does the work choice. Ms Brown and her mindless minions need to take a deep breath, get a life and use the intelligence that their Lord has given them to know how to discern differences and stop making Christians out to be a group of people who have a bag of peanuts between their ears.