Debating Abortion with the Mentally Diseased (Leftists)

A Leftist friend acquaintance of mine posted this on his Facebook feed:

And by the time I saw it, the thread had been filled with Leftists making self-aggrandising and vitriolic statements.

So I responded:

I never ceased to be amazed at the desperation with which Leftists try to turn an unremarkable statement into an indictment. In what universe is abortion not the most convenient exit from an awkward situation for a woman who doesn't want to carry the baby to term? Does anyone seriously claim that getting an abortion is an act of heroic self-sacrifice?

And here's what followed:

Leftist:

"In what universe is abortion not the most convenient exit from an awkward situation for a woman who doesn't want to carry the baby to term?"
In a universe where women are treated as being immoral for even having sex in the first place (whether by choice or not), and worse still becoming pregnant (how careless of them), in a universe where they are treated with disdain, hatred, violence, and even murder for having an abortion... Yeah, in that universe.

TCG:

I completely agree that in some barbaric countries a woman who so much as ventures outside the house takes her life into her own hands, but if you're going to talk about the Muslim world and much of Africa, you should use a quote from one of the many bigots they have there.

Leftist:

Are you suggesting that none of the things I spoke about occur in our liberal democracies? Are you sure?

TCG:

If you want me to take your comments on this topic seriously, you have to apply a consistent moral standard to all places and cultures. All of the very worst bigotry and criminality that Australia has ever seen amounts to the most piddling fraction of what happens in those other countries.
If you're going to assert that the vast majority of the 75,000 women per year who have abortions in Australia are shunned, attacked, and are at risk of murder you'd better start gathering your evidence.In fact, you'll have to try pretty damn hard to show that this happens to more than a tiny handful, AND that the people who mistreat such women don't come from precisely those countries where misogyny is the law of the land.
The fact that Tony Abbott's daughters were free to stop going to church when they were growing up (http://www.news.com.au/national-news/tony-abbotts-daughters-bridget-and-frances-speak-about-claims-their-daggy-dad-is-a-misogynist-and-more/story-fncynjr2-1226609192816) tells you that compare Abbott to [insert African/Middle Eastern cleric] is dishonest in the extreme.

Leftist:

"All of the very worst bigotry and criminality that Australia has ever seen amounts to the most piddling fraction of what happens in those other countries."
That is most certainly true, but largely irrelevant to this discussion which is about an Australian politician and the prospect of their policies being implemented in Australia and applied to Australian women.

"If you're going to assert that the vast majority of the 75,000 women per year who have abortions in Australia are shunned, attacked, and are at risk of murder you'd better start gathering your evidence."

Abortion stigma is well known but poorly researched study which certainly affects the majority, even in advanced liberal democracies. Whilst obviously actual murder and violence thankfully occurs only against a small proportion of women, the threat of criminalising, incarceration, and even the death penalty is a threat of violence against all.

c.f.,
Kumar, Anuradha, Leila Hessini, and Ellen MH Mitchell. "Conceptualising abortion stigma." Culture, Health & Sexuality 11.6 (2009): 625-639.

Shellenberg, Kristen M., et al. "Social stigma and disclosure about induced abortion: results from an exploratory study." Global Public Health 6.sup1 (2011): S111-S125.

"tells you that compare Abbott to [insert African/Middle Eastern cleric] is dishonest in the extreme."

Insert African/Middle Eastern cleric? Generically? Isn't that just "a little" bit racist? In any case, who has raised these comparisons? Certainly not I...

TCG: 

Racist? You're calling me racist?

That is the single most dishonest and underhanded thing I have ever seen come from you. I'm actually flabbergasted that someone of your learning and stature could stoop so low.

How dare you call me racist? How dare you draw the most uncharitable inference from my statement? 

Thanks for turning into an A-Grade arsehole on this topic, mate. I never thought I'd see the day.

Addendum:

Leftist:

I was responding to the comment "Insert African/Middle Eastern cleric". Now, I'm sure had particular unmentioned misogynistic clerics in mind, but really it's somewhat more appropriate to mention the particular people in question, rather than generically assign all clerical people from those geographical regions as stereotypes. Try not take it too personally, after all...

TCG:

No, I take it very personally. I'm jumping off this thread; if I'd known you'd stoop so low I'd have never joined it in the first place. Won't make that mistake again. CONVERSATION OVER.

Leftist:

You know, it probably would have been a lot easier and lot less stressful to yourself to say "Oh yeah, sorry about that. I should have mentioned cleric X by name".

I think that's what passes for an apology in the Leftist world.