“Posing some consequences that would be highly unfavorable to the other party, and indicating that his side has a willingness to carry out these consequences if the other party does not comply” Douglas Walton 36.
Abstract
This essay investigates the rhetorical choices in archived letters to providers at a local abortion clinic through argumentum ad baculum and other fear appeal frames. Analysis of three types of threat—spiritual, physical, and professional—contained in the correspondence suggests that only the professional fear appeals correspond to true theat. The essay contends that while some of the letters contain either true threats (argumentum ad baculum) or Aristotelian civic fear appeals, the writers more often make arguments that align with a new category I name sideways threats. Sideways threats include praeteritio or apophasis, whereby the writer renounces something like violence in order to invoke it, as well as fear appeals to negative outcomes which c(w)ould be carried out by a deity rather than the writer. Rather than fitting neatly into the rhetorical categories of ad baculum or civic fear, these artifacts that included multiple rhetorical approaches which open the way for new understanding of fear appeals and their persuasive qualities.
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Notes
The Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo, ND.
In addition to starting the clinic, Jane Bovard was an outspoken advocate of abortion rights and wanted these documents available to the public to engender conversation and understanding.
I learned about the archive through a colleague, who knew that I was a volunteer escort at the RRWC. My interest in the archive was thus scholarly and personal.
Not all of the three hundred twenty-three pieces were actual letters; forty-seven items were envelopes, and fifty-three were prayer cards, newsletters, or clippings with no original writing from the sender.
Anything that refers to Ms. Bovard’s home or physical workplace was classified as a physical threat, because such references subtly announce that the writer knows where to find Ms. Bovard. This choice fits in with the ways that these rhetors apply sideways threats rather than direct ad baculum threats.
The GOP statements on abortion are on pages 13–14 (Republican National Committee 2016).
Interestingly, while the letter writer uses personal stationary, which indicates her full name and address, the letter includes neither complimentary close nor actual signature. Other formal elements, like date and salutation are there.
Jamestown, ND is approximately 95 miles west of Fargo. At some abortion clinics, doctors travel from elsewhere, separating their work from their homes for safety reasons.
The letter writer named the doctors, but I have omitted their names.
Although some of the correspondence in the archives does include signatures, I chose to anonymize all of the letters. Because the archive is recent and because the topic is incendiary, this choice seemed the most ethical.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded by a grant from the Gunlogson Endowment in The Institute for Regional Studies, Fargo, North Dakota. I would also like to acknowledge the help from Kaylee Jangula Mootz, who coded the documents with me as a part of a graduate research assistantship.
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Appendix 1: Code list
Appendix 1: Code list
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Baby/children.
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Begging language.
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Gore (images or descriptions).
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I/You/We language.
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Medical/pseudo-medical/fetal development language.
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Mill/shop.
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Politics/nation/law.
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Pro-life/pro-choice monikers.
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Question words.
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Religious language.
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Theoretical/academic.
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Threats.
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Sub-coded: Physical, Professional, Spiritual.
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Mara, M.O. Argumentum Ad Baculum, Aristotelian Civic Fear, or Praeteritio: Threats in Anti-Choice Letters. Argumentation 35, 667–685 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-020-09537-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10503-020-09537-9