A few weeks ago, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., along with more than 100 other co-sponsors introduced H.R. 3, or the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” The act in itself simply requires that women who desire to terminate their pregnancies must do so without any financial support from the federal government, except in cases of “forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incest” or in cases where carrying the pregnancy to term would jeopardize the health of the mother.

Women’s rights organizations are no strangers to the fierce opposition to abortion, self-funded or otherwise.

But the issue here was not simply the limitations that were placed on federally funded abortions.

Like a snowball, this issue rolled violently down an incline and the final result was a massive ball of confusion.

The issue of abortion rights became nearly secondary.

The focus was intently narrowed on the precarious use of this one word, “forcible,” the addition of which seemed so redundant and totally irrelevant to the issue at hand. But we just could not keep our eyes off it.

What does it mean to be forcibly raped? Rape by definition indicates an unwanted, non-consensual act, but for the purpose of this bill it seemed that rape in its original definition was not enough.

We cannot afford to ignore the insertion of this qualifier.

For a long time rape has been for us this ideological concept. It happens to some people, mainly women.

It happens in back alleys or in bad neighborhoods. It is so much more than this.

Rape has a face and it has a home. Its home is in dark alleys, yes.

Its home is in bad neighborhoods, of course. But these are the stereotypical dwelling places.

We like to convince ourselves that rape does not reach beyond these spaces. But rape does not discriminate.

It makes its home on college campuses and in gated communities. And, sometimes, with its clever, coercive tactics, rape can make its home in your home.

But this bill makes no provision for or mention of statutory rape, rape by coercion, or date or acquaintance rape.

Rape is not the victim’s issue. It is not a women’s issue.

It is everyone’s problem and the fact that certain individuals have taken it upon themselves to play Webster and create a restrictive definition of the term is frightening.

Let us refrain from riding on the back of this serious issue to advance our personal agendas.

While the word “forcible” was taken out of the bill, we must acknowledge that words are irreversible. We can amend, modify or retract our statements, but these attempts are futile at best.

There is no real way to “take it back.” What is said is said.

When you form your lips to speak and release those words into the airwaves, there is no refuge for you when those words are not understood as intended.

At this point if you seek any redemption, there is no retraction sensitive enough and no correction broad enough. What you need is a time machine.

Best of luck.

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