HiLo, the emotional mush (a phrase I'm beginning to wish I'd never invented) refers to the inevitable end-point of the usual squabble about the exact moment when life begins, when the conversation invariably turns into pure heat and no light. I've been in that one so many times and I decided years ago that I'm done with it. I did not intend the phrase to apply to the emotional wrangle that anyone contemplating an abortion has to go through. In fact, it's because of that that it's incumbent on us to remove additional burdens on women, such as obstacles put in the way of getting help (read what Monbiot says about Texas), being kept ignorant by rotten education or miseducation, being denied contraception and advice and being preached at or denigrated by men (and nuns) of the cloth or their right-wing lackeys. It's tough enough without all that. Just to clarify.