This is certainly a step in the right direction. I particularly appreciated the frank description of the abortion procedure. And, at the end, the female character did make a moving speech (although most of her epiphanies seemed rather hoary old chestnuts.)
However, I confess I was rather disturbed by the sly triumph of moral relativism that this seemed to represent. The line that most unsettled me was:
“On one side they’re talking about fighting for ‘abortion never’ and on the other it’s ‘abortion whenever’.”
In a stroke, pro-lifers and pro-abortionists were painted with a brush of morally equivalency – or rather, made to appear equivalent in their respective “extremes.” The implication is that the only truly enlightened attitude toward abortion is that one must be pro-choice – so long as one feels very, very badly about it (see: “…stuck in the middle trying to figure it out…”) This sort of moral slouch is reminiscent of the “safe, legal and rare” shell game.
I don’t mean to be such a killjoy, but while aspects of this clip did elate me, its apparent conclusions left me feeling rather flat. :(
Now that I've wet blanketed the place up sweet, I should add that if this episode makes even one American rethink their belief in the "gospel" of Roe v. Wade then it is a huge success for prolifers!!
I agree with your criticisms, Janice, but there were a couple of things that were still a surprise to see in the clip - the description of a late-term abortion and the reaction of the jury.
Absolutely!! It was a tremendous testament to how successful pro-life efforts have been in this country!
I was talking to Leah -- who happened to see the episode in its entirety -- and she said that the first half was even more pro-life than the second. Apparently, one of the police officers (who represents the 'Law' of the show's title) is a black man who was raised by a single mother. In 'Dignity', he points out that people of his racial and socio-economic background constitute the majority of abortion victims and it is on those grounds that he opposes abortion. I think Leah said his exact quotation was, "I could so easily have been aborted."
omigosh! that was unbelieveable - on national tv and on a program that has a huge number of viewers.
ReplyDeletesomeone in hollywood actually has moral courage!
This is certainly a step in the right direction. I particularly appreciated the frank description of the abortion procedure. And, at the end, the female character did make a moving speech (although most of her epiphanies seemed rather hoary old chestnuts.)
ReplyDeleteHowever, I confess I was rather disturbed by the sly triumph of moral relativism that this seemed to represent. The line that most unsettled me was:
“On one side they’re talking about fighting for ‘abortion never’ and on the other it’s ‘abortion whenever’.”
In a stroke, pro-lifers and pro-abortionists were painted with a brush of morally equivalency – or rather, made to appear equivalent in their respective “extremes.” The implication is that the only truly enlightened attitude toward abortion is that one must be pro-choice – so long as one feels very, very badly about it (see: “…stuck in the middle trying to figure it out…”) This sort of moral slouch is reminiscent of the “safe, legal and rare” shell game.
I don’t mean to be such a killjoy, but while aspects of this clip did elate me, its apparent conclusions left me feeling rather flat. :(
Now that I've wet blanketed the place up sweet, I should add that if this episode makes even one American rethink their belief in the "gospel" of Roe v. Wade then it is a huge success for prolifers!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your criticisms, Janice, but there were a couple of things that were still a surprise to see in the clip - the description of a late-term abortion and the reaction of the jury.
ReplyDeleteto see that it was on national t.v........
Absolutely!! It was a tremendous testament to how successful pro-life efforts have been in this country!
ReplyDeleteI was talking to Leah -- who happened to see the episode in its entirety -- and she said that the first half was even more pro-life than the second. Apparently, one of the police officers (who represents the 'Law' of the show's title) is a black man who was raised by a single mother. In 'Dignity', he points out that people of his racial and socio-economic background constitute the majority of abortion victims and it is on those grounds that he opposes abortion. I think Leah said his exact quotation was, "I could so easily have been aborted."
Pretty amazing prime time stuff.