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“Tim
Tebow's Ad Against Abortion Promotes Parenthood/Protests!”
 Kristen
Agnew
Staff Writer
Agnew's Analysis
"Parenthood is... why some animals eat
their young!" I laughed when I watched a preview for a new series on
NBC. Parenting was popular during NBC's Olympic coverage. Another
commercial's slogan, "P&G, Proud Sponsors of Moms" followed a
montage of kids competing in winter sporting events, with Mom
cheering in the stands. It was sentimental, appropriate, and
supportive of the Olympic spirit.
What's wrong with celebrating parents?
Apparently a lot is wrong, when a Pro-Life organization does it.
This was evidenced by the uproar surrounding the production of a
Superbowl commercial, in which a well-known quarterback's
mom exclaims how much she loves her son.
"He almost didn't make it into this world" could imply many things
to the casual observer: Were prenatal
testing results positive for a birth defect? Did something go wrong
at birth, so that her son's life was at risk? Or did she
contemplate having an abortion early in the pregnancy?
See for yourself at any major online news source.
What do moms have to do with the
Superbowl, anyway?
Many women would be offended to hear that their role is just
doing their young football player's laundry, driving them to and
from practice, or fixing their food. Others take pride in it.
Many are avid football fans and go beyond the kitchen to cheer
on their local team, of which their son (or daughter!) may or may
not be a part.
Let's face it, though: unless a young man or woman has
another committed friend or family member, it is usually moms who
bear the grunt of supporting their child's early athletic career.
I have no statistical data to back this assertion
(what percentage of professional athletes had
a supportive mother for over 15 years?) --only
experiential observations.
Many state track meets showed me the value of community, as I
watched the cheering family members and friends of athletes crossing
the finish line. Olympic athletes often thank their parents and
coaches for the support they received over the years.
What is more memorable than Michael
Phelps' mom waiting expectantly for the results of a race?
It doesn't take an extensive research study to notice that adult
life--of which athletics is only a part--follows birth and nurture.
Who are we to say that many potential
athletes didn't make it out of the womb?
There is no way to predict, "Had this child been a child of rape
whether, he or she would have...(insert incredible feat here)"
There IS reason to say, "Let's be careful how we approach this
sensitive subject."
I've seen insightful comments, uninformed rants, and reactionary
statements in response to Focus on the Family's attempt to portray
God's work in bringing Tim Tebow into the world, during the
most-watched sporting event of the year.
These range from, "How dare
they promote an agenda? They're ruining
America's spirit!" to "Give them a break! They're entitled to
express their opinion- This is what our country is about!"
Some expressed relief that an organization openly supports family
values, calling attention to the acceptance of oodles of beer
commercials and less-than-family-friendly images often portrayed
during Superbowl ad timeslots.
It is clear that Tim Tebow's parents have vibrant faith in the
purpose and value of human life. I have to admit, the commercial
itself struck me as a little cheesy. Criticism aside, I was struck
by the humility and character of the Tebow’s parents when I
later watched their interview on
http://www.FocusOnTheFamily.com - These parents admit
they aren't perfect, yet they strive to develop their children's
views of the world and their places in it, based on God's grace and
Biblical truth. Their desire is to see women decide against aborting
a pregnancy, because of their strong convictions that Tim was not an
accident, that God had - and still has - a plan for him and for any
child.
I think it's good that the commercial brings thoughts about
parenthood to light and offers another perspective in the debate
about whether abortion is right or wrong, deserving legal protection
or not. Make it about politics, religion, freedom of speech,
whatever... when it comes down to it, every mother decides on a
daily basis how she is going to protect and serve the vulnerable
individual that is her child. Whether this is before or after
conception, what she does today impacts a professional career, a
nation, or a sport--her own or her unborn child's.
As polarized as any argument can sound, this subject deserves
respectful treatment, a listening attitude and a willingness to
consider opinions other than one's own. When we ignore the reasons
why women make the choices they do, we under-value their
commitments, and we do not help support their lives.
Kristen Agnew is a staff writer with
Pittsburgh Standard!
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