One of Shakespeare’s characters, Puck, declaims: “What fools these mortals be.” I often think of this line when I read the news of the day. And I thought of it when I read the accounts of the criticisms of the Super Bowl “Tebow ad” by pro-choice adherents. Tim Tebow, as all sports fans know, was the outstanding and celebrated football quarterback of the Florida Gators. In 2007 as a sophomore, he won the Heisman Trophy as the best college quarterback, and in 2007 and 2008, the Maxwell Award as the best football player of the year. When his mother was pregnant with Tim, she suffered an illness which made the pregnancy risky. Her doctors all advised an abortion. She refused.
A pro-life group decided to air an ad on Super Bowl Sunday celebrating the decision of Tim’s mother and the example of Tim not only as an athlete but also a committed Christian. In the ad, the mother talks about almost not having Tim and her joy in her son. And Tim expresses his appreciation for his mother. To add a little humor, Tim seemingly tackles his mother, who then stands up and reminds her son that she is stronger than he is. A simple message. In fact so simple and subtle that many criticized it for not being clear enough. The word abortion is not used. And without some background, it was said, a person might miss the lesson.
Ironically, the message was given the needed background by the publicity generated by pro-choice groups who tried to persuade CBS to cancel the ad and who bitterly condemned it. For example, the National Organization of Women (NOW) spokespersons talked about the ad as “extraordinarily offensive and demeaning,” as “hate masquerading as love,” as “misogynist porn for the anti-sexual crowd,” and “a celebration” of violence against women (because of the tackle scene). The NOW president declared that “CBS should be ashamed of itself” for showing the ad.
Even some pro-choice adherents found these comments ridiculous. Frances Kissling (in a rare moment of truth) said: “It’s absurd to claim this is an endorsement of violence against women.” And pro-choice advocate Sally Jenkins wrote: “Here’s what we need a lot more of: Tebow collegians who choose not to spend summers pool side but to travel to impoverished countries to dispense medical care to children, as Tebow has every summer of his career…. Famous guys who aren’t embarrassed to practice sexual restraint and to say it out loud. If we had more of these, women might have fewer abortions.”
In another field, I noticed that Matt Kennon’s latest country and western song “The Call” has risen to No. 39 on the charts. In the video, the singer highlights two phone calls, first to a Marine who has suicidal thoughts and who is persuaded to go to a friend’s motorboat outing where he finds his will to live. “It won’t be the same/If you ain’t there,” sings Kennon. The second story is about two 18 year olds who “had let a kiss go too far” and the girl is pregnant. The young man persuades his girlfriend to go to an abortion clinic, but while there he phones to say: “I was wrong about everything.” He asks her to marry him, he tells her he already has the ring. She cries while responding: “I’m glad you called.” The video then shows the joyful couple with their baby, while Kennon sings: “If someone you know is waiting on your mind/And needs a friend on the other end line/Don’t hesitate what you say may seem so small/But who knows/They might be glad you called/So make the call.”
Kennon revealed in an interview that he had been adopted by a loving couple after his birth mother had made plans to abort him. She did not go through with the abortion because the doctor told her she was two weeks past the legal limit. Later his biological father tried to sell him for adoption on the black market. So the country singer knows about abortion and adoption.
I am pleased that these pro-life messages are being so well received in our society, despite all the propaganda to the contrary. And I am glad also to know that the latest national scientific poll, released in January, indicates that the majority of American people consider abortion as “morally wrong.” In the age group 18-29, 58 percent said abortion was wrong; in the 30-44 group, it was 60 percent; in the 45-64 group, 51 percent, and in the 65 and older group, 62 percent. This is a solid majority in all age groups. Hearts are being changed. The next step is the law.
Father John A. Leies, SM, STD, is president emeritus of St. Mary’s University and was formerly head of the Theology Department there.