How does Tim Tebow offend and Danica Patrick doesn’t?
Posted on 07. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in advertising, religion, things that bug me
For weeks, I’ve been hearing about how offensive Focus On The Family’s Super Bowl commercial was going to be. A coalition of women’s groups called on CBS not to run the ad.
When I finally saw the commercial, I was indeed stunned: I couldn’t believe the brouhaha was over this.
Here’s the script. What’s offensive about it?
Tim Tebow’s mother: “I call him my miracle baby. He almost didn’t make it into this world. I can remember so many times when I almost lost him. It was so hard. Well, he’s all grown up now, and I STILL worry about his health. You know, with all our family’s been through, we have to be tough!”
[Tim Tebow comes out of the side of the screen and tackles her.]
Mom: “Timmy! We’re trying to tell our story here.”
Tim: “Sorry about that, Mom! Do you still worry about me, Mom?”
Mom: “Well yeah! You’re not nearly as tough as I am!”
For the full Tebow story, go to FocusOnTheFamily.com.
Frankly, I could have filmed that commercial. My son was in neonatal for eight days after he was born, and I didn’t get to hold him until he was five days old. I still worry about him, especially when he plays football, and with good reason. He used to tackle me when he was two years old, and I’m glad he doesn’t anymore.
Where’s the feminist outrage over the GoDaddy commercial where Danica Patrick gets a massage from a woman who rips off her shirt to declare that she’d be a great GoDaddy girl (and if you see the internet version, dances like a skank)? Is this what “equal rights” means? Or how about the Carl’s Junior commercial, where Kim Kardashian seduces a salad and winds up eating it in a bathtub? And speaking of bathtubs, how about the Motorola commercial where the woman takes a picture of herself and sends it over the internet, including to a young boy behind a closed door? So much for all the anti-sexting lectures we give our kids!
My husband and I have long disagreed about abortion: he’s pro-choice, and I’m pro-life. But even he’s stunned by the negative reaction to this ad. It’s sad when something this benign is slammed, even as people close their eyes to other offensive material playing all around them.
A few more notes:
Check out the Focus on the Family link. Tim Tebow’s parents talk about how they were advised to get an abortion because of medical problems. They chose not to, because they had faith that God had a plan for their baby. Later in the interview, when asked what she’d tell a young woman who’s pregnant and thinking of aborting her baby, Tim’s mother says,
“I would say that baby’s not a mistake, even though it might seem that way to her, and that God will enable her to do the right thing, and to give her the encouragement she needs, that there’s also help for her, and there’s help that she doesn’t even know about yet. There’s so many people, so many pregnancy crisis centers across the country just waiting to encourage someone in her position. And girls have those options. They have a choice.”
Isn’t it ironic that pro-choice people are complaining that someone is reminding people that they have a choice?
By the way, I’ve been switching accounts away from GoDaddy ever since I saw one of their offensive commercials a few years ago. These days, I choose Bluehost.com instead. They’ve got great customer service, and are good for not only regular websites but for WordPress installations.
Did you hear the latest? The moonbats are claiming that the ad endorses domestic violence because Tim tackles his mom!
I guess the same people who think women are too fragile to look at an ultrasound also think women are too fragile to roughhouse with their kids!
What your talking about is not real choice, it’s a false choice. Yes, there are so many pregnancy crisis centers all over the country waiting to help a pregnant female either keep her baby or allow them to place the baby into adoption. When it comes to the part about abortion these centers pull out photos of aborted fetuses, and talk about babies that survive abortions and must be killed and other horrors, exaggerations, utterly cruel, bias, one-sided and insensitive things the pregnant one is subjected to. Then you say, this is a choice? The prior administration infused a seemingly endless moneystream into clinics teaching abstinance only. Abstinance, and if that doesn’t work then… guess what? God has a plan for her. Better believe in God then, if not, the government won’t help her, nor the church, but maybe the sly daddy will take her over to Mexico where they’ve got strange little pills that may or may not do the trick–or… what??? The current administration has cut some of the funding but not the implementation, direction or philosophy. It’s churchy.
So, it doesn’t surprise me that the organizations–ie the movement, put up the cash for this commerical to bring in more private funds. Which on the face is is not offensive. Everyone’s happy this woman was able to have the baby she wanted. We’re happy the doctors were wrong. CRITICAL NOTE: Casting represents this woman to be perceived as married to father, well educated, stable, and middle class. She’s not the girl that walks home from the bus stop everyday and gets hit on by every horn dog on the street. How much punishment do you want to inflict on the girl continuously victimized for making what organizations like Focus On The Family oh-so-quietly convey as the morally wrong option? It’s a slippery slope with dangerously oppressive consequences for women and girls. (It also has life changing consequences for boys.)
Today’s middle aged women pregnant with their first child or their last will swallow this message down hook, line, and sinker. They’ve forgotten about what feminism was really about. The message they are receptive to right now concerns their own self interest and does not extend beyond the boundary of their own fears.
–your = you’re
(One of my pet peeves, too.)
I don’t find the Tebow commercial offensive in the least. But I think you’re not being fair in posing the (perhaps rhetorical) question where the feminist outrage is over gratuitous sexual messages in super bowl ads. Feminists have criticized super bowl ads in the in the past, and I suspect you’ll see more criticisms after this year’s group.
(We watched with our Bible study group and thought a number of the ads were inappropriate for the kids watching with us.)
I guess the not so hidden motive of some is they don’t wanna all sides of an issue to be heard or seen. Only theirs. Win the argument by default because the other side is not heard.
I want all sides of issues, especially life & death issues, to be heard. Liberals especially need to be liberal in their attitude toward free speech for ALL!
I hear what your saying – but life experience has a way of changing your view from 18 – 40. I now believe in the right to choose life. I decided this when I had my baby at 36. But I felt much different when I was in High School and College. I felt that any girl should have the right to choose abortion if she found herself in trouble and seemingly no options in life. I had 7 friends in which I discussed their personal decisions about their own pregnancies all unplanned and this is what I have learned.
I have had friends who chose life and kept the baby in extremely difficult situations, friends who chose life and gave the baby up for adoption and friends who had abortions.
Out of all of these choices, the friends who kept their babies eventually turned their lives around for the better and were happy with the choice. The friends that gave their babies up for adoption are at peace with the fact they did a selfless act. But two friends that had abortions now reflect back on what they did and it haunts them.
One had extreme difficulty in conceiving, needing fertility drugs every time with extreme difficulty and the other unable to conceive finally gave up trying to have her own and adopted a baby. They are both now wonderful moms but they do carry the scars of a decision they made when they were only 17 and 18.
My point is all sides must be represented to a pregnant woman who feels she has no choices in life except to abort. They are typically under much stress and feel very alone. They need to make a decision with a clear head and a warm heart and not feel desperate to hide and squash the mistake of getting pregnant.
There was a time when women were shunned for pregnancy outside of marriage. I see why abortion seemed the only choice. That is not the case today and it should not be presented as the only choice. Motives for informing potential moms about choices of life are not sinister, not oppressive, not about God. Just maybe a little more inconvenient and makes them face real hard decisions. Just a choice.
We as women have the choice because abortion is legal in the US. Focus on the Family wants to make abortion illegal. Then we won’t have the choice. This is the real problem with the Tebow ad.
To follow up on my last comment, and at the risk of a tu quoque argument, let me ask this: does anyone doubt for a second that if Planned Parenthood wanted to run a pro-choice issue advertisement during the Super Bowl, Focus on the Family (and/or groups like it) would be criticizing CBS for running it, and probably calling upon them not to run it?
That doesn’t make it right — but it does contradict the suggestion that censoriousness is the sole province of the Left.
First i just want to say shame on you \Deena\ for implying that women who choose to have abortions will be haunted by it and perhaps will even be \punished\ by infertility. I doubt that you actually know teenage women today that are trying to raise a baby that DON\T have tremendous support from upper midddle class white families. \Difficult\ could not even describe it. Glad to see that your friends managed to turn their lives around but for many women who feel forced to keep their child that is not the case. They remain unable to get an education because of the constraints of childcare or unable to get a decent paying job because of inexperience.
As a former therapist (I am now a stay at home mom pregnant with my 3rd child) who has worked in runaway shelters and clinics in some of the worst cities i can assure you that for many of these girls, abortion allowed them to get an education and raise a family later in their lives when they were more financially stable. Raising babies as a teenager is not an \inconvenience\, it is for many a time of constant desperation. Telling these young women that there are people waiting around at counseling centers to support them financially, emotionally etc. is very misleading. Any woman who had babies as a teenager will probably tell you it was the loneliest, most difficult time of their lives.
Here is Planned Parenthood’s ad (which CBS would not run):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utcxpuHF7jg&feature=player_embedded
From what I can tell, CBS didn’t reject their ad. Instead, Planned Parenthood decided not to spend the money to run the ad. See http://womensissues.about.com/b/2010/02/05/planned-parenthoods-super-bowl-response-and-what-the-media-are-saying-about-the-tebow-ad-controversy.htm
I wouldn’t have minded if that ad ran. It informs people about an option they have, albeit one that I would hope they don’t choose.
I spoke to my mother this morning, and she said it’s ok if I share that she dropped out of college at 19 to have me. She and my father married before I was born, and although life hasn’t always been easy for her, she doesn’t regret her decision for a moment. Also, as the mother of a teenage girl (and a boy), I have considered my position very carefully.
When I was in high school and college, I didn’t give much thought to abortion. My solution was to abstain and not risk getting pregnant. However, if you’d asked me, I probably would have said I didn’t have a strong opinion either way. When I had my children, however, and saw how early in the pregnancy an ultrasound could show the heart beating and the limbs forming, I came to the personal decision that it’s awful to destroy that life within the womb.
So I understand both sides. I think that the more information people can learn, the better a decision they’ll make. I’ll be consistent and say that I’m fine with young women learning that abortions are available, as long as they’re also given the opportunity to know what that entails and what the alternatives are.
With all due respect, Kathy, you don’t understand both sides. You may be unable to. It requires an ability to go outside of your own experiences in life and be able to imagine what a situation is for someone completely different from you.
Re. Superbowl ads
CBS did not reject Planned Parenthood (never submitted)
CBS rejected Man Crunch, a gay dating thing. (eyeroll) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/28/mancrunch-superbowl-ad-ga_n_440773.html
You know those gays just need to be retrained anyway, right? God has a plan for them. Whatever. I am just amazed when so-called Democrats come out of the closet revealing themselves to be Republican extremists in philosophy. Shocking. No wonder things are so screwed up.
re-think – re-member – re-do
Kathy I respect your personal choice. Unfortunately, Focus on the Family is an organization that is actively working to over turn the ability for American women to have a say in their reproductive health — and this includes access to safe, effective birth control as well. It was a political ad, pure and simple. I am glad that the Tebows doctors informed them of all their options, and they made the choice that worked for their family. I want to make sure that all of our daughters continue to have all of their options available.
This is rich.
It is regrettable to see the gates of hell opened on Kathy by one arguably liberal responder (“Liberal” defined as “showing or characterized by broad-mindedness; tolerant …”
Well, so much for broad mindedness.
How gays are getting into this, really beats me. You might as well throw in some racism as well. It goes together well.
Thus, if you have a moralistic position of any kind, you a “so-called democrat who comes out of the closet to revealing yourself”; actually, you do not just “come out of the closet” you come crawling out of a hole! No, you are actually a vermin! Worse! You are a Republican (Oh, mother!); and not just a Republican, but a “Republican extremist in philosophy”!!!
You know what’s really “shocking”? Such contempt for so many Americans who may not think like you; this is what’s shocking.
I suppose this is to be considered progressive thinking? My goodness, times have changed.
Let me tell you: It is YOU who holds extremist philosophy. As you said, “no wonder why things are so screwed up”; it is rather obvious
I have to say, I’ve never found anger or disrespectful language to be useful in changing people’s minds. This is certainly a hot-button issue – but is it really necessary for reasonable and intelligent adults to resort to being so disrespectful of each other?
The ad that stirred things up so much was really a non-event. If you disagree with the funding behind the ad, take legal action to stop them.
The more we have reasoned and respectful discussions on this topic, the more informed we (and those that come after us) will be. It’s inaccurate and unfair to say that no one has regrets for having or not having a baby or an abortion. We’re human and we fall all over the spectrum for a variety of reasons. We can speak of our experience and/or the experience of those we know. If we don’t have a cross-section of friends/experiences, that doesn’t mean anything more than we need to hear more. Once upon a time, I only knew someone who was suicidal a few months after her abortion – now I know several people that made that hard choice – and they cover the spectrum of reactions. Their feelings and reactions aren’t right or wrong, they just are.
I was faced with this decision at 22 and single… and I made my choice and haven’t regretted it for a minute. There were a lot of people who had strong and vocal opinions on both options, but I’m strong and stubborn as well and listened to my heart (which took into account my beliefs, my knowledge of the potential mental and physical impacts of either choice, etc.).
I think we get into the most trouble when we start telling others what to think or do. We also deny others the opportunity to be responsible/accountable for their choices if we make it for them.
Wow…Shame on me for asking that all sides be explained to a teenager or woman confronted with an unwanted pregnacy? Really? What is this world coming to? LOL. That attitude gives liberals a bad name.
I never said I was totally against abortion. I just stated that I could not do it and that I was for life. I am not going to take that choice away from others. Also, the inconvenience I referred to was to confront the tough choices and maybe have the baby and give it up for adoption, but of course you cannot see the forest for the trees. It is all about squashing the dialogue and intimidating people who have different views. Very disappointing.
I stated my experience and what I know. Everyones experience is different and discussing our experiences and differences it is how we all understand the human condition better. Experience is not wrong it’s just an experience.
I also love the know it all attitude reference to my background both racially and socioeconomically…Don’t assume you know. You don’t have to grow up in the intercity to be disadvantaged and extremely poor.
Oh yeah and one more thing… Dianne I hate to throw off your rant about republicans, gays and God but I am a republican and I like gays and lesbians very much…Hey I believe in God too but I don’t know of this exact plan of how they can br reformed. Ha Ha …Amazing huh..LOL
Rora makes alot of sense!
I would bet that most people reading this have an opinion on gay marriage, the war in Iraq, and the death penalty. Yet, most of you probably aren’t gay, aren’t in the military, and haven’t killed anyone or had a close friend or family member be murdered. Just because we aren’t first-person experts on issues doesn’t mean we can’t or shouldn’t have opinions about them. I believe that what makes America great is that we can all have a voice, and are free to express it. It’s our responsibility to respect that we all come from different experiences and beliefs, and that each person has a right to his or her opinion.
I extend that respect to women who are struggling with whether or not to have an abortion. Even though I would hope that all babies are given a chance to live, I don’t walk in the shoes of the pregnant woman who feels she has no hope. I won’t be blocking the door to the abortion clinic. I just hope that she knows what her alternatives are, and the potential effects of her decision. It’s a good thing to be informed. And if she does have an abortion, I’d rather put my arms around her and give her a hug than condemn her difficult decision.
I’ve voted Democrat in every state and national election since 1981, except when I voted for Schwarzenegger the last time around since I didn’t like the alternatives. So, although in theory I’d love to say I’m Independent, I think that makes me a Democrat. My husband is also a Democrat. He and I disagree on other issues besides abortion, like the death penalty. He’s for it, and I’m against it. Is that enough to kick him out of the Democratic tent? A January, 2004 poll found that 43 percent of Democrats take a pro-life position. (see http://www.lifenews.com/nat655.html) I wonder how many Democrats agree with 100% of the party’s positions.
Thank you all for the dialogue that’s occurring on this post. I know many of you, and hope that even if we disagree on some things, we’ll still remain friends. I went out on a limb writing a post on such a hot topic, and hope that this dialogue has been constructive, not destructive.
People, can’t we, can’t we just all just get along – at least when dealing with life/death or other important issues of life?
You know. Like our govt representatives do? Now, there’s an example to follow!! Who elected those characters anyway??
To Cafe:
“If we have our own why of life, we shall get along with almost any how” (Friedrich Nietzsche)
I always learn something new from you, Kathy. And, for everyone else out there in the blogosphere, I like Kathy very much!
PS. 43%??? People need to read more Henry Miller.