Who would have thought that a Super Bowl ad could foster family restoration? Pam Tebow’s fifth pregnancy, however, presented an experience more than two decades ago that has now done just that – and Sunday we’ll see those results during the big game.
Pam was told to abort her fifth child to protect her own life from a risky pregnancy. She, with the support of her husband, made a different choice, and chose to risk the pregnancy rather than end the life of their unborn child. When the baby boy arrived, mother and son were both healthy.
Two decades later we now see the result in Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow, who Sally Jenkins at the Washington Post has called “one of the better things to happen to young women in some time.”
Ms. Jenkins is not shy about her reaction to the Tebows, or of her differing views from the ad they will appear in on Sunday. She is also, however, not ashamed to distance herself from those who deem Tim’s lifestyle and his mother’s choice (and their subsequent appearance in the super bowl ad) as bad for women. In fact, abortion is not good for children, and it’s not good for women. Indeed, Pam Tebow’s son brings hope in other ways as well.
Jenkins argues we need a lot more Tebows: “Collegians who are selfless enough to choose not to spend summers poolside, but travel to impoverished countries to dispense medical care to children, as Tebow has every summer of his career. Athletes who believe in something other than themselves, and are willing to put their backbone where their mouth is. Celebrities who are self-possessed and self-controlled enough to use their wattage to advertise commitment over decadence….. [and] famous guys who aren’t embarrassed to practice sexual restraint, and to say it out loud. If we had more of those, women might have fewer abortions.”
Pam’s choice to give birth to her son, Tim, has strengthened the Tebow family. They don’t have to wonder what might have happened – instead they’ve been living it out every Saturday afternoon in Gainesville at the swamp.
It’s also a good bet that her choice has strengthened Tim to be as counter-culture as he is, inherently caused him to become the strong man that he is today, understanding his mother’s choice.
Her choice has also, however, given mothers who are taxed physically, mentally, emotionally and in any other way hope in an unplanned pregnancy. Hope that can restore, and yes, even strengthen their families with a child, who will grow up to amaze them, as we’ll see Sunday.
You may read Sally Jenkins’ entire article here:
Super Bowl ad isn't intolerant; its critics are
By Sally Jenkins
I have previously read Sally Jenkin's article, and I think it is a wonderful perspective from someone who couldn't disagree with Tim Tebow's stance on the pro-life movement, but willingly admits that the message was well presented, non-offensive, and completely truthful that in the end, even the pro-choice supporters must face a choice, and Tim Tebow manifests the effects of that choice.
ReplyDeleteWhat was most ridiculous was that after the ad aired, NOW President Terry O’Neill told the Los Angeles Times, “I am blown away by the celebration of violence against women in it. That’s what comes across to me even more strongly than the anti-abortion message . . ...I think CBS should be ashamed of itself.’’
Are you kidding me? millions of mothers across America have been tackled or roughhoused by sons who are just having fun and are not displaying acts of violence against women. This allegation doesn't even pass the "laugh test". It's clearly an overreaction and an attempt to play the domestic violence card, but only comes across as weak and desperate. You want to talk about violence? What about poor Betty White getting tackled by the boys in the football game? Or the Doritos commercial, where the man checks out the little boys mother (female exploitation?) and the little boy slaps him in the face (juvenile violence - it must be brought on the violent video games and tv shows!). where are the critics on those commercials? The blatant one-sidedness is almost embarassing.
I think the Tebow ad brought an amazing, alternative angle to the pro-life movement. He has not taken the route of the grusome pictures and the abortion-clinic protesters - he has done what ultrasounds and technology are also doing - putting a face on the lie that a fetus isn't a human and that abortion doesn't have consequences. No supporter of Roe v. Wade can escape the truth. With one choice, you could end up with a strapping son; with another choice, you don’t.
Brittny, great comment.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this ad as well and was actually surprised at how tame it was. It was shocking to think that something like this garnered such huge support and criticism weeks before the super bowl. The opposition was using every angle it could to try to tear it down but in the end the message radiated through.
I really like Sally Jenkins article and was able to read it when it was published. She makes some excellent points, one being that really all women are pro choice. The diference is that some women choose to have their baby and other women choose to abort their baby. Sure, maybe it's just semantics, but maybe we should probably get the facts straight and stop sugar coating "pro choice" as meaning "pro abortion." Using the term pro abortion is more harsh in my opinion but it's being honest. A woman can not be pro life and have an abortion but you can be pro life and make a choice to have the baby. You get my point. Let's call things as they are: pro life and pro abortion and do away with the ambiguous pro choice phraseology.
I have much respect for Tim Tebow and his family and all that he has already accomplished in his young life. He is so genuine that the media and others think that he's a fake. Sally Jenkins does a great job of praising his actions and for essentially living out the love of Christ.