Before we begin everyone must forgive my lack of updates because I unexpectedly moved the past week. I went to an apartment complex to just look and instead I got approved and left the leasing office with one. It's actually quite frightening considering I've been testing this whole Oprah (Goddess!) thing where you visualize what you want and see what you get? I kid you not I visualized a gorgeous cheap apartment during meditation and low and behold...I now have one. I'm not trying to convert...just saying!
Enough about my life though because while I am a wonderful and fascinating human being...I am not as fascinating as abortion skits at Acquire the Fire. Shocking, I know. In the name of full disclosure I'll be describing the abortion skit with crass and classic Naomi language. In no way do I view young girls as sluts, I am strictly using the language that I heard in this Christian skit.
So, here we go. Yes, at ATF (Acquire the fire) there was a skit. Every year they do a skit however it's really more of a mini play. Usually, this skit lasts the whole weekend and is broken up into chunks. Quite clever, because teens away from home and who haven't slept because they all bet they could stay up all night and used large quantities to do it, have short attention spans. This year was quite different.
This year there was one skit that lasted probably about a full 45 minutes to an hour. They ran it straight through...my theory? It's super controversial (they're actually usually more subtle) and super sexist. I personally believe (the only evidence I have for this is my gut feeling and my oh so amazing women's studies background) that they did this because if it was split up and broken into peices it would be easier for people to question it and talk about it. There were no breaks in between so the kids watched and went right into an altar call. Talk about sex, the future, and abortion to Christian teens and they get upset, emotionally connected and then recommit or commit their lives to Christ. Classic.
The skit was about a white (Oh wait...they were all white!) young, handsome (he didn't quite do it for me) star football player at a super hetero white high school (I know what you're thinking...90210?). So, homeboy is super popular and drooled over by teachers and students, so much in fact that there's an upcoming press conference so he can announce where he's going to college in the fall because everyone wants to know. I mean, that's how I announced my decision so that part's not weird.
So we enter this plot after he and his girlfriend have just broken up because she tricked him into going "further". Apparently everyone in the school knows she's a slut but as described this Christian football player didn't judge her and gave the town slut a chance. Selfless, right? Swoon.
So, she gets pregnant and he bails. He yells at this poor girl saying "What about my hopes, dreams, and futures?" She says, "I know, I know." She then sings a song that says over and over, "I'm a dirty whore". She's on her own so she goes to the local abortion clinic. She passes some protestors and is getting nervous but sits down in the waiting room which is empty except for one other girl. So realistic, right? Because people who run these clinics don't care and just get 'em in and out. So this lone other girl ends up being a Christian who hates protestors and instead sits in the waiting room all day every day (it's implied) telling girls she loves them, God loves them, and even if they go through with the procedure she'll be there to help them through it. Actually not too bad. Unconditional love. Farfetched that this woman has nothing else to do besides sit there but their conversation was actually not bad. There was judgment though I felt when the pregnant girl says, "You're waiting too?" This other woman gets defensive and says, "I'm not in the same situation." The way she said it was defensive and seemed to read more like, "Whoa...I am NOT like you!" But she said no matter what she'd be waiting and there to help. Pretty cool.
Spoiler alert...she doesn't go through with it and this other woman turns out to be married and wanting a baby. Yep, she and her husband agree to adopt this fetus. Also, our star football player who throughout this abortion storyline has been soul searching, has his press conference where a reporter says, "Hey, didn't you knock your girlfriend up?" He says, "Nope. Don't even know the girl." Everyone who knows about the situation clearly gets mad. And his ex girlfriend slaps him when he tries to apologize for this throwing her under the bus thing (I stood and applauded) but five seconds later forgives him.
1) This whole women trick Christian men and have to pick which "Mary" they want to be is super old. The horse's ashes have been scattered. Move on, people.
2) This girl sees herself as a used, washed up whore and we never address that this football player clearly used her and then dropped her when there were consequences. He had a purity pledge too. We know that kids who sign these are more likely to break then keep them and less likely to use contraception when they do. Condoms are never addressed!
3) There was one woman of color who said she identified with the girlfriend because the woman of color was the adultress that Jesus saved from being stoned. She was an angel in heaven singing a song about how Jesus saved her when she was here on earth actin' a fool with a married man. Way to represent ATF.
4) ATF comes from the assumption that everyone knows abortion is wrong. No other opinions...period.
5) Not everyone has a nice, rich, loving couple to adopt their baby on the spot and pay medical bills. I'd rather give my baby to Oprah. False, I'D rather be adopted by Oprah.
My response:
I'm pro-choice and today's blog isn't me debating why. So, now that we know I do not believe abortion is morally wrong, I'll say that God loves ALL people AS THEY ARE. I do not believe that abortion is a sin and I do not believe it to be an easy decision that anyone takes lightly. How could you either financially or emotionally? Also, this skit made abortion look accessible for a teen girl. Depending on the state she may need permission from a parent, guardian, or judge. Also, it's not exactly covered by every insurance company and there's going to be a difference that needs to be paid if it is. You don't just walk in and get it taken care of on the spot and there actualy are people available for emotional support. Yes, SUPPORT not MANIPULATION! Abortion isn't the right choice for everyone, but how the skit depicted it...um, no. Just no. So I say, no judgments. Jesus didn't practice it...pretty clear example. What would I say to a young woman making the same choice? "I love you, God loves you, whatever you decide is right for you, I'm here...unconditionally." Not because it sounds right, not because I'm hoping she'll choose what I want her to choose, because it's right. Women should be trusted to make decisions for their own lives and bodies. That's my perspective and so far God hasn't shown me I'm wrong on that. So take that, ATF. Tomorrow I'll discuss what was good about ATF. Yeah, I managed to find the good :-). I'm cool like that.
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