Tebow, Abortion, and The Super Bowl
For those you who haven’t heard, Tim Tebow is in a commercial being run by Focus on the Family during the Super Bowl. The ad is apparently Tim’s parents talking about the pregnancy complications they had with Tim and the difficulties they had with doctors encouraging an abortion.
The ad is controversial because typically major networks reject ads similar to the one that is scheduled to run. You might remember last year when this ad about abortion and Obama was rejected by NBC.
This week ESPN ran two opposing articles on the ad. Jemele Hill had this to say about Tebow and the ad:
“In today’s sports climate, expressing an opinion often results in serious backlash. In some cases, an athlete’s choosing to do what Tebow is doing might be professional suicide.
Tebow’s decision to appear in this ad should be considered just as courageous as Muhammad Ali’s decision to not enter the draft, or Tommie Smith’s and John Carlos’ black power salute at the 1968 summer Olympics.
No, I’m not kidding.
And yes, I’d say that if Tebow were appearing in an ad that advocated a pro-choice position.
Ali, Smith and Carlos championed their views at a time when not everyone supported the idea of equality, and when refusing to serve your country was considered blasphemous. Their views, to put it mildly, were thought to be inappropriate, militant and, in Ali’s case, completely anti-patriotic.” (read the whole article HERE)
Someone who disagrees at ESPN is Tim Keown who said this:
“Tebow is not an innocent, and he does not appear to be deluded. He may agree with everything Focus on the Family represents. But he’s still a young man, still breathing the fumes of a home-schooled background with two parents who believe in the inerrancy of every single word of the Bible. Now, they could be right and I could be wrong on the Bible thing — although it’s going to be hard to convince me the whole belly-of-the-whale thing wasn’t allegory — but he could be setting himself up to be associated with causes and beliefs that may not be his own. All the qualities that make him admirable — earnestness, devotion, a willingness to expound on his beliefs — make him vulnerable.” (read the whole article HERE)
I often share my opinions on this blog, because after all, it is my blog. But I think I’ll stay quiet in hopes that people with various opinions will feel comfortable sharing their thoughts. Hopefully I’m not opening a massive can of worms by blogging about this…
What do you think about Focus on the Family spending $3 million to run this ad?
What do you think about Tebow’s involvement with the controversial ad?
Is running this ad even controversial to you?
**UPDATE** Here is the actual video. Safe to say the uproar was way overdone based on what was actually aired:
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Tyler Braun.
All for it. I have many friends who lean both ways re: the commercial, and I’ll personally defend Tebow and his views to anyone. As a Georgia alum and Florida-hater myself, I despise Tebow as a Gator. But as a human being, and Christ-follower, I respect him so much.
I feel its a matter of free speech. I haven’t seen the ad, or read much about it, but from what I know it’s just Tebow and his family telling thier story. Love it.
Saw this yesterday- a pro-choice columnist for the Wash Post and her opinion to support Tebow: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102067.html
Thanks for sharing that article Dustin. Pretty similar to the stance of Jemele Hill. Well written.
I don’t see a problem with it. I believe that someone specifically gave money for this ad and it isn’t taking money away from other ventures.
I think that it’s great that someone with a national audience and a hero to some is willing to take a stand against abortion. Maybe people will realize that not all the “cool kids” support abortion.
We must have been on the same wavelength today – I posted a blog on this earlier this morning:
http://the-welcome-matt.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-that-tebow-ad.html
This ad displays the power of narrative and of telling a story instead of simply screaming and yelling at the other side. I love the idea and hope the ad is done well.
To me this ad is just a political statement, and I don’t believe that you can create social and cultural change through political methods. If politics is such a great tool for changing the world, why didn’t Jesus start a political movement?
The method that Jesus used to bring about change started with influencing the lives of individuals to change. Then those people became influences themselves, and the world began to change one person at a time.
I have nothing but respect for Tim Tebow, because I believe that he is a man of character (I wrote about that here: http://dubdynomite.com/2010/02/03/life-lessons-tim-tebow/), and I haven’t lost any respect for him with regard to doing this ad.
I just think that 3 million dollars could have been used to actually help change a lot of lives in a more tangible way. An anti-abortion message is not the message that changes lives. The gospel is.
Very well said
agreed. well written.
Haven’t seen the ad but I do hope it is less about a reversal of Roe v. Wade and therefore a political piece, and more about encouraging people to stay away from the abortion option.
Focus on the Family didn’t spend 3 million dollars on the ad. It was funded by private individuals. Focus merely oversaw the production of the ad. None of the money came out of their general fund.
Want to make sure that’s cleared up.
The whole point is to start a conversation. I guess they have already met their goal and it hasn’t even aired yet.
Though I have a nuanced view of the abortion issue, I think he has every right to express his perspective, and Focus on the Family has every right to spend their own money to purchase that ad time.
Why shouldn’t we be willing to hear him out, particularly if he’s expressing himself in a gentle and nonconfrontational way?
I did hear that FOTF is not spending the money but that donors were the ones that provided the money. You can make this argument with everything, but in all reality I would much rather have seen this money go to say maybe helping the sex trade stuff in haiti or any other country for that matter.
I will try and not show my true feelings about Focus on the Family, but I think this is a grab for attention. Yes I agree that abortion is a big issue and one that needs to be talked about, but this seems to be something of a reach.
I do think that CBS could care less and are desperate for money and commercials. Hints the reason why this is allowed to be aired. I feel like there is a lot of people using each other here.
“I do think that CBS could care less and are desperate for money and commercials. Hints the reason why this is allowed to be aired.”
Allowed to be aired? Can networks legally reject ads because they don’t like the content?
yes they can. it happens all the time. standards can be based on all kinds of subjective, ambiguous guidelines.
Well, people are calling this a “political” ad and I strongly disagree. A political ad is one that advocates a political position. Being opposed to abortion is not a political position. Being opposed to government funding for abortion is a political. Being opposed to government restrictions on abortion is a political position. If the ad were advocating overturning Roe v. Wade or calling out a politician for his position on the issue, then I would agree it would be inappropriate.
From what I have read, the commercial is not political. It merely tells a story. A story of a woman ignoring medical advice based on her own set of values and beliefs, bearing that child and then raising a son who has done extraordinary things. Tim Tebow has done a bunch of missionary work. How many people has he led to Jesus Christ as a result of what he has done? How many lives has he touched with his missionary work?
I find it a little repugnant when people start complaining that the $3 million could be spent “better.” We still live in a country where over a million unborn are aborted every year. We cannot put a price tag on any of God’s creations particularly his children. If this commercial leads just one woman not to abort her unborn child, then it is worth EVERY PENNY.
[...] just started reading a new blog called Man of Depravity. Lotsa good stuff. His most recent post shares some interesting links about the controversial Super Bowl ad featuring Tim Tebow. The ad, [...]
It’s an opinion. It’s a story. It’s free speech on the part of Tebow, and on the part of the FOTF donors.
I haven’t seen the ad, but I’m assuming it’s framed as a story and not as a political tirade.
If that’s true, I think it’s a fabulous idea. Life is important. People matter to God. I think we should be all about that in our counter-cultural existence as Christ-followers. An ad in the Super Bowl? Why not?
Really, 3 million dollars on a television ad?
I believe that is the going rate for a 30 second ad during the Super Bowl…by far the most watched event on television. Hence the cost.
I clicked over here from Owlhaven. Thank you for presenting both sides of the issue. However, the thing that sticks in my craw is that what is supposedly the issue in the ad (the pressure to have an abortion) is, I think, worth some further vetting. It is my understanding that abortion has been illegal in the Philippines since the 1930s. It would therefore be illegal for a doctor to recommend one, would it not? I don’t mind being corrected when I’m misinformed…
No one knows what that discussion was like, except Tim Tebow’s mother, father and the doctor.
But having lived in 3 different foreign countries (although not the Philippines) i don’t think Mrs. Tebow’s depiction of the situation is that far-fetched or dubious. I’ve known or heard about expats coming back home for serious medical procedures and that could have been a very viable and real option for them, and the doctor was probably aware of that. Who knows, maybe it was presented as an afterthought to them, as in “or… you could always go back home and have an abortion, since i believe that your life/health is in danger.” But that’s strictly speculation, and unless someone tracks down that doctor and he/she has a firm recollection of the original diagnosis/conversation, everything else will be pure speculation. (Also, I think it’s a bit naive to assume that ALL doctors are going to 100% abide by what’s legal or illegal. Some doctors will prescribe what they believe is in the best interest of the patient’s health, period. Don’t you think?)
btw, i think the ad is stupid.
yes, young people should hear stories about mothers choosing to see through their pregnancies, but this ad will probably backfire and just create a lot of animosity (as it already has).
I think assuming that the Tebow’s are lying about their story is like assuming people didn’t drink alcohol during the prohibition era. I’d much rather give them the benefit of the doubt. Hard to assume they could be lying when this is based off of something without much detail.
I didn’t mean to imply that the Tebows (or anyone else) were lying. Just asking a question, albeit a nit-picky one.:)
I’ll believe the Tebows over Gloria Allred. I can’t believe that the Tebows are presenting a fake dilemma.
http://www.abort73.com
[...] The World Needs More Tim Tebows - even this, coming from a UGA Bulldog like me! Tyler Braun’s blog has some good comments about the add issue. Check it out. [...]
I am wondering if it even matters this much.
Go Daddy has ads using barely dressed women to promote web hosting. KY uses creating editing to promote better sex lives and orgasms. And Budweiser uses a lot of color and excitement to promote beer.
But when a Christian organization decides to throw their values into the mix, that’s when controversy begins.
Really?
It is a double-standard and one that I don’t get.
What bothers me about the ad is it’s underlying message: “We’re right. And you’re wrong.”
Bible-believin’, pro-life supporters won’t see it that way, of course. But imagine if there was a similar ad, telling an inspirational story about a girl who got to finish high school because she had an abortion. And then she went on to be an award-winning professional athlete. Would that influence me to get an abortion? Or would I just see that as an attempt from the “liberals” to promote their never-ending pro-choice agenda?
What would be more encouraging is to see is an ad showing Christians doing a great work in the world (loving the poor, the needy, the orphan, etc.) and saying, you want to join up? That seems far more effective and influential to me.
But if the point is to get people to think twice about abortion, an advertisement showing Christians helping the poor and needy wouldn’t do that.
No, you’re right. I was working from the assumption that the fundamentalist Christian organizations have lost the right to speak, so any message is likely just irritating noise.
If I was to imagine the scenario a little more on-topic, I could see FOTF taking that 3 million dollars and paying for home studies to get parents prepped for adoption. That’s 1000 kids right there.
If Joe Public believes that only people who are pro-life are FOTF followers and no one else is willing to speak out boldly and thoughtfully against abortion, we’ve done a pretty lousy job addressing the issue as believers.
Would you be supportive of this ad if FOTF wasn’t involved?
According to some other comments that I’ve seen, the $3 million was donated for the purpose of the ad. Maybe the benefactor(s) did not want to pay for home studies.
From all reports, the ad does not mention the word “abortion.” I think the ad is a good idea. President Obama apparently left the National Prayer Breakfast this week before Tim Tebow’s closing prayer. So he’ll get to see Tim Tebow during the White House Super Bowl party! : )
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Interesting take from one of my seminary profs on this whole thing:
http://blogs.multnomah.edu/University/2010/02/05/metzger-tebow-pro-life-and-superbowl-ads/
I am opposed to abortion but my guess is that a short ad on TV is not going to influence anybody on the issue.
I would not call this an effective use of the money, but it’s not my money, so it’s not my call.
As far as CBS airing the ad I agree with an earlier post that this is mostly about increasing ad revenues , and they are more likely to run controversial ads than in the past.
I do have an issue with CBS being hipocrites about saying their none judgemental because they refused to run an ad for a gay dating services. That commercial, link below, is pretty stupid, but I don’t see where it’s any more, or less, offensive then the Tebow ad, except to the anti-gay crowd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21l8m6EwzOE
That is a fair point about CBS. I would say the ads do come across as different to me though I may be biased. The Mancrunch ad says over the top and somewhat vulgar to me, the Tebow ad says what the heck was the point of that to me.
The only reason that people got worked up was that it was sponsored by Focus on the Family. I kind of like that the media got themselves so worked up about the pro-life ad … that really wasn’t. And if Focus wants to spend their donors’ money like that, then that is between them and their donors. It was so quick that I had to watch it for the first time on this link.
I couldn’t find a decent version of the other (and very similar) ad that ran. The message was essentially the same but they left the weird tackle moment out. Most of the ads ran during the pregame, and then once in the first quarter I believe.