By Dave Andrusko
On June 30, we reposted a story from the Canadian pro-life organization “We Need a Law.” (Canada has no abortion law.) It was titled “Wantedness” and the abortion debate.” If you didn’t read it, I would highly recommend you do.
The post links to an incredible l minute, 50 second long video, titled, “So, you’re pregnant.” I have watched hundreds of pro-life videos, many of them so powerful I think about them to this day .
But this one—produced by the magnificently creative Choice42 (also out of Canada) led founder and director, Laura Klassen—is, in my opinion, the best yet.
Katie Yoder, our fellow pro-life colleague over at Catholic News Agency, recently wrote about the video with her customary grace and insight. Let me quote her first two paragraphs before putting in my two cents worth:
A viral video is challenging society and the media for pressuring women to choose abortion. Its message is simple: Women have an incredible Wonder Woman-like ability to choose life for their unborn baby – and succeed. They can, in other words, choose life for two.
Canadian pro-life group Choice42 released its animated video encouraging pregnant women to choose life on May 29. The short film follows a scared, wide-eyed young woman as she flees from the dark monsters of societal pressure and struggles to climb up a mountain. The video attracted hundreds of thousands of views on social media and was so successful that, on June 28, the group released a version in Portuguese, appealing to countries like Brazil. It empowers women with the truth that, yes, “you can do this.”
I transcribed the whole video. Let me quote just the beginning. Note two things. There is nothing about this video, or others from Choice42, that suggests that the woman (or girl) eagerly embraces the news that she’s pregnant. But that is juxtaposed against a fundamental truth: there are now two people involved and one is utter dependent on the other for protection.
So you’re pregnant. You didn’t plan this. You didn’t want it. And now you have a choice to make. Take a breath. You can do this.”
I’m going to be real with you, though. The choices that our society and the media are going to present you with, they’re not all equal. Right now, your baby’s heart is already beating. That started about 21 days after conception. We’re talking about another human being here, and not just any human being. Your baby.
For whatever reason, this baby was given to you. You were chosen to be this child’s mother. And no matter what’s going on in your life, you can rise up and take this on. You can rock this.
“We’re talking about another human being here, and not just any human being. Your baby.” Your baby!
Much of the remainder of the video exquisitely lays out all the rationalizations, justifications, and excuses others (including “those closest to you”) will offer the woman to convince her now is not the right time. But…
You’re the only one who can protect this child. You.
The conclusion repeats the empowering message:
Fight for your baby and reach out for help if you need it. We’ll help you. Choose your baby. You’ve got what it takes.
And you won’t regret it.
Fight for your baby…choose your baby….You’ve got what it takes.
Watch “So, You’re pregnant” again and again and be sure to share it with your family and friends.