This was to be a brief post that expanded as I considered the implications of “My dad’s story: Dream for My Child,” which is also known as “My Dad’s A Liar! (A Child’s Future Is Worth Every Sacrifice).”
I recognize that this YouTube video is a blatant appeal for MetLife Hong Kong. However, as will be demonstrated below, the ad is well worth a few words, and certainly worth the 3:26 it takes to watch. (It should be noted that the ad does not require a particularly sentimental father to elicit a strong emotional response.)
The ad begins with the little girl’s note, in which she praises her father unconditionally. He is described as the most clever, the kindest, and “my Superman,” who wants “her to do well at school.”
But….”he lies”…
About having a job
About having money
That he’s not tired
That he’s not hungry…
Her father is resolute in his commitment to provide his daughter with the best possible circumstances, even if that necessitates working extended hours at low-paying jobs.
The advertisement portrays those simple moments that are the foundation of a meaningful life, including activities such as doing homework together and hoisting her up on his shoulders.
At the conclusion of the narrative, the viewer is presented with a scene in which the father is transporting his daughter to school. As the daughter turns around, it can be reasonably inferred that she is aware of the father’s activities. In any case, when they embrace, it is evident that the ad has been criticized for not including a mother. This is despite the abundance of videos that have been created to celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers. (As previously noted in this space, we have written extensively about the aforementioned touching advertisements.)
The advertisement makes a different point that resonates with pro-lifers in a profound way: that “A Child’s future is worth every sacrifice.”
When a woman (or teenager) is facing a crisis pregnancy, the men in her life—whether it be a husband, boyfriend, or the baby’s grandfather—have a responsibility to appreciate not only what the mother is going through, which is of great importance, but also to stand by her in every way possible, which is of even greater importance.
It is evident that the act of self-sacrifice for one’s offspring, in this case, the unborn child, is not solely a maternal responsibility. It is the obligation of those involved in the woman’s life to assume this responsibility and to feel pride in doing so.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.