Posted on 12/22/2019 6:18:09 AM PST by Kaslin
In the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, viewers witness what would have happened to the small town of Bedford Falls if resident George Bailey got his wish to have “never been born.” Spoilers ahead: Bedford Falls is a completely different town because of George’s absence. From the name of the town to the levels of poverty to the functionality of family units, nothing is the same. One man’s absence from the world completely shifted the way things turned out for everyone.
While I love this classic film, it is hard to watch as we approach 2020 because it begs the question -- how different could things be in 2020 be if abortion had never existed? What if all those children had been born?
Each year in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, there have been between 600 thousand and 1.7 million abortions annually. That’s more than 60 million children lost which means no family, church or political group is unaffected. At 60 million abortions in America, there are people this Christmas missing from our families, pews and voting booths.
Think about all that could have been accomplished or prevented had those 60 million children been given a chance to live. With millions of more individuals participating in society, think of the realities to which we’ve become accustomed that may never have existed or would be extinguished by now:
No doubt a number of those babies would have grown up to become physicians. With millions of more doctors in the workforce, would there be a cure for cancer? What about Alzheimer’s or Lou Gherig’s disease? Maybe we wouldn’t be experiencing our current shortage in physicians that is affecting the ability of many sick individuals to obtain the proper care they so desperately need.
Some would no doubt have entered the non-profit arena, seeking solutions to decades-old crises in our country. Maybe fewer individuals would be living on the streets, as more homeless shelters would exist to house them. Better still, we’d have more entrepreneurs and businessmen and women creating jobs to provide employment opportunities for those who have fallen on hard times.
The list goes on and on. It’s sobering when you sit down and think about how different our country would be had those 60 million children been given a chance at life. What if some of the most influential individuals of the last century had been part of those 60 million? Can we imagine a world without Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs or Rosa Parks? I definitely don’t want to.
Nor do I want to imagine a world without those who some in America would say should be aborted -- the disabled, the unplanned, the poor. You shouldn’t have to cure cancer, be Mother Teresa or invent the iPhone to have your life protected in the United States. America is the freest nation in the world, and therefore, your life should not be dictated or judged by the circumstances of your conception. Every life has value -- that’s what makes it a wonderful life.
It’s a Wonderful Life is on my favorite films, but as a pro-life advocate who comes into contact with abortion-minded mothers all the time, it’s a bit painful to watch. Especially at the end when George Bailey gets to go back to his family after realizing how different things would have turned out had he never been born, and he gratefully clings onto his wife and children, it always makes me grieve for the millions of lives who have been lost to abortion and for the families who never experienced what life could have been like had they been born.
As we enter a new decade and the 47th anniversary since Roe vs. Wade, I believe America is seeing the beginning of the end of abortion. Despite those 47 years of legalized abortion, we are letting to science, nature and reason point us to a simple and beautiful reality -- life is indeed wonderful. And your life, my life and every life deserves the human dignity of a chance.
I understand the point of the article, but it’s a bit of a reach to dislike Its a Wonderful Life because of abortion. It’s entertainment and good entertainment at that.
The writer doesn’t dislike the film, but rather finds the logical conclusion it leads to painful to contemplate. It’s like a parent of a dead soldier finding photos of the deceased painful to look at. They don’t dislike the photos, they just feel the pain.
“What if all those (aborted) children had been born?“
Black population % would be large, there would be no Republicans in office in any states with big cities, the wall would have been built long ago...just my guess.
Sometimes you just need to leave your worries and concerns at the door, and enjoy the movie.
You might seriously consider that it is MUCH more than simply ‘entertainment’.
It is hard to imagine a more important message, and lesson, than the one it delivers.
If anything it’s a pro life message.
The country is entirely changed because of abortion.
Who replaced those 60 million?
Mostly Mexicans. In 1970, ‘hispanics’ - nobody used that word then - were about 2% of the national population.
Now they are 60 million, or about 20% of the national population.
Note the number.
It’s about direct replacement - although the overall population grew by 100 million because of immigration in general, which includes Asians who had never existed in such numbers in the US.
So America aborted itself out of existence, only to be replaced by aliens, mostly from a country that hates the existence of Americans.
A beautiful thread thank you. You’re on a roll. :)
I am VERY pro life but it is also ABSURD to ignore that a LARGE number would have grown up in broken homes and gone on to commit horrific crimes.
That doesn’t mean they deserved to be MURDERED.
But let’s not talk ridiculous nonsense about the next Pasteur having been murdered without facing the flip side of the coin.
No it’s an absurd conclusion because like I said in another post, MANY would have grown up in broken homes and THE SAME PEOPLE HERE wailing and moaning would be calling for the death penalty for them.
THEY DESERVED A CHANCE! They didn’t deserve MURDER
But let’s cut the BS
Donna Reed was perfect in that movie.
And all those babies that would have been aborted not only would have gone on to do great things but would be voting Republican.
Buffalo Gals can’t you come out tonight.
Can’t you come out tonight.
Can’t you come out tonight.
Buffalo Gals can’t you come out tonight and dance by the light of the moon.
Actually, one argument for this movie is that George Bailey is a liberal. All Potter is doing is giving loans to people who earned them thru good credit and consistent employment. Bailey gives loans to people with questionable credit and ability to pay them back. Hence, Bailey is broke.
Potters way is If they don’t pay, they lose their house within the time allowed by law. Potter keeps Baileys money that his uncle misplaced, but otherwise is a law abiding business owner.
A good lesson in this movie for liberals is that George Bailey practices what he preaches and isn’t a hypocrite.
Agreed. Also, though I am pro-life, the same argument could be said for every possible person who could have come into life if we all were procreating every day to the best of our abilities.
A simple truth also is that many who were aborted, had they not been, would not have been followed on by children who were brought to term.
Too many hypotheticals to sling around!
how the hell do you know how they would vote? that’s crazy.
“a bit of a reach to dislike Its a Wonderful Life because of abortion.”
It’s more than a “Bit” of a reach! This is a passionate writer desperately searching for an interesting “parallel” to discuss his cause. Of course this film had not even a bit to do with abortion, it is about a good man and his self doubts during desperate times. Sometimes authors find themselves short of new material and end up delving into the absurd.
“ how the hell do you know how they would vote? that’s crazy.”
Each would know that if abortion were legal, they would have been aborted, and that fact would inspire then to be Pro-Life Republicans.
It’s a Wonderful Life is on my favorite films, but as a pro-life advocate who comes into contact with abortion-minded mothers all the time, it’s a bit painful to watch. Especially at the end when George Bailey gets to go back to his family after realizing how different things would have turned out had he never been born, and he gratefully clings onto his wife and children, it always makes me grieve for the millions of lives who have been lost to abortion and for the families who never experienced what life could have been like had they been born.
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This a poor analogy verging on click-bait-y.
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