Posted on 10/26/2009 4:02:37 PM PDT by wagglebee
WASHINGTON, DC, October 26, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- Last Friday's episode of Law & Order on NBC, entitled "Dignity," has infuriated pro-abortionists while pleasantly surprising pro-lifers with an unexpectedly even-handed treatment of the issue of abortion.
Ripping its plot from recent headlines, "Dignity" begins with the murder of late-term abortionist Dr. Walter Benning (Matthew Boston) during a church service. Although the episode has a disclaimer stating that the story is fictional, its initial outline closely matches the case of the late-term abortionist Dr. George Tiller, who was shot and killed in a church in Wichita, Kansas, on May 31st.
After the murderer, Wayne Grogan is captured and confesses to the crime, while his defense attorney, Roger Jenkins (Richard Thomas), argues that the killing was justified because Grogan was acting in defense of someone else - namely, an unborn infant whom Benning was going to abort.
In the end Grogan is found guilty of the murder; but over the course of the episode a host of the arguments and issues surrounding abortion are covered in a manner unusually sympathetic to the pro-life cause.
As Dave Andrusko writes on the NRLC's website: "What makes the Law & Order episode so riveting is that virtually every pro-life argument you knew you would never hear on a network program is a part of 'Dignity.'"
"More important, it occurred to me as I listened in utter astonishment that each of these observations could have been presented in a way that was artificial, forced, or (as so often is the case with network portraits of pro-lifers) something that you would expect from an idiot. None of that was the case. These were real flesh-and-blood people, not caricatures."
Early in the episode, for instance, Detectives Lupo and Bernard argue with each other over abortion. Lupo says that forcing an 11-year old rape victim to give birth is unthinkable, to which Bernard responds: "You got it backwards, man! The horrible thing is the rape! Not the bringing of a life into the world."
He continues by pointing out that he himself was born to an unwed mother, and that Lupo very nearly had another partner.
Similarly, when Executive Assistant District Attorney, Michael Cutter argues with District Attorney Jack McCoy about whether they should give Grogan a plea bargain, Cutter compares abortion to slavery and Grogan to John Brown. He continues by arguing that Roe v. Wade conformed but to the science of its day, and that it deserves another look.
When witnesses begin to take the stand, however, the contrast between the pro-abortion and pro-life position only grows.
One abortionist, called as witness for the prosecution, says that the life of the disabled child Benning was going to abort would be without dignity. He continues to say that even if politicians make abortion illegal and "bow to the hypocrites and fools" of the pro-life movement, he would continue to perform abortions despite the law.
Perhaps the most surprising issue the episode raised is the connection of abortion with infanticide. Over the course of the case, the defense, desiring to show that Benning was a murderer, calls a witness to testify how a breathing, born-alive infant was killed by Dr. Benning.
"The boy was crying a little cry, moving his arms and legs," she says. "Dr. Benning cut the umbilical cord; then he took the surgical scissors and inserted it into the base of the baby's skull."
Several similarly gruesome, real-life cases of infanticide involving abortionists have occurred in recent years. In one case that drives close to home, an abortionist working for George Tiller, Shelley Sella, was accused of stabbing a born-alive infant in the ribcage until the baby died. In addition, former nurse turned pro-life activist Jill Stanek has also related that while working at a hospital in Illinois, numerous babies born alive after failed abortions were simply left to die in the "soiled utility room."
Pro-abortion groups have responded to the Law & Order episode with outrage that the show would feature an abortionist modeled on Dr. Tiller in a less than beatific light.
Charlotte Taft writes that "NBC cannot hide behind the words" by stating that the story is fictitious. For the media to make a negative story so blatantly ripped off the death of "St. George," as she dubs Tiller, is to murder him again. "There is no balance here," she says.
Kate Harding complained on Salon.com that the episode features only two groups: "Anti-choicers, who believe fetuses' rights trump women's, and the pseudo-pro-choicers, who are conveniently persuaded to agree with them by the end of the episode."
"Dignity" may be watched on iTunes.
Charlotte Taft writes that "NBC cannot hide behind the words" by stating that the story is fictitious. For the media to make a negative story so blatantly ripped off the death of "St. George," as she dubs Tiller, is to murder him again. "There is no balance here," she says.
These people are just sick.
Pro-Life Ping
Freepmail wagglebee or DirtyHarryY2K to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
You can add "and lazy, crippled, blind and crazy" to that (from a spiritual standpoint, that is).
In addition, former nurse turned pro-life activist Jill Stanek has also related that while working at a hospital in Illinois, numerous babies born alive after failed abortions were simply left to die in the "soiled utility room."
The hospital in question was a subsidiary of the church that Barack Obama belonged to in Chicago, where Rev. Wright was pastor. Just the right sort of church for Obama.
One of the characters made some eloquent arguments against abortion, and another character actually moved from a pro-abortion position to a seemingly pro-life position. Overall, it was shocking to see such deference giving to the pro-life movement, especially on NBC and on "Law & Order", in particular.
Imagine, ONE pro-life episode has such an impact, when they have been regurgitating their pro-infanticide propaganda on TV shows and the media, for how many years now???
I actually saw the episode and was fairly pleased with it.
Jill Stanek was warning the pro-life movement about Zero before most Americans knew who he was.
I was surprisingly pleased. I didn’t agree with everything, but it was far better than I ever thought it would be.
Have not seen an episode since they did an Iraq War rant that had absolutely nothing to do with the storyline.
Interesting, but I haven’t watched “Law And Odor” in years.
“Kate Harding complained on Salon.com that the episode features only two groups: ‘Anti-choicers, who believe fetuses’ rights trump women’s, and the pseudo-pro-choicers, who are conveniently persuaded to agree with them by the end of the episode.”
I know I’m mostly preaching to the choir here at FR, but a couple talking points in response to this:
1. There is no right to kill another living human being without cause, either in the Constitution or the moral law.
2. The “fetus” does not trump the woman’s rights: both have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit to happiness. If anything, the woman’s own responsibility to maintain her child’s right to such is what trumps any of her alleged claims that a baby would interfere too much with her life.
3. It’s telling that Ms. Harding thinks only “pseudo-pro-choicers” could possibly be persuaded by pro-life arguments. Perhaps we have a political variant of Calvinism here: once depraved, always depraved. (Actually, come to think of it, that’s part of Calvinism too!)
Rats and other vermin scurry away from the light, which in this case is the truth!
Ultimately, that's all we can ask for - a fair portrayal and airing of both positions. I'd be happy with that, for no other reason because I think the pro-life message is a more compelling one and more likely to be persuasive, which is exactly why the radical pro-abortionists are so displeased with this episode.
That scene where the nurse testified about the baby that survived the abortion was incredibly powerful - a real tearjerker.
The second chair prosecutor finally refused orders to violate ethics rules and reported the crime to the police authorities, court and defense council, a major exposure of the infiltration of the legal system by the culture of death.
Haven’t you gotten the directive? Thinking is most definitely not part of the pro abortion or even the normal liberal agenda.
I am very encouraged to hear about this. Thanks for posting some good news. I hope some who needed to hear “our side” got to hear it.
Calvinism does not teach “once depraved, always depraved.” It is “once saved, always saved,” in other words, you can’t lose your salvation.
If it was “once depraved, always depraved” no one could be saved.
Good grief, it’s a joke. Surely there’s something in the Institutes about having a sense of humor.
But anyway, you’re wrong: Calvinism teaches that there is no moment of salvation, only a previous moment of predestination, so anyone not among the elect really is “always depraved.”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.