The Dynamics of Volition

4 thoughts on “The Dynamics of Volition”

1. Bree December 4, 2008 at 6:10 am

   This film is well edited, filmed dynamically, and makes a a focused, emotive point. I have to say, though, that I take exception to plot device that the men made the climactic decision in the film. I recognize it as a storytelling device, but the statistics suggest that most women who seek abortions are not in secure, financially stable relationships like the one portrayed here. Despite their relative youth, this couple appears to be able to adequately provide and love a child. The film also ignored that most states require a medical consult (Dr. Daddy can’t just recommend a guy he knows) for the mother prior to the abortion. Some states require signed consent by the father of the fetus before they’ll perform the procedure, regardless of the situation (rape, etc). Ultimately, I think the film was powerful but misleading, in the same way that films like Fahrenheit 9/11 and Religulous are powerful but misleading. Conflicting facts are often sacrificed for an end, I suppose. Thank you for sharing, I am glad that I watched it.

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2. LauraS December 5, 2008 at 7:06 pm

   You know, Julie, that I’m not up on all the literary and cinematic devices etc. etc…

   …what I do know is that watching the film with Mary Grace squirming in my lap made me cry, especially to think that she was the grain of rice in my utero, that others see as less of a life. But as she giggled at the faces on the screen, and I cried knowing the deeper meaning of the story and that there is much work to be done to change hearts. The fact that some women who are pregnant aren’t in financially stable relationships (an $$ issue) doesn’t change whether or not the growing child in her womb is any less of a child (a moral issue beyond any political party).

   Thank you for sharing, Julie.

   ::your one 😉 ::
   Laura

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3. Ginger December 7, 2008 at 1:56 am

   isn’t it a shame that humans don’t have more compassion in all areas of life? that couple was obviously not in any kind of a position where an abortion would even begin to be an option in my mind. there wasn’t discussion of her life being in danger or any other extenuating circumstances like rape or incest involved.
   i kept wondering about what kind of precautions they may have taken or how well informed they might be and were they just careless? are they planning on being married, have they considered adoption or anything like that…which leads me to another curiosity. i know you’re catholic and i could assume all day long where you stand regarding birth control practices and reproductive education, but i’d rather not make those assumptions. could you include some of that in your big ugly post perhaps?

   thanks julie ~ xoxo

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4. artjewl December 12, 2008 at 7:41 pm

   Sorry it’s taken me so long to come back around. Hope you all haven’t given up on me.

   I’m glad to hear you guys took the time to watch the film. Bree, I had a similar reaction to the plausibility of the situation in that, you’re right, most women who seek abortions are not in a healthy relationship where the father even plays a role, let alone one so weighty. But I must emphasize, it was a plot device as you mentioned, The parallelism would not have worked had the woman been the protagonist. Likewise, really, it was irrelevant to the point of the piece whether the protagonist was the father: In each of the three stories, he was a “bystander” who was put in a position to affect a life with his choice. Likewise, it really is irrelevant to the point of the story that Dr. Dad was related. It just acted to help tie things into the tight storyline. And I’m not sure how the requirement of “signed consent from the father” conflicts with the film — the guy was going along with things. It’s completely reasonable to think he signed something before having the volition to stand up for his preborn child.

   Ginger, yes, it is incredible how compassionless we can be. We walk down the road and see a homeless person asking for spare change — in that moment, do we see a fellow person or do we see someone — something — worth less just because of his appearance or where he lives? Does it really matter how he ended up on the street? The fact is, he’s there. I’m sure you’d agree that no matter what led him to live there, we have no right or valid reason to execute him. That’s absurd. Absurd as the “right” of the Nazis to kill a Jew for living in Germany or of slave owners to beat a person because of the color of his skin. Likewise, trying to justify a mother’s “right” to kill the child who lives in her womb because of how he was conceived or how small he looks is just as unreasonable.

   Laura, I love you and thank you for being my one. (And for making the point I wasn’t around to make.) Give MGP a snuggle and kiss for me.

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