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Me, You, and Everyone Juno Posted by Gerrit at 2008-01-02 11:46:14 Surprise!  Pro-life and pro-choice camps are fighting. At least it doesn't involve a bomb.  In fact, it's over the opposite of a bomb, but over Juno, runaway commercial success and best film of the past year according to people both skinny and fat. Will from Horse's Ass claims the film for the left.  As does Campus Progress.  Yet Ross Douchehat (sp?) and the Pope's minions claim it for the right.  Rounding out the opinions, Slate uses big words to avoid saying whatever they really think, and Andrew Sullivan hasn't seen it so he hasn't had his chance to be wrong. The funny thing is that, in the big picture, both pro-choice and pro-life sides find themselves in agreement.  Presented with a non-cliche take on abortion, both sides embrace the human, emotional story that goes with the fictional character's choice (emphasis mine).  Juno could be the rare film that actually unites opposing political beliefs. The sad thing is that, rather than seizing this common ground as a unifying force, both camps are using it to continue re-enacting the blood feud that's been going on for years.  It's not a debate anymore.  It's a vendetta.  I don't think either side actually knows what it's fighting about, but they're fighting tooth and nail. Anybody who watched this movie and were focused on its politics really missed the point.  I sat through the movie and didn't think "pro-life" or "pro-choice" even once.  It was a story about people, not a story about causes.  Just like the philosophical purists missed the point of the movie, the purists debating abortion rights miss the fact that behind the abortion debate are non-fictional human beings like Juno with real stories about the issue... young girls doing their best to struggle with a confusing situation.  If we heard more honest and personal stories about people's experience with abortion (or infanticide where abortion is restricted), I think we could take steps towards depolarizing the issue. Permalink | 3 Comments | 18.13 points Filed Under: movies, female sexuality

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	9.21 Sam (0) Wed, Jan 2 '08 04:30:48 PM If all girls had dad's like J.K. Simmons, this wouldn't even be an issue. Reply

	0.08 SWZA (0) Wed, Jan 2 '08 06:25:22 PM I think it's so precious how the JesusFreaks and ex-Facts of Life stars chirp their peace, love, and godliness routines to the news media. But for me, the deal is this: I don't give two shits about this movie, and now that I know the moronic masses have polarized over its "biblical" interpretations, it's cemented that I will never see it. But movie or no, abortion or adoption, isn't the bigger picture -- the 70 millimeter, some might say -- that everyone should stop oohing and aahing and getting all warm and fuzzy over the fact that TEENAGE GIRLS are getting knocked the fuck up because though they can figure out which hole to stick it in, they can't master the physics behind a goddamn condom?! Fuckin hell, that pisses me off. Pro-life, pro-choice, pro-aliens, fuck it all, I don't care. But WHY, WHY are these IDIOTS -- made so appealing and adorable and oopsy, I messed up... on tv and the big screen -- breeding when they have no spouses, no partners, not enough education, no savings, no career, no medical benefits and nothing but the Trapper Keepers and Diesel jeans their folks bought them, yet are being praised for having kids and attempting to raise them? Seriously, that is such bullshit. It is not commendable, it is not virtuous, it is not making the best out of an unfortunate deal. It is childish and irresponsible, an affront to any parenting your own guardians may have tried on you, and a complete dismissal of basic fifth grade health class learning. Teen pregnancy is not cool, it's a fucking blight on our nation. And I'm ironically aghast that Hollywood, the moral crypt keeper, has seen fit to dust all the amoral repercussions under the heavenly rug for the sake of ticket sales. Disgraceful. Every time my health insurance premiums go up, I want to track down a nearby high school junior with a 2-year old and punch her in the fucking windpipe. Oh, goody for you, your god's gonna high-five you for being an uncoordinated whore at 15, then living off your parents to "raise" your spawn. Yeah, well who's really paying for it, you ignorant bitches? Find me a presidential candidate who will call that spade a spade, and you get my vote hand-delivered and gold-dipped. Hey, happy new year, A02! Reply

	9.00 Sat, Jul 26 '08 05:09:16 PM SWZA, you're a douche.   Reply