"That's it???"

[Joe_5859]

I mentioned this on another related thread, but just to draw attention to the obvious, this ad would never have aired if it were more “in your face” with it’s message.

I did have exaclty the same thought, though: “That’s it?” With all the controversy beforehand, I expected more. But if there was more, it never would have aired. In hindsight, I guess it should have been obvious that the message would be so subtle as to be largely overlooked.

 

[lizaanne]

I posted this on a different thread, but I think it bears repeating here. My SIL put her finger on the spot that bothered me about the ad. It was the way Pam Tebow said she “almost lost” her baby. Not one word about being pressured to make a “choice”. My SIL said it almost sounded like they were equating abortion with miscarriage or stillbirth. If I hadn’t been aware of the controversy, I would have thought that it was an ad for a hospital’s pre-natal or neo-natal clinic.

I know not everyone agrees, and I know that clobbering people over the head is not the best way to make a point, but I thought the ad should have at least mentioned that she CHOSE life for her son, not just that he didn’t “lose” it.

Yep - my point exactly.

~Liza

 

[whatevergirl]

*I think the fact that we’re saying ‘‘that’s it?’’ shows the ad missed the mark. *

 

[dixieagle]

I mentioned this on another related thread, but just to draw attention to the obvious, this ad would never have aired if it were more “in your face” with it’s message.

I did have exaclty the same thought, though: “That’s it?” With all the controversy beforehand, I expected more. But if there was more, it never would have aired. In hindsight, I guess it should have been obvious that the message would be so subtle as to be largely overlooked.

I actually had wondered if they changed the ad after all the controversy started, purposely making it even lighter and more humorous specifically in order to make the pro-abortion folks look even crazier. I thought it must be a “warm-up” for the real pro-life ad that would come later, but never did!

In all likelihood, if it had been even the tiniest bit “in your face”, it would never have seen the light of day. (I do wish the “almost lost him” part was clearer, however.)

The one reaction I heard from the “dark side” today was that the tackle demonstrated “violence against women” (as if abortion doesn’t!!!)

 

[turtle18]

I agree. That was my reaction when I saw it. In fact, I googled the ad to rewatch it because I couldn’t believe that was the ad.

I thought it wasn’t effective. I have a real beef with any ad that refers you to a website to get the full message. That requires someone to take initiative to go their computer and go the website. And most people aren’t going to do that.

 

[CountrySinger]

I saw the ad, and if I didn’t know that whole big deal about it, I would have been very confused. Wow, a son tackled his mom, is this another Doritos ad? Or the ad for NCIS where they were hitting people? My friends didn’t know what it was, and they are pro-choice, and they were confused.

And Focus on the Family= insane. My uncle is a member, and he sends me their magazines (my crazy Evangelical family strikes again). Which I use for fireplace fuel. They are interesting I guess, but definently not Catholic. I would rather read a Catholic magazine. I wouldn’t let someone who isn’t firm in their faith within 10 feet of those.

 

[Cat]

I saw the ad, and if I didn’t know that whole big deal about it, I would have been very confused. Wow, a son tackled his mom, is this another Doritos ad? Or the ad for NCIS where they were hitting people? My friends didn’t know what it was, and they are pro-choice, and they were confused.

And Focus on the Family= insane. My uncle is a member, and he sends me their magazines (my crazy Evangelical family strikes again). Which I use for fireplace fuel. They are interesting I guess, but definently not Catholic. I would rather read a Catholic magazine. I wouldn’t let someone who isn’t firm in their faith within 10 feet of those.

What specifically do you not like about Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family?

I raised my daughters on Dobson, and it was an utter joy. They both grew up to be exemplary and charming women. I would highly recommend his common- sense approach to child-rearing to ANY parents, Protestant or Catholic (or any other religion).

My husband and I were evangelical Protestant from our childhood. Focus on the Family was an important part of our lives. I read everything Dobson wrote, and listened to his daily radio show. I attended the Pro Life Rally that he spoke (Washington D.C.).

We converted to Catholicism in 2004. Focus on the Family did not cause us to be turned off to Catholicism–quite the opposite.

Dr. Dobson has always worked with Catholics, especially in regards to the pro-life issues. In fact, I think it is accurate to say that he is the primary catalyst responsible for the involvement of evangelical Protestant churches in the pro-life movement; until Dr. Dobson started speaking up about the evils of abortion, many Protestant churches, including mine, taught that abortion was just one of those sad things that sometimes has to be done. (The first edition of Tim LaHaye’s landmark book, The Act of Marriage, stated this wishy-washy teaching. Later editions of the book staunchly condemned all abortion as grave sin.)

Dr. Dobson woke up a lot of Protestants, and often faced ridicule and even threats for his efforts to preserve the family.

If I were you, I would think really really hard before saying ANYTHING against this great Christian man. Jesus said that those who are not against us are for us.

 

[CountrySinger]

What specifically do you not like about Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family?

I raised my daughters on Dobson, and it was an utter joy. They both grew up to be exemplary and charming women. I would highly recommend his common- sense approach to child-rearing to ANY parents, Protestant or Catholic (or any other religion).

My husband and I were evangelical Protestant from our childhood. Focus on the Family was an important part of our lives. I read everything Dobson wrote, and listened to his daily radio show. I attended the Pro Life Rally that he spoke (Washington D.C.).

We converted to Catholicism in 2004. Focus on the Family did not cause us to be turned off to Catholicism–quite the opposite.

Dr. Dobson has always worked with Catholics, especially in regards to the pro-life issues. In fact, I think it is accurate to say that he is the primary catalyst responsible for the involvement of evangelical Protestant churches in the pro-life movement; until Dr. Dobson started speaking up about the evils of abortion, many Protestant churches, including mine, taught that abortion was just one of those sad things that sometimes has to be done. (The first edition of Tim LaHaye’s landmark book, The Act of Marriage, stated this wishy-washy teaching. Later editions of the book staunchly condemned all abortion as grave sin.)

Dr. Dobson woke up a lot of Protestants, and often faced ridicule and even threats for his efforts to preserve the family.

If I were you, I would think really really hard before saying ANYTHING against this great Christian man. Jesus said that those who are not against us are for us.

It’s because he is evangelical, and with my crazy relatives who happen to be evangelical, anything with that label, makes me sick. They are the ones who call me a Mary-worshipping Jesus-eating freak. And then mail me Focus on the Family stuff. I love the disconnect. Insulting me is not going to make think well of them. I’m sure Dr. Dobson is a nice man, but Focus on the Family will always leave a bad taste in my mouth. It’s like my friend who got sick after eating watermelon, now she can’t stand the smell of it.

 

[shannyk]

Sorry but I can’t get excited about an anti Catholic organization that totally misrepresents Christianity, scripture, and the teachings of Christ, running a very expensive ad for anything. To top it off it was just a silly ad. This is the same focus of the family that espouses the ‘fact’ that the Philippines needs to be evangelized because 70 per cent of the population is non- Christian. Well…umm actually 80 per cent of the population is CATHOLIC. Nope, not down with it.

 

[Ana]

I have to say that from “my” perspective as a die hard pro lifer, my first reaction was “that’s it?” But in retrospect, I like the commercial when considered who it’s intended audience is. It sends the message that all life is sacred, each person is unique and irreplacable. Perhaps not in an “in your face” sort of way, but in the same way that a family open to many children still sends a “pro life” message. The way a couple who adopts special needs children, sends a “pro life” message. Neither of these scenarios mention abortion specifically, but no one can argue that these gestures are not pro life. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it. Focusing on the abortion aspect is like focusing on a branch of the tree, as opposed to the root of the problem which is a darkening of the heart concerning the sanctity of life. If all believed that life is sacred, Abortion wouldn’t even be an issue.

God bless.

 

[lizaanne]

It sends the message that all life is sacred, each person is unique and irreplacable.

How exactly does it do this? What is said in the ad that sends this message? Without knowing ANY of the controversy or what the ad is supposed to be about, what exactly produces that “message” to the viewer who sees it for the first time and knows nothing about it?

I’m not trying to nit-pick you - I’m just trying to see where people are getting this from and extremely vague ad.

~Liza

 

[Joe_5859]

I agree. That was my reaction when I saw it. In fact, I googled the ad to rewatch it because I couldn’t believe that was the ad.

I thought it wasn’t effective. I have a real beef with any ad that refers you to a website to get the full message. That requires someone to take initiative to go their computer and go the website. And most people aren’t going to do that.

Most people don’t need to do it for the ad to be effective. Since 106.5 million people watched the Super Bowl, if even 1% of the audience goes to the website, that’s 1,065,000 hits to the website.

These days, many people have some sort of web-surfing device attached at the hip. I admit that I tried getting onto Dockers website for the advertised “free pants.” I couldn’t get on the site, though, because of all the traffic. According to some reports, Focus on the Family’s website was also moving quite slow, indicating that many people did in fact go to the website to hear the rest of the story.

Apart from the ad itself, all the controversy that surrounded the ad before it even aired, along with all the press in the wake of its’ airing about how tame it was compared with expectations, is worth something, too. To have there be “buzz” surrounding your ad is exactly what advertisers want (and what they often spend a lot of money trying to achieve). Focus on the Family received that buzz in spades.

 

[CountrySinger]

Sorry but I can’t get excited about an anti Catholic organization that totally misrepresents Christianity, scripture, and the teachings of Christ, running a very expensive ad for anything. To top it off it was just a silly ad. This is the same focus of the family that espouses the ‘fact’ that the Philippines needs to be evangelized because 70 per cent of the population is non- Christian. Well…umm actually 80 per cent of the population is CATHOLIC. Nope, not down with it.

You said it better than I did! Amen! But wait, Catholics aren’t Christians right? <---- sarcasm, in case it didn’t come through.

 

[Cat]

Sorry but I can’t get excited about an anti Catholic organization that totally misrepresents Christianity, scripture, and the teachings of Christ, running a very expensive ad for anything. To top it off it was just a silly ad. This is the same focus of the family that espouses the ‘fact’ that the Philippines needs to be evangelized because 70 per cent of the population is non- Christian. Well…umm actually 80 per cent of the population is CATHOLIC. Nope, not down with it.

Where did you read this about Focus and the Philippines? Can you cite the source, please?

I’ll be honest, I’m frankly surprised. Focus is not a missionary organization and never has been. They might feature missionaries on their radio program or in their website, but they themselves do not send missionaries or maintain a missionary outreach.

Also, I would appreciate it if you would provide some of the quotes/articles, etc. in which Focus proves itself to be anti-Catholic. Thank you.

 

[mini_me640]

I know I’m late posting on this thread, but here’s the thing about the Tebow ad. Neither Focus on the Family nor Tim or Pam Tebow ever claimed the ad was radically anti-abortion. In fact, they stated again and again that it was simply an ad celebrating family and life, that the word abortion was not used, and that after it aired, people would wonder what all the commotion was about (all true as it turned out). It is the Planned Parenthoods of the world that made it out to be a big pro-life ad before it aired. They assumed, since FOTF is pro-life, and since the story of Pam Tebow choosing life against doctor’s wishes is well-known among football fans, that the ad was going to specifically address abortion. So the big build-up for a huge anti-abortion ad was generated by the anti-life crowd, NOT by Tebow or FOTF.

 

[Cat]

I know I’m late posting on this thread, but here’s the thing about the Tebow ad. Neither Focus on the Family nor Tim or Pam Tebow ever claimed the ad was radically anti-abortion. In fact, they stated again and again that it was simply an ad celebrating family and life, that the word abortion was not used, and that after it aired, people would wonder what all the commotion was about (all true as it turned out). It is the Planned Parenthoods of the world that made it out to be a big pro-life ad before it aired. They assumed, since FOTF is pro-life, and since the story of Pam Tebow choosing life against doctor’s wishes is well-known among football fans, that the ad was going to specifically address abortion. So the big build-up for a huge anti-abortion ad was generated by the anti-life crowd, NOT by Tebow or FOTF.

Thanks for this.

I was in a United Church of Christ last weekend (for a music competition). I picked up their denominational magazine.

Oh, my. The bitterness and hate towards Focus on the Family was frightening.

That alone–the fact that the very pro-choice UCC opposes Focus on the Family–shoud cause Catholics to at least respect the organization.

It really really bothers me to hear Catholic Christians make such critical comments about a truly good and Christ-honoring organization. I am upset and heartbroken in my soul over this.

In all my many years of listening to Focus on the Family and reading (many times) Dr. Dobson’s excellent books, I have NEVER read or heard anything remotely anti-Catholic from this organization. Have all of you who criticize Focus listened to the radio program for many years like I have? Have YOU actully read all of Dr. Dobson’s books? I doubt it, or you wouldn’t say such bad things.

 

[TexCatholic4JMJ]

Thanks for this.

I was in a United Church of Christ last weekend (for a music competition). I picked up their denominational magazine.

Oh, my. The bitterness and hate towards Focus on the Family was frightening.

That alone–the fact that the very pro-choice UCC opposes Focus on the Family–shoud cause Catholics to at least respect the organization.

It really really bothers me to hear Catholic Christians make such critical comments about a truly good and Christ-honoring organization. I am upset and heartbroken in my soul over this.

In all my many years of listening to Focus on the Family and reading (many times) Dr. Dobson’s excellent books, I have NEVER read or heard anything remotely anti-Catholic from this organization. Have all of you who criticize Focus listened to the radio program for many years like I have? Have YOU actully read all of Dr. Dobson’s books? I doubt it, or you wouldn’t say such bad things.

I agree with you about Dr. Dobson. Never have I heard anything disrespectful about
the Catholic faith from him or from the organization. Many years (pre-Catholic forums
or even Catholic radio, Ewtn, etc.) I used to listen to his show. As a matter of fact, I
remember one time when he complimented the Church for not segregating the family
at Church. Most Protestant services send the kids to Sunday school while most of
the Catholics keep the family together. He thought that that was something they
should emulate. He is also truly pro-life and he started an organization that gave
good information on the doings in Congress, especially anti-family legislation.
We need these people beside us in our battle.
Father Pavone has many in his organization, pro-life Christians (even atheists) who
found their was “Home” because of our common goals.