Downton Abbey's Pro-Life Message

Townhall.com ^ | February 16, 2014 | Cortney O'Brien

[Jane Long]

I’m a Downton Abbey fan, and even more so after watching last week’s touching episode. I agree with the article’s author...an excellent description of the situation and the scenes.

[Tennessee Nana]

Not totally pro-life

“I am killing the wanted child ...”

“wanted child” is a modern pro-abortion term..

no 1910-20 woman would have said that..

[Hulka]

“Wanted?”

Since I was not living in the 1920’s, I would hardly know if ‘wanted” or “unwanted” would have the political connotations that it does today.

Of course, since you lived in the 1920’s and were old enough to know what terms would be used and always in the context they would use them, I guess we disagree (DUCKING because of my reference to your, ahem, ‘age’)

;-)

[GeronL]

Nothing says conservative like a woman having one-night stands with married men.

[tirednvirginia]

Perhaps her dead sisters husband will marry her so as to protect the family’s honor. They can then keep the baby.

[heylady]

We all sin. It is what you do after the sin that matters.

[chae]

For all the things wrong with it, the tv show “Glee” also has a strong pro-life stand.
When the head cheerleader, Quinn gets pregnant, she flat-out says, “Abortion is not even an option”, and gives her baby up to be adopted. Rachel is adopted (yes she was adopted by 2 gay men, like I said it’s far from perfect). And When Sue Sylvester finds out that the baby she’s pregnant with will have Down’s Syndrome, her reaction is “I’ll love my baby no matter what”.

[clintonh8r]

Before I read the article....are there any spoilers?

:>)

[livius]

Actually, I was totally impressed as well.

I was sure after the preceding episode that she was going to go for an abortion and I almost didn’t watch this episode because I didn’t want to dislike the character. But I was really impressed by the scene, really impressed with the honesty with which it was handled, and completely amazed to see it dealt with this way by a mass market program.

Congratulations to them, and I hope they stay true to this. It’s a very positive message for all young women who find themselves in that situation.

[livius]

Does the anachronism matter? It’s actually even braver for using a modern term.

Also, I’m not sure it’s an anachronism. The concept of “wanted” children (that is, wished for by a married couple) and “unwanted” children has been around for a long time, and IIRC the eugenicists of the turn of the century mentioned it. Since, naturally, a “wanted” child would only be one born to an upper or academic class white couple...

[Guenevere]

I’m a Downton fan too, and I was amazed and grateful for the dialogue!!!!

[RedMDer]

We need your help to keep the lights on.
FR is funded solely by contributions made by
liberty loving people who enjoy and use it.

Every donation counts no matter how big or small.
If you can donate $5, $10, $20, $100 or more,
it would be greatly appreciated.


Free Republic 1st Quarter Fundraising Target: $85,000

Receipts & Pledges to-date: $50,277

59%

Woo hoo!! And we're now over 59%, looking for 60!! Go, FReepers!! Thank you all very much!! We can do this.

Two percent a day keeps the 404 away. 

[livius]

Well, even adopted by 2 gay men is alive...so that’s a positive! I haven’t watched that particular show, but I wonder if there’s a sort of reaction going on among younger people and perhaps most of the women the Wendy Davis-type message supposedly appeals to are older women who think they’re being trendy.

Actually, time and again surveys have shown that the people most in favor of abortion are young and middle-aged men, which should tell us something.

[Guenevere]

I thought I was up to speed on my pro-abort terms.......and it never crossed my mind that she was using modern lingo.

I took it as she wanted this baby because she realized it is a child and she is in love with the father.

[Timmy]

Not so fast. Downton Abbey may not be THAT pro-life. I'm pretty sure Bates is gonna kill someone.

[eddie willers]

I'm pretty sure Bates is gonna kill someone.

Yep....but that falls under the category of "he needed killing".

[GeronL]

I didn’t say anything about “wanted”.

It is good that she did not carry out her desire to kill the baby, although probably just from being scared of that place.

That doesn’t give her a reprieve.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

It will be interesting to see how the affair between Lady Rose and the black Rag Time singer turns out. If a pregnancy results, that could be more difficult to resolve. I suppose that Rose could go on a grand tour of Europe, or travel to America, then put the baby up for adoption.

[livius]

A reprieve from what?

BTW, I think I mistakenly clicked on your post with my reply...somebody above you said something about “wanted.” My apologies!