"On a 20 May 11 episode of ABC's “What Would You Do,” Texans caught on hidden camera offered support to a teen woman overheard in a restaurant telling her boyfriend that she wanted to keep her baby. The “What Would You Do” TV show, which airs on ABC, sets up hidden camera situations to see how people will react to controversial situations played out in a public setting.
The 20 May 11 episode contained a scenario where a young teenage couple argue over the young woman's pregnancy. The young man wants the young woman to have an abortion because he says that he is not ready to be a father. The young woman tearfully expresses that she wants to keep the baby. Over and over, women come over to offer emotional support to the young woman and encourage her to keep the baby.
One woman told the teens about an 80 year old relative who was never the same after the ;;relative made the decision to have an abortion. The woman, then, offered to console the teens in prayer. All of the other scenarios were similar in that they counseled the teens that abortion was not an option.
The scenario in Texas was done by the "What Would You Do" crew before. On 19 Feb 11, based upon a viewer suggestion, the show conducted a similar scenario in Wisconsin. In that scenario, the boyfriend walked out on his teenage girlfriend. In this case, people ;;also stepped in to support the young woman.
While the hidden cameras of “What Would You Do” reflect a good Samaritan view which supports life, real life video taken in front of abortion clinics reveal a different view in the struggle for life. In the 18 May 11 post on a blog by Jill Stanek, a video in front of a Rockford, IL, abortion clinic displays pro-abortion advocates seeking to thwart the efforts of pro-life advocates who are attempting to convince women entering the clinic to stop first at a mobile ultrasound unit. One of the pro-abortion advocates does a happy dance as one car pass through the pro-life advocates to enter the abortion clinic.
In another example posted 13 May 11 on the Jill Stanek blog, a pro-abortion advocate escorts a young woman to a Planned Parenthood clinic through a group of pro-life sidewalk counselors who attempt to talk to the young woman so that she will consider options for the life of the child. The attempt of the video is to portray the inhuman nature of pro-life advocates. In the epilog of the video, the woman says of the pro-life sidewalk counselors, “Even if they were successful and “saved me,” or whatever, that kind of stress, that kind of panic can’t possibly be healthy for you or for a baby….”
Some might think it is a bit of skewed logic to project upon the pro-life sidewalk counselors that they are inconsiderate in that what they are doing might cause stress to the baby, of course, there isn't any problem with what will happen to the baby inside the abortion clinic. Others might point out that the contrasts between the “What Would You Do” episodes with real life videos in front of abortion clinics reveals both hope and despair in the struggle for life.
Cited Articles and Posts
ABC 2020 (20 May 11)
http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/teen-pregnancy-cafe-patrons-arguing-teens-abortion/story?id=13632629
ABC 20/20 (19 Feb 11)
http://abcnews.go.com/WhatWouldYouDo/witnessed-teen-pressured-abortion/story?id=12932579
Jill Stanek (18 May 11)
http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/05/video-abortion-supporters-cheer-and-do-happy-dance-when-mom-enters-clinic/
Jill Stanek (13 May 11)
http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/05/video-the-irrational-perspective-of-a-woman-being-escorted-for-an-abortion/"