Unplanned tells the story of Abby Johnson, who was the director of a Planned Parenthood clinic- and had had two abortions herself- as she comes to realize that they aren't just disposing of a bit of tissue: they are destroying a life. The film is careful to portray some of the abortion clinic workers as genuinely believing they're doing the right thing, and shows some of the pro-life people being truly unpleasant. But the movie is clearly and unapologetically pro-life and that's driving a lot of pro-abortionists crazy.
Most mainstream movie critics either ignored the film or panned it, because of course they did. I read one who accused Unplanned of being inaccurate, saying it exaggerated by some weeks when a baby- excuse me, fetus, could feel pain. Is this true? Maybe, but even if it is, it's irrelevant. If someone enters your bedroom and smothers you while you sleep, it doesn't become less of a crime because you didn't feel anything. Pain- or the lack of it- doesn't determine whether or not aborting a baby is moral. It's either a child with a right to life or it isn't. The ability to feel pain doesn't magically turn a preborn baby into a person endowed with rights. In any case, much as I find their arguments disingenuous, anti-science, and tiresomely predictable, I would never try to censor anyone's words. They can say what they want on this and any other topic; just make sure that I am accorded the same rights and freedoms.
Much creepier is how various members of the Liberal government weighed in, approving of the efforts to restrict access to the film. Justin Trudeau's "Liberal" Party- a misnomer if ever there was one- is openly and unashamedly hostile to anyone who doesn't support unlimited abortion access right up until birth. They have made it clear that being pro-life invalidates our Charter rights as far as they are concerned. Trudeau has banned anyone who opposes abortion from running for/serving in his party. The Liberals also had a pro-life woman removed from heading up a commitee on womens' issues because, being pro-life, she apparently couldn't have anything valid to say about any issues of concern to women. Because- apparently- the ability to kill our children in the womb is the only thing that defines us as women. The "Liberals" have gone so far as to deny access to government grants to organizations unless they are willing to bend the knee to Big Abortion. Pray tell me, how is any of this pro-choice?
Several Liberal MPs have spoken out against allowing Unplanned to be shown in Canada: one of these is Melanie Joly, Trudeau's Minister of Tourism. To be fair, she is from Quebec, and they seem to love Big Government up there- the bigger, the better (Quebec just passed a law making it illegal for people to wear religious symbols to work). Justin's father Pierre Trudeau once famously said that the government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation. Mme. Joly and her ilk, however, are quite positive that the government has a place in your theater seat with you. Here's her tweet on the subject:
Conservative fundraiser @Guzzo_Vincenzo is supporting anti-choice by airing “Unplanned”. This is not a question of freedom of expression, but a political decision that is dangerous for women’s right in our (Canada). The @andrewscheer Conservatives are showing their real colours again.
I don't generally respond to much on Twitter- frankly, what's the point- but was feeling ornery enough that evening to tweet a reply:
I am a Canadian woman; we are not a collective and you don't speak for me. It is alarming that an elected official thinks it's her place to decree what Canadians should/shouldn't be allowed to watch. Decide for yourself & let everyone else do the same.