Celebrate Family: Team Tebow Tackles Super Bowl

by | Feb 8, 2010 | Life

When Focus on the Family purchased 30-seconds of Super Bowl advertising to run a commercial starring Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mother highlighting the theme, “Celebrate family, Celebrate life,” the controversy began almost immediately.

Even before the commercial could be seen, a coalition of women’s feminist groups began a protest campaign against the ad. The president of Women’s Media Center lambasted CBS “for inserting an exceedingly controversial issue into … America’s most-watched sporting event.” One vice-president for NOW said, “”This ad is frankly offensive. It is hate masquerading as love. It sends a message that abortion is always a mistake.” Planned Parenthood went so far as to release a petty preemptive “response” to the as-yet un-released and un-seen commercial spot.

Meanwhile Gary Schneeberger, a spokesman for Focus on the Family, accurately suggested that opponents “…will be quite surprised at what the ad is all about.”

Indeed, the commercial completely failed to mask the overwhelming unconditional love Pam Tebow has for her award-winning son. And when the “miracle baby” surprisingly tackles his mom right out of the picture, the laugh is on us. There’s even a little “gotcha” at the end as she reminds him, “You’re not nearly as tough as I am.”

This sweet & funny commercial allowed a mother to say to the nation how much she loves her child. Clearly, the message was not controversial, not offensive, and didn’t force any judgement on others. Instead those organizations who were so quick to accuse may have publicly unveiled their own controversial bias when it comes to women’s best interests and “choices.”

WRITTEN BY:

Shelly Henley Kelly

Trending: