Juno and Choice

One shocker for me in recent weeks is the very high number of the regular political blogs that I read doing posts on the politics of the movie 'Juno' (and/or comparings its "politics" to that of 'Knocked Up'...!!). And I thought I was a political junkie, but since I watched-- and enjoyed-- that film without thinking of politics, I guess I'm not in these people's leagues.

I have three points I want to make about this issue.

1) It's just a movie. And a comedy to boot. Seriously, this isn't 'Syriana' (an excellent film, btw). It's no more about abortion politics than "The 40-Year Old Virgin" was about the politics of abstinence. Maybe, a similar girl in real life would've opted for an abortion, but that would've been a short movie. This was a movie about a girl and her relationships (with her parents, her friend, her semi-boyfriend, and the couple planning to adopt her child). Don't read more into it than intended.

2) Yes, Juno (and Alison in 'Knocked Up') made the decision to go on with the pregnancy... as do-- gasp-- the vast majority of pregnant women in real life! OMG! But a safe and legal abortion was still an option for both of them, and no one tried to take that choice away from them. Juno even initially went to the clinic, with the full backing and love of her family and friends. And then she made the choice to instead put the baby up for adoption. Her choice, no one else's. And it's that 'C' word that's the crucial point here, and that concept is what its opponents will never get it. These bloggers are talking like abortion is the norm and pregnancy the rare choice, rather than vice versa. It's just silly and a big reason why this debate has been so distorted for years.

3) It's just a movie. Seriously.