Scandal upon ‘Scandal’
After the Christmas finale of the widely popular show "Scandal" aired, the responses were predictable. As is mostly the case in America, commentators from two extremes rushed to the podiums to either vocalize outrage or to proclaim triumph. The outrage had been sparked by the protagonist, Olivia Pope, having an abortion to the tune of Silent Night. The triumph on the other side came from pro-choicers, who reveled in the show's portrayal of Planned Parenthood as a provider of vital health care for women. And, apparently, they saw something courageous and inspiring in the abortion scene. Both sides are off the mark.
Curious about all the fuss, I decided to watch the episode and provide my own pro-life analysis, ready to condemn Pope and Hollywood along with abortion and Planned Parenthood. My personal response to the show ended up different from expected. I sat at my desk, mid-morning on a Wednesday, staring at the final scene of the show to the tune of Ave Maria. "Wow," I thought. "This is so much more complex than I had expected."
