Student film calls reaction to abortion disproportionate to Boston bombing
RIVER, Mass. (Christian Examiner) -- The value of human life is the subject of a compelling film recently released by a group of Catholic high school students who say "prayer and public witness" are the only way to stop abortion in America.
During the short-length feature, "In the Cradle of Freedom - A Tale of Two Tragedies" student narraters from Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Still River, Massachusetts deliver news-style monologues that draw a gripping comparison between tragedy caused by the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing and abortions at Planned Parenthood clinics across the city.
The documentary-style movie asks: "Does the Boston Marathon Bombing have anything to do with abortion sites? Are there parallels? Is our country's Justice System out of balance?"
"As wave after wave of runners came across the finish line, suddenly on this very spot a bomb exploded sending shrapnel and destruction all around," a male student says early in the film, shot on location throughout Boston.
"Patriots day, April 15, 2013 was a day of carnage, blood shed and agony," another answers, gesturing at where the race finish line would have been.
"Meanwhile on the outskirts of the city, another tragedy is taking place," another student says as the 10 minute and 31 second film continues in front of a Planned Parenthood building.
The narration moves to a former employee of an abortion clinic who compares the "carnage" caused by the marathon explosion to the unborn killed in the clinic.
"The horror that goes on here takes place behind closed doors," she says. "Nobody except the workers has to see the carnage -- the bodies of thousands of children torn limb from limb, their tiny mangled bodies thrown away like trash."
The film goes onto ask why heroes dared to risk their lives for those devastated by bombs and yet remain silent for the "thousands of innocent children who have been brutally murdered."
"Is the lack of response due because there are no explosions, no screams heard, no blood flowing on the streets, no body parts flying, and no chaos," a female student cries. "Do the horrifying signs of death need to be seen in order to produce a response?"
Through every camera shot and post-production edit the teens sought to connect viewers to the reality of abortion with the powerful parallel of the bombing.
In a final weighty comparison, the student director likened the death sentence that potential abortion victims face to the trial currently underway in which jurors will decide weather Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will be issued the death penalty verdict.
The film suggests that while Tsarnaev officially receives sentencing June 24, many unborn in Boston are issued wrongful death sentences every day.
"Abortion is an unjust death sentence -- there is no crime, no defense counsel, no standards of justice."
Ultimately the question is posed, "When will the scourge of abortion be taken from our country?"
Applauding those who speak up for the right to life of the unborn, the student answers, "When enough hearts have been converted through prayer and public witness and the value of the individual soul is realized."