The Tebow Ad: Should It be Aired?

The Tebow spot has not got to go anywhere- at least, not for the reasons Michelle Cottle thinks it should. On the other hand, painting this ad as if it’s some wonderful rainbow of life and strength is no better than complaining about the fact that it’s not something you would want your children to see.

Parents, not only in charge of their easily swayed children but also responsible for their fragile psychological well-being, may choose to limit exposure to media which might ruin them. This, as any member of our society knows, can really only be done if the TV is off, or better yet if there isn’t one in the household in the first place. Otherwise, children will inevitably come across subject matter which their parents deem unsuitable: sex and violence, two very scary messages, are sent through almost every channel, at almost every time of day. The problem, then, is addressing these messages with children, explaining them as they fit in to the real world, and hoping that they understand enough to eventually make good decisions despite it all.

Abortion, like any other topic, is absolutely suitable for children, and long as it’s addressed rather than pushed to the back of the subconscious for use at a later, defining moment. It is the job of a parent to aid his or her child in understanding all sides of an issue, so that the child can come to an informed conclusion- whether at the moment at which the facts are presented, or later on down the line.

The issue with the Tebow ad, then, is not that it will inflict some horrible scar on the minds of impressionable children. However, if it is to get air time- on any channel, during any broadcast- then the broadcasting station should, in the interest of objectivity, be willing to air any ad which will pay the price for the spot, whether or not execs agree with the ad’s content and no matter how controversial. (Of course, this should exclude obscenity and slander.) If they’re going to deny an ad for a gay dating site, then they should deny a pro-life ad. On the other hand, if they’re willing to allow an issues ad that is obviously conservative, they need to set an example by allowing any of the more liberal ads to be shown as well. After all, who can make an informed decision after a heart-wrenching story about a woman willing to carry her future-star baby against the odds, if they don’t even know about any of a zillion other women who made a different decision- or who made the same one, but didn’t have such a happy ending (Hitler’s mom had considered an abortion).