The role of personal stories

The usage of personal stories give us insight on certain circumstances that we may never experience or even know. They don't distract from the important logical questions because they are providing specific examples. There are situations where a woman is not able to supply a stable and in some cases sterile environment for a baby. For example, why bring a baby into the world if it is destined to suffer and potentially die early?

I agree the personal experiences add to the value of the movie because most times people cannot relate to the movie and facts so it doesn't apply or relate to them specifically. The stories help how the human emotions and show how it affects real people and the actual consequences the shock of seeing a real story shows just how awful the process is once you see the baby actually being killed you can relate or have stronger emotions

To play Devil's Advocate, Shawn, did we need to see her story to know that sometimes people give birth in harsh conditions? Couldn't you argue that by focusing on the sob story of her life, the movie distracts us from the only really essential question: whether the abortion takes away the fetus' right to life?

Personal stories make the topics come to life more. A lot of times we only read the facts and only pay attention to the facts when we read or hear about serious topics. When a someone tells a personal story about these serious topics, such as abortion, it taps into our emotions which are necessary for fully understanding what these facts or procedures do to a person. For example, when the woman starts crying at the end we truly see the pain that this procedure can bring to women and how it is more than just an a procedure, it can greatly effect someone emotionally as well.

I agree with what mostly everyone said. Going off of Jennifer's point, personal stories make a serious topic, like abortion, more understandable to someone who has not had to go through that situation before. Learning about the story of Stacy makes the viewer feel the pain she is going through. Abortion is something that is difficult to go through and is never an easy decision to make. Before watching this documentary, I knew the basic facts about abortion but learning about someones personal story gave me a better understanding on what emotions and struggles a person goes through during the process. The movie also talks about how Stacy had a cracked jaw. I think this was an important point to make to show the audience that Stacy had been abused and has not had an easy life. Another reason it brings up this point so much is to possibly show that Stacy was looking out for the child's safety and didn't want the child to go through what she had gone through. Overall, I think Stacy made the right decision to get an abortion.

I have to disagree with Shawn---I couldnt read this and not comment on it. The sob story life of this woman ABSOLUTELY draws away from the abortion. This woman, maybe in a moment of insanity, made an adult decision and is thus responsible for the consequences. Period, end of argument. Yet the producer of the film clouds the viewers judgment to feel bad for the woman. As much as I do feel bad for her past, she has to be held accountable for her future. Even if she couldn't bring this baby into a perfect world, she still could have put the baby up for adoption. But no, she didnt want to deal with the burden of a pregnancy so she aborted it. I dont know about you all but I was appalled at the sight of the treatment of the baby, it looked as if an animal dissection was occurring. So does the personal story add something---yes but it distracts and jades the viewer from the fact that the woman aborted a baby.

Will, I can totally see your point. I believe that to make a complete decision without judgement you need to listen to every part of the story. Stacy was put in a very difficult situation though. She was pregnant with her one of her best friend's child, she has had physical abuse in her past, has had depression, has been pregnant 5 times, and on top of all that she had to give up a child for adoption. After one person has gone through this much stress people could say that she wasn't thinking clearly. But I believe that at this point she was thinking as clear as she ever was. I believe that it finally hit her that she isn't physically capable any more of taking care of another life especially a newborn. She has to take care of herself first. By knowing all of that information about her I believe that it was a good choice for Stacy to do the abortion. If I didn't know about her past then I would be so lost and confused on why this unborn human couldn't have the chance at life if everything was "fine".