by Jill

Last night, actor Jared Leto received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie, Dallas Buyers Club.

In his acceptance speech, Leto, perhaps inadvertently, made the case for life when one finds herself pregnant at an inopportune time:

In 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana, there was a teenage girl who was pregnant with her second child. She was a high school dropout and a single mom, but somehow she managed to make a better life for herself and her children. She encouraged her kids to be creative and work hard and do something special. That girl was my mother, and she’s here tonight. I just want to say, “I love you, Mom. Thank you for teaching me to dream.”

Watch Leto’s touching speech, which is getting kudos everywhere…

[youtube]http://youtu.be/VVe9bxtH_DI[/youtube]

I don’t know if Leto is pro-life or pro-choice. A pro-abortion quote widely attributed to him was not made by him. Perhaps someone can definitely tell us his abortion position.

But I do know Leto is a fabulous son.

Email dailyvid@jillstanek.com with your video suggestions.

[Photo of Leto and mom Constance at the Oscars via Daily Mail]

by Carder

What could go wrong?

If their cozying up to Planned Parenthood wasn’t enough to convince you skeptics not to have anything to do with this group, will this be enough?

~ Father Z, commenting on the Girl Scouts of America’s recent hiring of Krista Kokjohn-Poehler (pictured in the center of the bridal party with her bride, fifth from left) for the position of “Girl Experience Officer”, What Does the Prayer Really Say?, February 28

[Photo via San Diego Magazine]

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will teach you lessons from the past – things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors – a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.

~ Psalm 78:1-8, Today’s New International Version

Here were my top five favorite cartoons this week. Be sure to vote for your fav in the poll at the bottom of this post! We start with two projected Academy Award winners tonight…

by Ken Catalino at Townhall.com…

 by John Deering at GoComics.com…

 by Gary McCoy at Townhall.com…

 by Jim Morin at GoComics.com…

 by TobyToons…

by Hans Johnson

A remarkable David vs. Goliath story was anticipated at this year’s Oscars when a small independent film received a nomination for Best Song.  Alone Yet Not Alone , a religiously-themed story set at the time of the French and Indian War, had only a limited release last year.

However, the Oscar nod met with disapproval in the Hollywood community that resulted in a withdrawal of the nomination. The explanation given was that composer Bruce Broughton broke the rules by emailing members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to remind them to consider the film when they voted. Yet free private screenings and dvd copies, as well as millions in advertising are the norm in movie promotion.

The title song was sung by Joni Eareckson Tada , an author, artist, and special needs activist well-known and very popular in Christian evangelical circles. She has been a quadraplegic since a diving accident in the Chesapeake Bay in 1967.  While speaking  at last year’s National Religious Broadcaster’s Convention she was asked if she would like to sing the title song. Only able to use 51% of her lung capacity, she needed her husband Ken to push on her diaphragm to perform the song.

She is known for saying: “Deny your weakness, and you will never realize God’s strength in you.”

[youtube]http://youtu.be/BWVyVMbSzM4[/youtube]

Tada discussed the controversy with Megyn Kelly. You can see some of her artwork here.

[Photo via The Blaze]

Oh, my gosh, I hope not. If it is, I’m really in trouble.

~ Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, responding to a question by Fusion Channel’s Jorge Ramos, “Is the character based on you?” regarding evil Claire Underwood, played by actress Robin Wright, of the Netflix television series, House of Cards. See that February 27 interview clip here.

[Photo via tweet by Cecile Richards]

Barack Obama said that answering the question of when life begins was above his pay grade.

Not so for Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards, although it took a persistent interviewer three attempts to drag it out of her.

Richards appeared on Fusion Channel’s America with Jorge Ramos on February 27 and first tried to say such a question was not “really relevant” to the abortion debate, although the American public would disagree.

Richards finally responded, “For me, I’m the mother of three children, for me, life began when I delivered them. They’ve been probably the most important thing ever since. But that was my own personal decision.”

As if for 27 months of pregnancy Richards didn’t realize she was growing babies inside her – had no relationship with them, didn’t ponder names or plan a nursery, was surprised to see them but began loving them more than anything else in her life from that moment on – simply a ludicrous answer. See for yourself…

[youtube]http://youtu.be/lN2HJHUOMyg[/youtube]

How would you respond to Richards if she made such a statement to you?
 

by Susie Allen, host of the blog, Pro-Life in TN, and Kelli

We welcome your suggestions for additions to our Top Blogs (see tab on right side of home page)! Email Susie@jillstanek.com.

• ProWomanProLife says a new study has found that the US and Canada are on the list of the top countries with the fewest protections for preborn life. The other countries on the list are China, the Netherlands, North Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.
• At New Wave Feminists, Holly Fairchild has some strong words for Texas gubernatorial candidate and late-term abortion cheerleader Wendy Davis:
  

  Instead of assuming that women are weak and incapable (therefore needing abortion), use your own life as an example and show women how much is possible. Remind them that you don’t regret choosing life and they won’t either. Encourage adoption as a loving alternative for those who don’t believe they can raise a child.

• Reflections of a Paralytic points out the serious inconsistency in the views of those who fight against genetically modified food but don’t bat an eye at the idea of genetically engineered children.
• Priests for Life’s Kevin Burke shares the story of David, a post-abortive father in prison for murder and robbery, who believes his downward spiral accelerated after his passive approval of the abortion of his child:
  

  My consent in the abortion of my daughter was a violation of my natural purpose to protect and provide for my offspring. When this occurred, the split in my personality was a defense mechanism that allowed me to exercise denial, so that I would not have to feel the pain of my decision. This denial was forcing me to overcompensate for the damage I caused to my natural masculine identity. The problem was that this denial also meant that I was denying everything that made me human.

• Wesley J. Smith tells why he is less than impressed with the new prenatal test touted as able to accurately diagnose Down syndrome:
  

  A blood test to determine problems would be very good news in a world in which all children are welcomed with unconditional love. For example, Sarah Palin has said that her prenatal testing allowed their family to prepare for her son Trig.Technology is neutral, but our hearts are not. Even though people with Down are among the most loving among us, some want to wipe them off the face of the earth by not allowing any to be born. This test, I am afraid, furthers that goal.

• At Stand True, Bryan Kemper points out that a recent Rolling Stone piece supposedly debunking falsehoods about abortion seems to have left out some crucial information: the fact that abortion takes the life of a human being.
• The New Feminism has a frank article about how college students really feel about the hook-up culture:
  

  They are deeply ambivalent about sex having any significant meaning, and in the context of their mostly ironic culture, they are wary of being duped by grand claims about intimacy, sexual or otherwise. As they say, it’s all “just a thing.” And they have plenty of evidence from their own lives, the lives of their families and friends, and from the wider, sexualized culture to prove it. But when I started to really pay attention to what young adults were saying and doing in their hookups, dating, and relationships, I found what I would call a low- level, grinding despair.

• Secular Pro-Life shares a graphic which turns the pro-abortion “fetus as parasite” meme on its head: