17 Again: A Movie Review

[Spoiler alert.]

In "17 Again", Zac Efron plays Mike O’Donnell, the once-college-bound athlete with promises of a “free ride” scholarship, who later thinks that he threw it all away to marry his pregnant girlfriend Scarlett. At the age of 17 his girlfriend tells him of her pregnancy right before the biggest game of his life. With the scouts watching and his girlfriend walking away, he walks off the court to chase after her and ask her to marry him.

Flash forward to middle-age, wherein Mike (now played by Michael Perry) has a nowhere job and does nothing but complain about his family life. His wife (Scarlett, played by Leslie Mann) throws him out and he is forced to move in with his wealthy software genius nerd and best friend Ned Freedman (Thomas Lennon). He walks to the high school to reminisce. There a mysterious janitor apparently casts a spell on him and he meets with an accident that transforms himself into his 17-year-old self. He is still, however, in his own time.

After he convinces Ned that he is himself, Ned enrolls him in the high school, thinking he is meant to live out the basketball-college-star-dream he was once on track for. However, Mike soon realizes that his true path is to help his own children, who are also presently enrolled in the same school. His daughter is dating a boy who is pressuring her to have sex, and his son is a talented basketball player who just needs a confidence boost to get himself on the team and make some friends. Mike is able to befriend his children in a way he would not have been able to in the state of their previous father-child relationship.

Meanwhile, Scarlett is starting to date, while forced to remember the good old days because of the haunting presence of this young man who looks exactly like her husband did when he was 17. Things escalate to the point of divorce proceedings before all is made right. The kids’ problems are solved, Scarlett and Mike fall back in love, and Mike is transformed back into his normal aged body – with no regrets.

This movie is a great conversation-starter for parents and kids. The messages are pro-life, pro-abstinence, and pro-marriage. I recommend this film for teens; and for pre-teens with parental guidance. It can also be used as part of an abstinence program in any youth program.

Presently playing on HBO.

Pro-Life You-Tube Video Contest for Youth

"The SBA List is pleased to announce the launch of our 1st Pro-Life Video Contest!

Many of you have probably already seen the YouTube sensation of a precocious 12-year old girl giving a speech against abortion. This speech has quickly been forwarded from inbox to inbox as many have been struck by this young lady’s inspirational defense of the unborn. Her speech was even responsible for convincing some real women to choose Life!

I have the great pleasure of introducing this young lady to you: Lia Mills is an everyday 7th grader who decided to give a speech on abortion for a competition. Despite initial resistance from her teachers and the competition organizers she was allowed to give her speech on abortion. She won her classroom and school competitions, but lost in the regionals.

Lia’s mom decided to videotape Lia reciting her speech for friends and family to see, but within a few weeks hundreds of thousands of people had seen the video. Last month we honored Lia with our Susan B. Anthony Young Leader Award. Now she is joining us to find the next up-and-coming generation of pro-life leaders.

Lia’s Challenge is our new pro-life video contest for youth. We’re asking young people across the country to post their own pro-life videos just like Lia’s on YouTube. There will be two winners, and each will receive a $1000 scholarship.

Please spread the word about the contest to your friends, family, neighbors, schools and fellow church members. I also hope you would consider contributing toward the scholarships for our winners.

The Susan B. Anthony List is committed to doing all we can to encourage the next generation of leaders to defend women and the innocent unborn.

It is vitally important that these young people have the support and the tools to use all the resources at our disposal to advance the cause of Life. The Pro-Life Video Contest will encourage young people to use their minds, hearts, and talents to advance the culture of Life.

Please help us to support future leaders who wish to raise their voices in support of Life. Please donate to the Pro-Life Video Contest Today!

With our support and cultivation we can build a new generation of pro-lifers equipped with the skills to spread the good news of Life on the internet and beyond!

For Life,
Marjorie Dannenfelser
Susan B. Anthony List President
703-875-3370
www.sba-list.org
Check out the SBA blog: www.suzyb.org"

Life at Conception Act

Please pray for the future of this act, which is not going away. I found this text at opencongress.org

Text of S.3111

S 3111 IS

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3111

To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.


IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES


June 11, 2008

Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. BURR, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. ENZI, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. THUNE, Mr. VITTER, and Mr. VOINOVICH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A BILL

To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘Life at Conception Act’.


SEC. 2. RIGHT TO LIFE.
To implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person, and pursuant to the duty and authority of the Congress, including Congress’ power under article I, section 8, to make necessary and proper laws, and Congress’ power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being.


SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:

(1) HUMAN PERSON; HUMAN BEING- The terms ‘human person’ and ‘human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, and other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.

(2) STATE- The term ‘State’ used in the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States and other applicable provisions of the Constitution includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each other territory or possession of the United States.