Rap Music Pro-Life; Asked For Reaction, Christian Right Miserably Confused

Rapper Nick Cannon's managed to conquer both MTV and the pro-life media with a song, affecting video, and forthcoming book about his teenage mother's decision not to abort him. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Planned Parenthood hasn't heard of the song, "Can I Live," and NARAL isn't returning calls. That's funny, because priestsforlife.org has been promoting the online video since June. I think of Planned Parenthood as being pretty plugged in; you'd think they'd be watching more MTV than your average priest.

Organizations that want to help women have better lives are missing a fantastic chance to work with "Can I Live's" people-driven publicity. Instead of "Oh, we haven't heard about it," how about "Yes, this video movingly demonstrates how agonizing it is for women who aren't in a good position to support a child to find themselves pregnant. This is why we need affordable health care, universal child care, comprehensive sex ed and access to birth control--" (although it might be impolitic, given the circumstances, to ask Mr. Cannon to advocate for the latter.) The "Can I Live" video takes us through seeing the ultrasound and holding the cute baby, but doesn't show the sacrifices and bravery that come with bringing that baby up as a very young mother--sacrifices that Cannon, whose mother appears in the video, obviously appreciates. What if NOW or Feminists for Life asked Nick Cannon to use his publicity to help women who choose as his mother did have an easier time? He wouldn't even have to deviate from his recent line of "it's a personal choice, I'm just showing one experience"--an unconvincing line, given the personal relevance of the song and the importance of the political issue. Young women who face unplanned pregnancy deserve all the attention this song can bring to their painful choices. They certainly deserve attention from women's groups, who should be their natural advocates, as well from as single-issue pro-life voters.