https://www.pressconnects.com/story/money/2019/05/30/ceo-bob-iger-disney-georgia-abortion-law/1283840001/
https://www.newsweek.com/disney-netflix-georgia-abortion-boycott-ban-restriction-money-1439436
It hasn't happened yet, so our prayers can still make a difference.
What is this stand against abortion that Georgia is taking? It's called the "Heartbeat Bill" and makes abortion illegal once a fetal heartbeat is detected, or at 8 weeks of pregnancy. The new law would take effect January 1, 2020. Other states have also brought forth bills that will protect innocent life from death where it should be safest: in his or her mother's womb. Mothers have looked to abortion as birth control, after a life has already been formed in her womb. If you play out the logic, it truly is murder because a life that would have been born and grown up into a child or an adult has been intentionally stopped short. The sanctity of life is something to value and cherish, and is not a commodity.
We all have as a moral, basic, human responsibility and duty to protect life, at whatever stage it is, including elderly and handicapped people. I would extend that to take our responsibility even to animals, as responsible stewards of what God has placed under man. Plant life is also a duty to work the ground and take care of our planet. But like it or not, the top of this chain is human beings because that is how God designed it. And we don't have the luxury of being irresponsible, because it's up to us to protect life and the well being of others. Criminals take what is not theirs. Life does not belong to us, but to God, even our own lives.
Genesis 1:27-31: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."
This is what God thinks about shedding innocent blood:
Proverbs 6:16-19: "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
I believe that Walt Disney would be very much against this proclamation of Disney today. His movies were designed to promote morals and traditional family values. Disney was a name you could trust for quality shows and movies that were family friendly. They were funny but not crass. Today they are as liberal minded in their themes as one can get.
The article from the second link (Newsweek) above states, "Iger said Disney would have to reconsider its productions in the state on the behalf of its thousands of workers who would likely be displeased with the ban, should it become law. 'I rather doubt we will [continue filming in Georgia],' he said. 'I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully.'"
They are trying to please their employees rather than taking a stand for what is right. How could anyone be against protecting the lives of innocent children? One might say, "Well, what about the mother?" The mother is old enough to reproduce, so responsibility becomes her mandate. God will take care of her if she seeks Him for help. God hates the shedding of innocent blood. When did Americans become so selfish? Why are my rights better than anyone else's? Yes, a mother has other responsibilities as well, but those do not override her first priority in doing what is right: not killing another human life.
I first remember the selfish tones of our culture in Burger King's "Have it your way." That was fine, they wanted to show their customers that they were there to serve you, and make your burger the way you like it. But that mindset stuck. I want it my way! I want everything I want, and you better give it to me! One would hope that wouldn't be the conclusion drawn by that, but look around you. Don't you think that has become a prominent attitude in our culture today?
When I was in high school, the kids used to say to someone being demanding: "Gimmes don't get!" In other words, if you are going to say "give me" this or that, you won't get it. You have to show respect and politeness and common courtesy first, and then your wishes may be accommodated. Don't you think that makes sense? It sure does to me.
I moved to Georgia last year. I love coming to the south because there certainly is a larger pull for moral values down here. But the battle is very hot down here. There is evil warring against the good, and as a democratic candidate Stacy Abrams who was running for Georgia Governor recently said (as heard in an ad commerical), "If we can change Georgia, we can change the South. And if we change the South, we will change the nation." Scary, isn't it? Evil has an agenda and it's working hard. We can't be passive, we the people who believe in moral values and the saving and valuing of innocent human life.
No, we don't know if that aborted baby might have been a criminal one day. But that's not our responsibility. No, we don't know if he or she might have been handicapped or a burden to society. Again, not our fault or our ability to know. It's simple: we are to protect life. That same aborted baby may have become someone who saved lives or changed the world for good. And whether we do good or we do evil, we are eternal beings with a precious soul, and life does not belong to us and is not ours to take.
Why is Georgia of all places targeted by movie producers? Because Atlanta, GA is the Los Angeles/Hollywood of the east. I didn't know that until a year or so ago. Atlanta is the center stage for a lot of filming. My daughter had considered moving there when she graduated with her cinematic arts degree.
The Netflix article continues to say:
"Dozens of Netflix series have filmed in the state over the years. Projects including Christmas on the Square, Holidate, The Liberator, the second season of Insatiable and the third season of Ozark are currently filming in Georgia, according to the Georgia Film Office. Disney similarly has a longstanding history of working in the state. The company’s Marvel division has filmed four comic book series in Georgia and 2018 blockbuster Black Panther was produced there.
"Producer David Simon, responsible for hit shows like HBO’s The Wire and The Deuce, released a statement claiming Georgia would be removed from Blown Deadline Productions’ list of film locations should the law be executed. Christine Vachon, CEO of Killer Films, Duplass Brothers Productions co-owner Mark Duplass, Colorforce producer Nina Jacobson and Neal Dodson of CounterNarrative Films have also threatened to discontinue production in Georgia over the law.
"Meanwhile, Lovecraft Country producers J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele said their companies, Bad Robot Productions and Monkeypaw Productions respectively, would continue film their show in the state for now but planned to donate their production fees to Georgia’s ACLU branch and Fair Fight Georgia.
"Georgia’s economy would undoubtedly take a major hit should film studios and production companies go through with boycott plans. Just in 2018 alone, more than 400 productions filmed in Georgia."
We are at a crossroads in our nation. We each have to pick a side. The battle of good and evil is upon us heavier than I've seen in my lifetime. The question comes to each of us: will I stand? or will I cave into pressures, into evil, if the pressure gets too heavy and too hot? How much does money mean to me? Will it wipe out my existence? Will I be willing to give up my life or my wealth to serve God and protect life? There is more than this life. There is the eternal life, or eternal death, to come after we leave this planet. When our focus is on the eternal, the temporal in this life loses its pull. I'm all for wealth and comforts, but if it becomes my guiding force, then I have lost my way.
A PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I made a choice recently. I moved here from Connecticut and found a job, but it was a difficult one. The hours and the job were a struggle for me. I had a wonderful boss who found another job within the company, but it would be working at a casino. I would not be an employee of the casino, but would have to have a badge that would identify me with them. I also considered my reputation as I drove into this establishment. My job was to work in the health clinic, so I was not doing anything wrong. People everywhere need healthcare, and the casino was good to their employees to provide a clinic for them. But my conscience was not clear. I am a Christian, and I felt like my being there showed a conflict of interest with my values, like I was endorsing the things that go on in a casino. It could tarnish my reputation as a Christian writer, and I couldn't take that chance. I am against gambling, and of course that is a gambling establishment. One could try to justify it, but for my conscience, I could not do it. It was a difficult decision as the time was coming close to us starting, but as soon as I found out I would have to wear a casino badge, the decision became clear to me. I had to turn it down. I had to disappoint those who were counting on me. But the strong feeling in my heart that it was the right thing to do won out, and I decided to stay in my current position until God brought something else my way that would better meet the needs of my family.
So what happened? My boss was understanding, she called me the next day to reassure me that everything was fine on her end and asked if we were OK, which we were, and she reminded me of something she learned recently: just because an opportunity comes doesn't mean we are meant to take it. We still have to pray for God's will and follow His lead in all our decisions. A coworker took the job, and this was something that met her needs well. I pursued other external opportunities, but nothing else worked out, so I remained faithful where God had placed me. Then an opportunity came that is even better than I could have dreamed within my same company. The timing was now right for a change, and it did not cost me money or compromise my conscience. The hours worked out even better, and all in all, the pay worked out in my favor as well. I was patient and God blessed. He is real, He is alive, and He will work in our lives when we allow Him to.
Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
So it comes down to this, dear friend, dear Georgia, dear movie producer:
Joshua 24:15: "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
