'My mother is going to kill me': Anti-abortion billboard with a straight-talking message is causing controversy... and confusion

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:17 AM on 8th October 2010

A billboard advert that deals with the topic of abortion in a matter-of-fact way has been causing controversy in Wisconsin.

The billboard, in Marinette near the local high school, shows a pregnant young woman - her unborn child clearly visible curled up in her womb.

A speech bubble coming from the worried-looking woman says: 'My mom's going to kill me.' A similar speech bubble from the unborn baby says: 'My mom REALLY is going to KILL ME.'

The no-nonsense language of the advert by LifeCore - an anti-abortion organisation - has made some residents uncomfortable. Others have misunderstood the sign, thinking it has a pro-abortion message

The sign, which has been up for about two weeks and is scheduled to stay up for another month, has been getting a mixed reaction from people on both sides of the abortion issue.

Marinette High School sophomore Samantha Bosch said: 'It's a little awkward and offensive.'

And, in an interpretation that will alarm the organisation behind the advert, Miss Bosch added: 'It also gives off the statement that it kind of scares the pregnant people. Like, saying my parents are going to kill me when they find out - so the only thing I should do is get an abortion or something along those lines.'

Michael Ebert, the president of LifeCore - a pro-life organisation that paid for the advert - defended the message, saying: 'It's the way teenagers talk. If someone is out too late they say "my mother's going to kill me".

'This girl has gotten pregnant and she says 'my mom's going to kill me'. Bay Area Pregnancy Services provides alternatives for abortion and helps the girls who get into this situation.

'We have the message of what the problem is, and we have the message of where the girls can go to get help. No girl should have to go through this alone and they shouldn't have to have an abortion.' Ebert.

Another young female high school student - for whom the adverts are clearly aimed - agreed with the anti-abortion message, but not in the blunt way it was protrayed.

'I think it's very graphic,' said sophomore Marie Arnold. 'It could have been expressed in a completely different way.'

Others have complained about having to explain the billboard to inquisitive children.

But Mr Ebert said if a child was old enough to understand reproduction, the child is also old enough to understand the issue. A similar billboard is on display on Highway 41 just across the river in Menominee, Mich.

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1318711/My-mother-going-kill-Anti-abortion-billboard-straight-talking-message-causing-controversy--confusion.html