“Gosnell: The Trial Of America’s Biggest Serial Killer” may be the most important film made in my lifetime. The impact it has already had — both on those who have seen the film and even on those who participated in making it — is visible, and its potential footprint on American culture cannot be discounted.
I have nothing but respect for the dedication and hard work of producers Ann McIlhinney and Phelim McAleer. Director Nick Searcy’s body of work speaks for itself. And I have nothing but love for Dean Cain, both as an actor and a friend.
But I cannot watch this film.
Kermit Gosnell’s trial began on March 18, 2013. At the time, I was eight months pregnant — a difficult pregnancy that followed on the heels of four miscarriages, the most recent of which had occurred just a year earlier at 15 weeks.
Every day, I tried to follow the coverage of the trial.
I listened to Dana Loesch, who was still broadcasting from my hometown of St. Louis, as she broke down the details of the trial as they were released and criticized the numerous media outlets that all but refused to acknowledge it was even happening.
Criminal negligence, Philly press. MT @jdmullane: reserved media seats in Court Thurs in Gosnell trial. Empty all AM. pic.twitter.com/WFntCYPK0f
— Chris Stigall (@ChrisStigall) April 12, 2013
And every day, I had to turn off the radio.
Every day, some newly-discovered atrocity from Gosnell’s clinic of horrors reminded me that there were people in this world who would kill a child as viable and vulnerable as the one I was carrying — if only someone paid them enough.
Every day, I was transported back a year to the sterile hospital room where I held the son I could never take home — and I realized that men like Kermit Gosnell would have viewed him as “disposable.”
My story ended well. My daughter, now five years old, was born just 10 days before Gosnell was sentenced to three life terms for killing babies born alive in his clinic.
“When Gosnell was sentenced to 3 life terms for killing at least one mom & snipping the necks of who-knows-how-many babies, #PlannedParenthood tweeted that ‘justice had been done.’ But apparently, it’s justice they don’t want anyone talking about.”@FRCdc https://t.co/AIRlE4IIX3
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) October 12, 2018
And I wish that I could watch this movie because I know how important it is. I’ve wrestled with the idea since the premiere just over a week ago. But I can’t go there again.
Instead, I will buy a ticket. I will buy the movie when it is released. And I will tell anyone who will listen that even though I can’t watch it, everyone who can should do so. Because this story is one that the world needs to see.
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