Posted on 02/25/2009 11:35:33 AM PST by AJKauf
When I, a parent of a 17-year-old daughter due to graduate from high school this May, originally read about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy during the presidential campaign, I shared the same sense of indignant outrage expressed by many upon hearing the news. Why on earth is a girl that age having sex, particularly when she was raised by a mother who staunchly supports abstinence-only education? Didn’t she listen?
Yes, I’ll admit my first reaction upon learning of a pregnant teenage girl is to think that it really should be that simple: telling one’s child “don’t have sex until you’re married” should be enough. Never mind the whole virginity pledge thing; explaining the risk of STDs, AIDs and teenage pregnancy should be sufficient rationale. And, just in case it isn’t, then the threat of an angry parent with “a 12-gauge double-aught buckshot” should be enough incentive for teens to “keep their britches on.” And yet, obviously, it isn’t. The Bristol Palins and Jamie Lynn Spears are proof enough that “just say no” doesn’t always sink in....
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
This fiasco went a long way in sinking Palin’s credibility.
I guess we should stop telling kids not to drink and drive.
No, it didn’t.
Why???
They're also proof that not listening has consequences....but nevermind that.......
They’re going to do it anyway.
So the point of this article is that one’s children sometimes don’t listen to you. I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you. I had no idea teenagers could be so rebellious.
Libs infuriate me with this line of “thinking”...
Since someone fails to live up to a standard, that means the standard is worthless?
That sounds exactly like what Satan would whisper in your ear to get you to do something you shouldn’t.
Abstinence education must be accompanied by the actual practice of abstinence. Bristol and Levi failed to follow half of the formula.
She made a mistake and acknowledges it as such. She clearly said that, learning from her mistake, kids should wait, while at the same time acknowedlging the unfortunate reality that in this day and age most kids her age aren't receptive for this message.
So does this mean that we shouldn't teach a good ideal because it is too often disobeyed? No! We should continue to teach good ideals, because they are right. But at the same time we should support those who made mistakes, while making it clear that they have to accept the consequences and responsibilities.
THIS is the essence of her statements.
I know lets turn back the clock and live back in the pretend world of the 50’s and early 60’s where nothing like this ever happened..
My father gave me a good reason to never get a young girl in trouble. It’s called a knuckle sandwich.
If my understanding of the timing is correct, Bristol snuck out for sex while mom was busy having a baby of her own. It is great to teach children to abstain. It is better to help them live up to their pledge by being a responsible parent and not providing situations where they can “slip up.”
My high school had an abstinance only program to which I totaly agreed, but my junoir year there were 4 pregnant girls in my US history class alone.
No, we said, poor Suzie, she made a mistake, now she's going to have to live with it and it's not going to be easy. Let's help her in any way we can but let this be a lesson to you.
LoL....
The irony of the moment the world found out that the person promoting abstinence had a pregnant daughter also must have gone right over a few people’s heads from what I read here on FR. Granted, Palin got unfair treatment, but this kind of nonsense didn’t help.
Nailed it.
I have been amused by the reactions of people to this situation. It's a litmus test for hypocrisy.
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