The announcement of the pregnancy of her 17 year old daughter, Bristol had barely hit the wires when responses started flying that Sarah Palin is a "bad mother" (because she could or should have prevented her daughter from getting pregnant). Who are they to pass judgement? This pregnancy is a personal issue for the Palin family and the father's family that should be nobody else's business. It isn't as cavalier as "teen pregnancies happen", but they do and no demography is immune.
Mothers already put enough pressure on themselves. Even as the most well-adjusted and happy children grow into adults, mother's question whether, how or if they could have done better or more. I suspect most mothers give themselves an inner pat on the back when their child leaves home without having had to deal with a teen pregnancy. Who would wish that kind of responsibility on their child?
As one Wasilla, AK resident said when he heard the pregnancy had hit the national news, Oh, "I'm so sorry. That's so unfair." She's right, of course, but that doesn't mean the rumors and rants will go away.
We hope for a happy, healthy baby for young Bristol and the baby's father. They have challenges that parenthood will bring, that they cannot possibly know at this time. The best news for Bristol is to know that she has the unconditional love and support of her family.
Move along people, there's nothing to see here.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
With the news that Bristol Palin is pregnant, I have to wonder how it affects her abstinence only sex ed plan. If she feels so strongly about abstinence only, how come her daughter got pregnant at 17 and out of wedlock? Why isn't the media jumping on this? When Jamie Lynn Spears got pregnant, it sparked debates about teenage pregnancy and the media jumped all over it. They claimed the family was "trash" and that this showed it. So why doesn't this view hold for Palin? Does she get a free pass because she's a Republican and white?
And does McCain think that women are just going to vote for him because he chose Palin as VP? If he thinks that, it is an insult that he would think that women would not look into the issues and only vote based on which ticket has a female.
This news puts McCain's evangelical base in a tough position. Turn against Palin for having an unmarried, pregnant daughter or praise her for raising that daughter to have enough sense to keep the baby. They have chosen the latter. I never understand what's on evangelical's minds and I won't try this time. But I wonder if this kind of news makes other "abstinence only" parents think about their standpoint.
And why does the media give one "girl" a pass and not another? Another mystery.
As for McCain, he doesn't have respect for women in general, why would he with this decision?
The pregnancy itself is not an issue...the issue is how do you have a disabled child of your own, a pregnant teenaged daughter, and run for national office all at the same time?
Post a Comment