Scene 1: Your 17 year old is pregnant and unwed. You are thrilled beyond belief that she
is, and look forward to being a young Grandma. Her unwed pregnancy is broadcast in media around the world and your daughter quickly becomes the most famous unwed mother outside of Mary--mother of Jesus.Are you despondent? Are you disappointed? Embarrassed? You say, "None of the above."
You are jubilant and proud of your daughter because, after all, your daughter chose life. Since the time of Jesus' birth, unwed motherhood has been looked upon as a shame and a disgrace, yet you are Christian and proud of your daughter's shamefu predicament. You are a politician, yet unmoved by the idea of your family's image being tarnished. If so, you are an original and the very first politician in history of U.S. politics who is not family and image conscious.
Scene 2: You have taught and preached to your own daughter about abstaining from sex as a deterrent to a host of other life complications including HIV and AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Pregnancy--the ultimate result of unprotected sex. All to no avail--your own teenage, unwed daughter is pregnant. Yet, you advocate this kind of "abstinence program" versus sex education and prevention programs for all American daughters when it didn't even work for your own?
Scene 3: Here is your published statement to the press on September 1, 2008 when the news broke of your daughter's pregnancy:
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter, Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents."
As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support. "Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughterand Levi's privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
Governor, I ask you: Do you also share the pride and shame that could be felt by other American parents whose daughters see Bristol's situation as one they would love to mirror? Does your small town, Republican reformist mind finally understand how urban inner-city parents whose young daughters find themselves in a similar state of pregnancy feel by deciding to chose life, rather than abortion; when to do so could mean an addition to the state's burgeoning welfare rolls? Can you now identify with the American problems related to working mothers and high numbers of teenage pregnancies?
If this harsh reality of how easy it is for children to be taught the right things and still choose to do what they want regarding sex, drugs, and rock n roll has enlightened you and helped you relate to other Americans, then some good actually has come out of this shameful situation.
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