Palins say teen daughter is pregnant

[iWalrus]

Well, a baby is hardly ever a blessing for a young teen. I think punishment is pretty accurate. One of the few things I agree with Obama on.

[Elfie]

To say that all teenagers will do what they will regardless of their parents wishes is an over-generalization. Many, if not most, teens will listen to their parents and do as they wish - be it out of fear, respect, or responsibility. That is, if they were raised that way.

There were things we all did as teens that went against our parents teachings. All of us. Every one of us got in trouble with our parents as teens. We would not have been in trouble with our parents if we had followed their teachings to the letter. Just because we got in trouble does not reflect poorly on our parents, it reflects poorly on us because we were the ones making the decisions that got us in trouble in the first place. (Disclaimer: there are some parents that don't actually do any parenting and their children's actions DO reflect poorly on them.)

There comes a time in every child's life where a parent has to trust them to do what is right. It is part of the process of growing up for each of us. Sometimes our children are going to make decisions that are not in their best interests, sometimes the consequences of those decisions are lifelong, as is the case when a teen gets pregnant.

[Elfie]

Yea it was all about calling her trailer trash and all that good stuff acting as if no big suprise she got knocked up. Yet turn the tables and the same people are in here all but praising the virgin mary about Palins daughter.

There were a couple posts initially where people called her trailer trash. I don't condone that. I am not surprised that she got pregnant since her boyfriend was living with her.

[crockett]

And then he quite clearly states that he's "going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

Spin like a top all you like but he clearly views babies as punishment if his daughter(s) get knocked up. Can't dance around it, can't BS your way to any other interpretation. If you can't understand that you either lack reading comprehension skills or you are lying to yourself.



OK, maybe you do lack reading comprehension skills. You've been bashing Palin for her support of abstinence education and yet your Obamessiah supports it as well. I guess the irony of your posts here escapes you.

No spin needed..

No I haven't been bashing Palin for her "support" of abstinence education. I've said very clearly several times that it should be taught. What I am bashing Palin on is the fact she only supports abstinence education and she firmly will not support normal sex education along side the abstinence. She has publicly stated she will not approve funds to schools that teach the traditional sex education because she thinks abstinence only is all that should be taught.

That is the issue and the very reason the deal with her daughter is a big one, because it shows that her ideas on sex education in school is very flawed. That is what I have been bashing her on.

Perhaps you need some reading & comprehension skills yourself.

[SkyRock]

 He most definitely linked having a baby with punishment and the context is all there.

I havent been apart of this thread, but I would like to add this.  How, is having a baby at 15 or 16 not being punished for your actions?  Do you think that it is possible to be independant and have a child at that age?  
So, your independance is gone, and you must live off of someone else while having to be responsible for your own child.  It is not out of the ordinary for many americans to look at that situation as "paying the price" or a form of punishment for their actions and I imagine that many young girls who were faced with that situation, felt a little punished the day they found out.

[Elfie]

Do you understand by "mistake" that he means having sex at the wrong time meaning too early and if that happens he wants them to "know" to use protection.. You are blinded by your hate man. That or those Republican rosey glasses are a few shades too dark..

I hate no one.

I understand he means that if his daughters make the mistake of having sex to early that he wants them to know about contraception and STD's. That doesn't take away from his statement that he doesn't want them punished with a baby.

[crockett]

I hate no one.

I understand he means that if his daughters make the mistake of having sex to early that he wants them to know about contraception and STD's. That doesn't take away from his statement that he doesn't want them punished with a baby.

His line about the STD was the exact same as the line about the baby.. He used punish in the same way in regards to both, so how can you understand one but not the other?

[Elfie]

That is the issue and the very reason the deal with her daughter is a big one, because it shows that her ideas on sex education in school is very flawed.

Sex education was supposed to prevent teen pregnancies by educating our kids on how babies are made and how to avoid becoming pregnant by using contraceptives. I guess that whole idea is flawed as well since we still haven't eliminated teen pregnancies?

Abstinence works 100% if it is followed, the various forms of contraception are never 100% even if they are used. Which is the best way to prevent pregnancy?

[Elfie]

His line about the STD was the exact same as the line about the baby.. He used punish in the same way in regards to both, so how can you understand one but not the other?

I understand both statements. He does not want them punished with a baby or an std. Yet, without consequences for our actions do we truly learn from our mistakes?

[Elfie]

How, is having a baby at 15 or 16 not being punished for your actions?

I believe that children are gifts to us from our Creator and as such are never a punishment. 

[SkyRock]

Abstinence works 100% if it is followed, the various forms of contraception are never 100% even if they are used. Which is the best way to prevent pregnancy?

Abstinence is only good in theory, the fact that humans are unable to follow through with abstinence should be a red flag to those who try and require it only.

[iWalrus]

There were things we all did as teens that went against our parents teachings. All of us. Every one of us got in trouble with our parents as teens. We would not have been in trouble with our parents if we had followed their teachings to the letter. Just because we got in trouble does not reflect poorly on our parents, it reflects poorly on us because we were the ones making the decisions that got us in trouble in the first place. (Disclaimer: there are some parents that don't actually do any parenting and their children's actions DO reflect poorly on them.)

There comes a time in every child's life where a parent has to trust them to do what is right. It is part of the process of growing up for each of us. Sometimes our children are going to make decisions that are not in their best interests, sometimes the consequences of those decisions are lifelong, as is the case when a teen gets pregnant.

True, most children do do things that are against their parents wishes. I, however, maintain that the big things (going to prison, getting pregnant) are things that reflect very poorly on the parents, and are things that could have been avoided with better parenting.

These things aren't evil, and don't make the parents evil. That said, when you are trying to be the next Vice President, things like this are definitely representative of your ability to do your job. Personal matters such as this will be, and should be, examined by the people which you hope to represent.

[SkyRock]

I believe that children are gifts to us from our Creator and as such are never a punishment. 

How about finding out you're pregnant at age 15?  Not how you feel about babies, but how you would feel at that exact moment you found out you were going to be a 15 yo mother.  I would say that many (and I have seen this first hand) would cry out of sadness first, then later be proud.  So, initially the 15 yo is probably going to feel punished for her actions, also, if she had aspirations of not getting preggo until she was married or older, then those dreams would be shattered.  

[SkyRock]

True, most children do do things that are against their parents wishes. I, however, maintain that the big things (going to prison, getting pregnant) are things that reflect very poorly on the parents, and are things that could have been avoided with better parenting.

This is exactly what I believe.

[Elfie]

True, most children do do things that are against their parents wishes. I, however, maintain that the big things (going to prison, getting pregnant) are things that reflect very poorly on the parents, and are things that could have been avoided with better parenting.

These things aren't evil, and don't make the parents evil. That said, when you are trying to be the next Vice President, things like this are definitely representative of your ability to do your job. Personal matters such as this will be, and should be, examined by the people which you hope to represent.

I have 7 siblings. 6 of them still survive. We were all raised the same way by our parents. We were taught that drug abuse was bad, that stealing was wrong. We were taught basic Christian morals and values. Two of my brothers were involved in dealing drugs and burglaries for a couple of years until one of them got caught and spent some time in jail. How does it reflect poorly on my parents when 2 of my siblings acted like social rejects and the other 6 of us didn't?

It obviously wasn't bad parenting because 6 of us did things right. (more or less) It was my brothers choices that reflected badly on my brothers.

*edit* Actually, the dealing drugs part started for both of them in high school as an easy way to make more money than they could at the part time jobs they had. Their drug dealing went on for quite a few years.