Whether Sarah Palin's family, or Sarah Palin herself, should be a subject of commentary and scrutiny has itself become a much-debated topic. But let us agree that the issues raised by her candidacy, notably the revelation of her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy, may be a "teachable moment," as they say. But what can we learn?
A CNS story on teen pregnancy offers sober stats but focuses on supporting teenage mothers (laudable, of course) rather than prevention, until the end of the piece:
Diane DeLong, the North Star director, said the program gives youths health education with "a strong abstinence message" coupled with extensive youth-development programs that keep the teens busy after school in sports and leadership programs. DeLong said she is tired of the criticism of abstinence programs that assumes teachers just tell youths, "Don't have sex." The programs are much more involved, she said, teaching young people to avoid risky behavior and to realize the consequences of their actions.
In today's New York Times, op-ed columnist and graphics czar Charles Blow has a different take in a column, "Let's Talk About Sex," with an accompanying table that, well, graphically sets out the "crisis" (though some may object to that word for a variety of reasons). Clearly the United States, despite our enthsiastic embrace of faith, is doing poorly in teaching children to avoid early sex or pregnancy--or abortion. As Blow writes:
"...A 2001 Unicef report said that the United States teenage birthrate was higher than any other member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. tied Hungary for the most abortions. This was in spite of the fact that girls in the U.S. were not the most sexually active. Denmark held that title. But, its teenage birthrate was one-sixth of ours, and its teenage abortion rate was half of ours."
Blow's solution is less abstinence-only teaching (as studies show it is ineffective) and more frank talk about sex and greater access to contraception. "If there is a shame here, it's a national shame -- a failure of our puritanical society to accept and deal with the facts. Teenagers have sex. How often and how safely depends on how much knowledge and support they have. Crossing our fingers that they won't cross the line is not an intelligent strategy."
Doesn't seem as though that is a prescription that will be welcomed a good many parents. Is there a better way? Policy or preaching? And first off, should this be a topic/target of public discussion?
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Absolutely, this is a problem for public discussion. In 40 years, this problem has gotten worse instead of better. Why? The same reason the abortion situation continues to worsen.
Sign wavers shouting rhetoric in front of the newcams does NOTHING to stem the tide. Decades of political promises and government action/inaction has made and continues to make no discernable difference. 40 years of sermonizing from pulpits hasnt made and will never make a difference. All the money that has been spent has produced ... something, but what? Unwanted pregnancies still occur in staggering numbers, abortions still happen in increasing numbers. Why?
We can find the answers in what has happened with the anti-abortion caucus. Too many anti-abortion advocates are full of hate instead of compassion. Hate only breeds more of the same, never creates a viable resolution, only makes a bad situation worse. The fact is that the anti-abortion caucus has become a HATE caucus and the hatred is spilling over into other related issues. Too many dont care about the issue as much as they do about having a convenient target to vent their hate and animosity onto so they can quiet their own personal demons. Listen to their rhetoric, read their slogans ... hate, hate and more hate. Hate in the name of God.
The only real way to make a difference is to create support organizations that are committed to assisting girls and women with the difficult issues they face. Create them not just in name or to put a political feather in someones cap, but create them as powerful, dynamic independant organizations staffed with people who really care, and provided with REAL funding and resources.
What kind of a difference could be made if the anti-abortion caucus donated the money they spent on the advertising, protests, fines and legal expenses to organizations that were dedicated to helping young women deal with these issues? What would be possible if the massive numbers of protesters waving signs and shouting slogans at the cameras, chose instead to donate their time and talents to assist these organizations and those they serve?
The answer .... teen pregnancy and abortion would cease to be the issue it is now, and might even disappear.
The problem ... most of the anti-abortion caucus do not really want a solution. They only want a safe convenient forum to vent their hatred onto or to forward their own selfish personal agendas. They act the way they do to keep the issue alive so they can continue to be hateful, continue to profit from the conflict.
Look at the faces in the videos, read the rhetoric they write on their signs and posters. Look at the way they treat their sisters and brothers in Christ. Look at the fruits. HATE, HATE and more HATE is what you find. Look at the video footage. Rarely do you see love in their faces, rarely do you hear compassion in their words, but you will hear hate. Hate, hate and more hate. What makes it more deplorable is that they claim their hate in the name of God.
If more of the anti-abortion caucus demonstrated love, they would be working and assisting those organizations that are working behind the cameras to make a difference, instead of acting out for the publicity. But then, that would require love and compassion, self-sacrifice and commitment to something bigger than themselves, commitment to the long term solutions that would work. Marching down the street with a sign is easy. Working in the trenches isnt.
What if we were to PRACTICE the words of the prayer of St Francis? What if we were to live those precepts? What would the world look like? Definitely NOT the way it looks today. That would be a better way, a way that would work. Legislation never works. Love in action and expression, always works.
It only takes one, one voice, one act of compassion, one expression to change the world.
Yes, the teen pregnancy rate is a public subject, but not necessarily focusing on Palin's daughter. Her daughter just puts the subject back into the light. Palin's daughter does however, point out that abstinence ony sex education doesn't always work. Obviously abstinence, or "self-control" is the best solution. However, hormones take over, and they are raging in the teen years. Proper sex education should include not just the "facts of life" but how to prevent pregnancy and STD's. Condoms should be available, as should access to the pill and other birth control options.
Faith based sex ed? It can be done. The UU church taught my children and it wasnt' just "abstinence". That was, of course, included, but so were the other options...including the choices if an unwanted pregnancy should occur. However, I'm not sure all churches will do what the UU's do. As an aside, the RCC school I taught in had a very educational sex ed course, which did include the use of condoms! I was impressed.
It would seem that the US faith based abstinence programs are the big winners in the pregnancy and abortion competition, red circles instead of gold metals. And then there is Ungar-Catholic Ungar-right up there also.
There is an old Texas saying: "If you keep on doing what your doing, why do you expect to get more than what your getting."
Ms. DeLong is a bit off, good physical activity raises the sexual drive of the young to make use of all thoes hormones used to perpe
tuate the race. That was in Adam's design was it not.
Sincerely, J R Dittbrenner
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