I'm Done

This is going to be my last post on the whole Bristol Palin issue. It's just not worth it. It distracts from the important issues, like the economy and Iraq. It's an interesting story insofar as that it's exposed raw emotions on both sides, on issues ranging from abortion to the role of women. But it's re-igniting another round of the "Mommy Wars", which is such a pointless debate (really, if Sarah Palin has found a way for most of her life to balance work and family, more power to her. Now let's see how she's going to help other women do the same).

There are plenty of other issues that Sarah Palin needs to address that have nothing to do with her family. Evidence of her corruption as governor is mounting, her church supports Jews for Jesus, she's a book-banner, and the list goes on. At some point, the obsessive focus on the pregnancy only becomes counter-productive, and gives the Right the opportunity to look positively progressive on gender issues (although if that's the new reality, then I believe a huge apology is due to Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Janet Reno, and Madeline Albright)

I'm going to put forth one final thought, and then I'm done. I apologize in advance if this veers into "too much information" territory. For me, there is a certain poignancy in this whole sordid affair. You have Bristol Palin, a 17-year old who decided to have premarital sex, didn't take the necessary precautions, and is now pregnant. But now, let's say there's another 17-year old girl (although in reality she was 17 five years ago) who makes the same decision. But before she goes through with it, she discusses it with her parents, with the boy she's involved with, and with her doctor. In the end, before she carries out her decision, she goes on birth control, and takes it faithfully everyday. She has the peace of mind to know that when she does eventually decide to have a baby, it will be at a time when she can give it a stable and loving home situation. She also enjoys the added perk of not being in excruciating pain for at least a day and half once a month.

She's not promiscuous (in fact, her own mother thinks she's a prude compared to "how we were in the 70s"), and has never once in the last five years used birth control as a license to act stupidly. All she's tried to do is act responsibly. But for a good segment of the population in this country, the first 17-year old is thought of as a saint, and the second 17-year old is thought of as a slut.

The now 22-year old could honestly care less what that segment of the population thinks of her life choices. But it does make her wonder where the country's priorities are. There are plenty of both types of girls around who are not getting what they need (healthcare, jobs, homes, decent wages, a way to pay for college and for childcare, an end to the war that's draining resources from all of the above), and here we are having a stupid debate about which one of them is following the "right" path.

All right, I've gotten that off my chest. Back to Contracts reading.