Response to a Friend's Journal Entry
They closed the previous window--cutting off my journal entry, which I was in the process of writing.
And speaking of cut, here's mine.
Anyways, as a I said in a comment to
satyreyes's interesting journal entry, this is a response to that damned abortion bill--first off, PC termed, dubbed "Child Custody Protection Act," in which it is now illegal and punishable by imprisonment for someone other than the parents to take a pregnant teenager out of a state that banned abortion so they can obtain abortion care somewhere else, ie another state.
First off, you should all know that I am avoiding the gut reaction, upon hearing such news last week, to quickly make assumptions and bitter rants. I have found it a much better alternative to consider, or at least try to consider, other sides of this issue. Whether these other sides are considered the conservative or Republican side, I don't think so.
As stated earlier in one of the comments of this entry, yes, teens are considered second class citizensn (not the only second class citizens, mind you--consider the elderly, women, minorities, disabled, gay and lesbian, etc, each with their own unique sets of standards and labels). As such, the general impression of second class citizens, teens in particular, is that they "don't know any better." Hence, the law would enforce the idea that teens are better off to put their decision about an unplanned pregnancy in the hands of an adult--in this case, the parent(s) or legal guardian. This is flawed logic at most--the sad reality is, some parents are not the safest people to turn to. Other cases, the ideas of the parents might not be the safest alternative.
Secondly, this law itself does not force parenthood on a teen per se--there is always the option of adoption, or placing the child in the care of the granparents or other family members. For that, let's be thankful no one in the Senate has seen fit to make a bill to force parenthood (ie, keeping and raising the child) on any couple or single woman that become pregnant.
What this law does, in actuality, is force the pregnancy itself on a teen, which, despite the arguments to the contrary, really puts the teenage girl at the worst disadvantage in the long run. Even more tragic, pregnancy is really a burden to most teens (male or female), psychologically, financially, academically, emotionally, etc. Given that, it is my impression that, stated earlier in the comments, this law will only impose the idea that a teenager is not ultimately responsible for his/her own actions.
Another argument is that forcing the teen to carry the pregnancy to term (and altering her life for the worse, as most schools do not accomodate pregnant teens) will teach her/him responsibility. That is, it will make the teen grow up and respect his/her body and self worth, and will even bring the teen some joy in growing up along with their babies. I won't even go into the issue of an immature "adult" raising a child and the horrible results it entails (being a school teacher for a year and having to deal with parents that are not much older than myself, who have teenage children, has showm me enough proof).
However, I would say that this responsibility argument, when put into practice, is ultimately counterproductive. Forcing a teen to have a baby after the mistake of birthcontrol malpractice (or rape and incest, in some cases), only gives them the message that the "responsibility" of carrying the pregnancy to term is at most obligatory, painful, and a punishment rather than a challenge. While most teens need a shove in the right direction of adulthood, this only retards their progress--to the teen, responsibility, like an unplanned pregnancy, or like a rapist waiting in the alley, is something to AVOID, not embrace. Secondly, I believe that any kind of committment, in order for it to be the most beneficial to all parties (in this case, the child and mother and family), needs to be done with all of the human heart. When a heart is clouded too much by guilt or religious obligation or moral obligation, the result, the love, the effort, will be just that--clouded, half assed, and half baked. Raising a human being half assed causes enough pain for everyone.
Speaking on the opinion that this bill is really a distraction from the war going on in Lebanon. I do not know enough information on the part of the American Senate to agree or disagree, but I do know that in states of war, those that do not have a voice or little voice to begin with can and will be overlooked and taken advantage of, consciously or unconsciously, by their own government.
That's all for now.
And speaking of cut, here's mine.
Anyways, as a I said in a comment to
satyreyes's interesting journal entry, this is a response to that damned abortion bill--first off, PC termed, dubbed "Child Custody Protection Act," in which it is now illegal and punishable by imprisonment for someone other than the parents to take a pregnant teenager out of a state that banned abortion so they can obtain abortion care somewhere else, ie another state.
First off, you should all know that I am avoiding the gut reaction, upon hearing such news last week, to quickly make assumptions and bitter rants. I have found it a much better alternative to consider, or at least try to consider, other sides of this issue. Whether these other sides are considered the conservative or Republican side, I don't think so.
As stated earlier in one of the comments of this entry, yes, teens are considered second class citizensn (not the only second class citizens, mind you--consider the elderly, women, minorities, disabled, gay and lesbian, etc, each with their own unique sets of standards and labels). As such, the general impression of second class citizens, teens in particular, is that they "don't know any better." Hence, the law would enforce the idea that teens are better off to put their decision about an unplanned pregnancy in the hands of an adult--in this case, the parent(s) or legal guardian. This is flawed logic at most--the sad reality is, some parents are not the safest people to turn to. Other cases, the ideas of the parents might not be the safest alternative.
Secondly, this law itself does not force parenthood on a teen per se--there is always the option of adoption, or placing the child in the care of the granparents or other family members. For that, let's be thankful no one in the Senate has seen fit to make a bill to force parenthood (ie, keeping and raising the child) on any couple or single woman that become pregnant.
What this law does, in actuality, is force the pregnancy itself on a teen, which, despite the arguments to the contrary, really puts the teenage girl at the worst disadvantage in the long run. Even more tragic, pregnancy is really a burden to most teens (male or female), psychologically, financially, academically, emotionally, etc. Given that, it is my impression that, stated earlier in the comments, this law will only impose the idea that a teenager is not ultimately responsible for his/her own actions.
Another argument is that forcing the teen to carry the pregnancy to term (and altering her life for the worse, as most schools do not accomodate pregnant teens) will teach her/him responsibility. That is, it will make the teen grow up and respect his/her body and self worth, and will even bring the teen some joy in growing up along with their babies. I won't even go into the issue of an immature "adult" raising a child and the horrible results it entails (being a school teacher for a year and having to deal with parents that are not much older than myself, who have teenage children, has showm me enough proof).
However, I would say that this responsibility argument, when put into practice, is ultimately counterproductive. Forcing a teen to have a baby after the mistake of birthcontrol malpractice (or rape and incest, in some cases), only gives them the message that the "responsibility" of carrying the pregnancy to term is at most obligatory, painful, and a punishment rather than a challenge. While most teens need a shove in the right direction of adulthood, this only retards their progress--to the teen, responsibility, like an unplanned pregnancy, or like a rapist waiting in the alley, is something to AVOID, not embrace. Secondly, I believe that any kind of committment, in order for it to be the most beneficial to all parties (in this case, the child and mother and family), needs to be done with all of the human heart. When a heart is clouded too much by guilt or religious obligation or moral obligation, the result, the love, the effort, will be just that--clouded, half assed, and half baked. Raising a human being half assed causes enough pain for everyone.
Speaking on the opinion that this bill is really a distraction from the war going on in Lebanon. I do not know enough information on the part of the American Senate to agree or disagree, but I do know that in states of war, those that do not have a voice or little voice to begin with can and will be overlooked and taken advantage of, consciously or unconsciously, by their own government.
That's all for now.