Abstinence-only doesn't work: Case Study Involving Palin's Second Grandchild

[nageov3t]

I'm pretty sure that Alaska does not teach abstinence-only sex ed.

 

[Robor]

Nice to see them get married to raise the child as he/she should be. A mother and father bound by law and god.

If only urban youths could have such character and conviction. But no, to do so takes away their gubment money.

You could have saved a few keystrokes by replacing "urban youths" with the N bomb.

 

[Robor]

Nice to see that the left is finally concerned about unwed mothers...

When "the left" runs around preaching abstinence while 2 of their 3 unwed children are pregnant you'll have a point.

 

[Demo24]

It's been quite clear for awhile now that abstinence education doesn't work. Tell someone not to do something and of course they will ignore you and try it for themselves. But for whatever reason social conservatives seem to think that by ignoring or making sex a 'bad' thing this whole thing will just conveniently disappear. The reality is that if the education actually educated about sex from the dangers to ways to stay safe it would be more effective.

 

[Fenixgoon]

in other news, the sky is blue.

 

[a777pilot]

http://news.yahoo.com/sarah-palins-views-abstinence-lead-second-grandchild-215900097.html



So granted they aren't teens but it's obvious they're now rushing into marriage because of a pregnancy. Do any of you actually think that abstinence-only education is legitimate? Why?

First, they did not rush into marriage. They rushed into pregnancy. As to whether this is better than killing the unborn, well, yes it is.

 

[shrumpage]

http://news.yahoo.com/sarah-palins-views-abstinence-lead-second-grandchild-215900097.html



So granted they aren't teens but it's obvious they're now rushing into marriage because of a pregnancy. Do any of you actually think that abstinence-only education is legitimate? Why?

There was never abstinence only education in Alaska and Sarah never endorsed abstinence-only education or pushed to have it schools.

"I am all for contraception. And I am all for preventive measures that are legal and safe
and should be taken, but I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world."

and i know its wiki but:

Palin answered a 2006 gubernatorial questionnaire by choosing support for funding of abstinence-before-marriage programs over support for "explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics and the distribution of contraceptives in schools".[35] In a subsequent radio interview with KTOO (FM) in Juneau, Alaska, she clarified her position by saying she was against explicit sex education, but was in favor of contraceptive education.[35] She characterized in-school discussion of condoms as "relatively benign"[35] and not something that would define an "explicit" program. Palin said of contraception that "kids who may not hear about it at home should hear about it in other avenues."[35][36] Rebecca Traister of Salon.com analyzed Palin's political record as one that demonstrated her lack of enthusiasm about the Bush era promotion of abstinence-before-marriage education, and one that showed she did not work against existing sex education laws in Alaska.

 

[Robor]

When "the left" runs around preaching abstinence while 2 of their 3 unwed children are pregnant you'll have a point.

Edit: I stand corrected. Thanks for the info, shrumpage.

 

[Braznor]

I approve of Sarah Palin.

 

[mattpegher]

Regardless of her political positions, as a mother, Sarah Palin has failed to teach at least two of her children how to avoid pregnancy. Her parental skills are more in question than her political position. Now if that makes you dislike her more, you are free to feel so. If that does not matter to you, so be it. As for me, parenting is the most important role anyone can have and has the most help or detriment to the future of our community.

 

[nageov3t]

Regardless of her political positions, as a mother, Sarah Palin has failed to teach at least two of her children how to avoid pregnancy. Her parental skills are more in question than her political position. Now if that makes you dislike her more, you are free to feel so. If that does not matter to you, so be it. As for me, parenting is the most important role anyone can have and has the most help or detriment to the future of our community.

do you have any direct insight into what she did, or did not, tell her children about sex?

it may come as a shock, but sometimes, children do what they want to do regardless of what they've heard from their parents/teachers/whoever.

personally, I don't think my parents ever said a word about sex in our house. and yet somehow, I've never engaged in unsafe sex and my sister didn't get pregnant until she was 29 and had been married for a year.

 

[Robor]

do you have any direct insight into what she did, or did not, tell her children about sex?

it may come as a shock, but sometimes, children do what they want to do regardless of what they've heard from their parents/teachers/whoever.

personally, I don't think my parents ever said a word about sex in our house. and yet somehow, I've never engaged in unsafe sex and my sister didn't get pregnant until she was 29 and had been married for a year.

Too true... I have a good friend who has three kids with his wife. They were all raised in the same area (same house) and aren't that far apart in age. Two of them were "good" kids and one was (and still is) an irresponsible hellion.

 

[crownjules]

Even programs that emphasize abstinence are counter productive in terms of avoiding unwanted pregnancy-


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/health/06abor.html

It's failed in Texas. After cutting the sex ed program and turning into a single abstinence only unit, Texas teen pregnancy rates are higher now than they were before.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shawn-lawrence-otto/rick-perry-abstinence_b_904115.html

Abstinence-only education is yet another example of how religion needs to stay out of government. It also shows how the Republican's love for cutting important social programs can lead to greater dependence on government assistance. How many of those teen mothers get some sort of check from the Texas and Federal programs now I wonder.

 

[irishScott]

Seemed to work out fine. They are set to raise the baby with plenty of money it seems. Whats the problem? They have a future.

Yes, because regular marriages have such a good track record in this country, I'm sure a shotgun marriage will do just fine.

 

[Phokus]

Nice to see them get married to raise the child as he/she should be. A mother and father bound by law and god.

If only urban youths could have such character and conviction. But no, to do so takes away their gubment money.

Come on, say the N word, you know you want to. Please, there's lot of teenage pregnancies (not to mention meth addiction) in 'small town America' as well.

Also, funny how Sarah's other daughter didn't get married when she had an unplanned pregnancy. Funny you didn't mention her now did you?

 

[LumbergTech]

Too true... I have a good friend who has three kids with his wife. They were all raised in the same area (same house) and aren't that far apart in age. Two of them were "good" kids and one was (and still is) an irresponsible hellion.

the squeaky wheel was often the whipping boy of the family....not always..but its common that the flaws in the family structure/culture are brought out in 1 child more than others

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Thank you for your contribution. Do you think Sarah Palin is dumb for advocating abstinence only?

She is dumb at so many levels. That said we have done everything but wrap inner city kids in a condom and they still get pregnant.

The only thing that works is to keep the legs shut unless proper contraception is correctly used. That's too tough for many.

 

[Arkaign]

She is dumb at so many levels. That said we have done everything but wrap inner city kids in a condom and they still get pregnant.

The only thing that works is to keep the legs shut unless proper contraception is correctly used. That's too tough for many.

Epic truth. It crosses all class/race/economic barriers as well. Kids will be kids, and there is no effective policy that will eliminate risky behavior or unplanned pregnancies. Religious-based abstinence-only programs that speak against using condoms/contraceptives is just one of the least-effective possible ideas that has ever come about.

 

[Infohawk]

First, they did not rush into marriage. They rushed into pregnancy. As to whether this is better than killing the unborn, well, yes it is.

Yes that is rushing into marriage. Getting married because someone is pregnant is a shotgun marriage.

And nobody's discussing whether it's better to kill the unborn child. The point is that if the kids had been taught about birth control they might be able to have had kids on their own term.

 

[manimal]

Thank you for your contribution. Do you think Sarah Palin is dumb for advocating abstinence only?

I think shes willfully ignorant of the world. When that willfull ignorance flies at the face of reality, common sense, and truth I start to question ones actual stupidity.


In other words duh-

 

[Arkaign]

I think shes willfully ignorant of the world. When that willfull ignorance flies at the face of reality, common sense, and truth I start to question ones actual stupidity.


In other words duh-

I'm not so sure she's as dumb as she seems, but rather has realized that by the very nature of portraying herself as anti-intellectual, jingoistic, and ignorant, that she by default gets a certain dumbfuck constituency support by so-called conservatives.

I'm old school and am much more of the WFB strand than PNAC or this hillbilly bullshit that Palin exemplifies, and I'm disgusted with it. Bachmann can go to hell too.

 

[Doppel]

Two people make up meaningful statistics? Palin's family is a mess, that's all they represent here.

I'm not so sure she's as dumb as she seems

I'm pretty sure she is as dumb as she seems.

 

[Arkaign]

Two people make up meaningful statistics? Palin's family is a mess, that's all they represent here.I'm pretty sure she is as dumb as she seems.

Doesn't it seem somewhat of an act though? It's like she goes out of her way to portray ignorance and 'golly gee whiz' schtick at every opportunity, but it doesn't quite seem sincere to me. It's like that one FNC lady reporter/commenter, can't remember her name right now, that Jon Stewart basically exposed as a big fake recently (pretending to be dumb, but obviously not).

 

[JSt0rm]

If only urban youths could have such character and conviction. But no, to do so takes away their gubment money.

racist.

 

[Doppel]

Doesn't it seem somewhat of an act though? It's like she goes out of her way to portray ignorance and 'golly gee whiz' schtick at every opportunity, but it doesn't quite seem sincere to me. It's like that one FNC lady reporter/commenter, can't remember her name right now, that Jon Stewart basically exposed as a big fake recently (pretending to be dumb, but obviously not).

I think there is some act but I do think overall she really is as stupid as she seems. It's just that "faking it until you make it" apparently works in Alaska. hell, it works in much of the US as well, but I've seen her make too many stupid, seemingly candid/improved statements to think she is particularly well read or possessing of an advanced intellect.

This is why Columbo was a good show. The guy played the role of an idiot but there was no doubt, in short order, that he was sharp as a tack. Palin's been around for a few years now and sure hasn't sold me like Columbo can in less than an hour