Teen Pregnancy Is All The Rage

This week, headlines screamed: Teen Celebrity Baby Shocker!

First of all this is not shocking. Teen girls are popping out babies every single day, in case you didn't know.

"The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the western world, despite the fact that our teens are not more sexually active than Swedish teens, or Canadian teens, or British teens." (stat source)

We must remember, in all this, that the Virgin Mary was an unwed teenage mother.

Lawrence Lee, the pastor who's Virgin Mary graphic I swiped for this entry, writes: "...it makes me enter into the Christmas story in a new way, through the eyes of a young girl who has no more idea how her future will unfold than we do. It's easy to look back on history and admire people because we know how the story turns out. When you are in the midst of events you don't have that luxury."

Some people have the capacity to open their minds to the reality of life outside their station, and seriously, amen to that.

A few choice message board posts from around the net...my comments in bold

--from a publisher, set to release an upcoming autobiography from the mother of the pregnant teen celebrity:
"We believe in redemption. Therefore, we are standing with [the] family during this difficult time. Though the book has been delayed, we believe God is at work. The story is still being written, and we are confident in His ability to turn ashes into beauty." In theory this is actually a beautiful sentiment. As long as it is also applied outside a selective group deemed worth of redemption in the first place.

--from a celebrity blog comments section:
"I have a 7 year old daughter and 10 year old son who watched...on a regular basis. It was one of my daughter’s favorite shows. Now I’ve had to have a talk with my children that I thought I would not have for a few years. Wait, you're 10-year-old doesn't know where babies come from? Have they never once seen pregnant lady and asked why her belly is so big? I'm confused! I had to explain to my 7 year old daughter that this CHILD is pregnant with a CHILD and that this is not something that is expectable. Dear Internet lady, you make no sense. Expectable? As in, "likely or certain" ..? If you're having heterosexual sex, a baby is quite likely and, eventually, rather certain. If, as I suspect, you meant "acceptable," then -- as I also strongly suspect -- you're a dumb ass. I have fully explained to my children why they will no longer be allowed to view this network or television show. Absolutely! See no evil, as they say. This is my personal choice because I will not allow my children to watch a show where the lead actress is a 16 year old teenage mother. It is not about judgment -- BULLSHIT! -- it is about me raising my children and teaching them about better life choices! This little girl is not someone that I want my little girl to look up to." So you'd rather, instead, that she scorns and shuns those who have a different life situation that she does. Madam, I'm sorry to say, that's the very definition of a bigot.

--a general reply to such sentiments, on the same thread:
"Instead of closing your eyes and staying on this hypocritical and puritan consideration about sex (no it won't happen to my children, they are angels, they wouldn't do it to me), face the reality and provide them with information about HIV and pregnancy." My thoughts exactly! Whoever wrote this, I can only imagine, is as attractive as they are intelligent. Also, well hung.