There are a Couple of Issues Here...

It's regrettable that this young woman became pregnant at 16 and single when she needs to concentrate on her education, the show and (at 16) playing the field as far as men are concerned. There is *no way* she should be having sex. Maybe that is old fashioned of me, but there is really only one way to avoid pregnancy 100% and that is abstinence.

(I am a Paul-supporting Libertarian, FYI.)

This would be true if she were 25 or 30. Wait until you are married. Children need to be raised in a *family* where both parents are there to teach them the difference between right and wrong and make sure they feel loved and valued.

That is issue #1.

The other issue is: What is wrong with people nowadays that they consider a 16 year old a *child*??? Where is your ability to *think*??? This 18 B.S. is a crock.

You are not a child until you are 18 any more that you are a tree. The law is a *donkey.*

Maybe that's old fashioned too. I grew up in an earlier era, and, even though under the law you were a "child" until you were 21, I did everything, traveled and everything else (didn't drink and still don't but made it plain that I could). Couldn't even spell "curfew." Having been taught where babies come from *and* the difference between right and wrong at an early age (kindergarten age or before), and being of a stubborn sort, I was fine.

Of course things are different today, but not *that* different.

What is needed is to allow people to be adults *AND BE RESPONSIBLE* at the age that they and their families decide on. People are being sheltered today, and there is too much interest in being *safe* rather than *free*!!!

See http://www.alicelillieandher.blogspot.com

by Alice Lillie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 47 comments) on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 1:17:46 PM
 

Hasten slowly to judgement

I applaud your abstemious lifestyle if that makes you content however I think that your stance to the article is just a little overly judgmental.

• On one hand you criticize people for viewing her as a child yet you place value on her pregnancy “it is regrettable” why? Isn’t that for her to determine as the adult you seem to advocate.
• Then you refer to her “playing the field…”How do you know that there was multiple partners? How do you know that it wasn’t planned.

Biologically it has been shown that the reasoning part of the brain isn’t fully developed (statistically until the person is about 25yo. As an ex crisis councilor I would suggest that in the case of some it never fully develops.

It is generally accepted that “maturity” is an individual thing so affixing a date to it is arbitrary as you suggest but to leave in open exposes young people to exploitations.

I would suggest that both girls weren’t ready for a life in the spot light and .all the pressures that implies.

I don’t know about the spears’ family values but I would suggest that they were probably no worse that other families not in the limelight.

I have seen some church going family disasters that might (human rights aside) could be arguments for eugenics (violence, mental, retardation, incest drugs, crime you name it.) It was hard to be non judgmental but the eldest girl is now independent and a nurse thanks to our support.

 Things have changed and yes they are *that* different compared to 25 years ago.There has always been an under belly to society in which out of wedlock sex occurred. Keep in Queen Victoria is responsible for our differing views on male and female homosexuality. Lesbianism hasn’t been as ‘shocking as male homosexuality or criminalized because she refused to accept that’ ladies’ would do that.

My point to you is be careful of absolute statements on issues of morality as your knowledge could be found wanting.As for Zoë and Brtany I feel for them is all I can reasonably say.    

by Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 532 comments) on Sunday, December 23, 2007 at 4:12:47 PM