NYC Teens Chide Palin's Abstinence Call

[RamboLiberal]

New York City students who heard Bristol Palin's warnings against teen pregnancy say they might consider abstinence, but they wouldn't take advice on it from the young unwed mother.

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"It's a big flop," said Jerry Kowal, a senior at Solomon Schecter High School in Hartsdale, N.Y., referring to Palin's campaign to get teens to abstain from sex.

"I don't think it's her real opinion," the 17-year-old told ABCNews.com. "She's just trying to help her mother. She said it herself that abstinence education doesn't work. I looked it up."

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"I don't get it," said Raina Brot, 15, from the Beacon School in Manhattan. "She's being kind of a hypocrite."

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The highest increases(teen birth rates) are in four states, including Palin's home, Alaska, as well as Mississippi, Montana, Hawaii and Nevada. Regionally, the Northeast has the lowest and the Southwest has the highest rates.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=7516975&page=1

[tridim]

1. Smart kids.

This is good news for a reality based America.

[Deja Q]

3. Goddamn stupid kids. A bunch of pathetic wankers like Levi, they are.

See post #2 for more. I HAVE to speak up on this. And I damn well have to do so. And I did.

[tridim]

4. This is about abstinence only sex education

It doesn't work because it's unrealistic. Teenagers have sex, just like Bristol and Levi did.

The difference is these kids are smart enough to dismiss the bullshit she's hawking and use a condom instead.

[Deja Q]

2. I'll admit, Bristol-and I saw her on tv-is not the best example, even if she's learning the hard way

But what are we going to do with a bunch of thoughtless 14 year olds knocking each other up and abandoning them? Little Levi britches there is running around saying "it's not realistic" and I say "Levi has his dockers full of crap".

Bristol looked stoned and has rich parents, but if people without children said "Don't do it", the response would not be much different.

IT IS NOT HYPOCRISY TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND THEN PASSIONATELY TELL PEOPLE TO NOT MAKE THE SAME DAMN MISTAKE!

The life of the girl, her baby, their emotional well-being, their financial well being, having a stable influence, having a stable environment - I know corporations hate these things and they seem to like republicans more than democrats, but this is reality. When you're with someone, emotions (and other things) ARE AFFECTED.

Have some respect for yourself, and the one(s) you're with.

Dammit, why can't people grasp such these simple concepts?!?!

:rant:

[MissMillie]

5. I'm with you on this

I think it's perfectly ok for her to put herself up as an example of how not to behave... she's learning first-hand how tough it is to be a parent at such a young age, and her tale is relevant.

And she is correct when she ways that abstinence is the only 100% effective method. Is it fair to say that this is an unrealistic standard? Absolutely.

So maybe instead of talking about "abstinence only" she'd have more of an effect if she talked about the consequences of unplanned and unprotected sex... and how one moment can change your whole life.

I do think she's being used by her mother and the GOP. And they should be ashamed of themselves.

[TheWraith]

6. No, but it IS hypocrisy to change your opinion because Mom said so.

Does anyone really think that Bristol Palin honestly believes that abstinence works? She openly said she didn't, then her mother jumped into the conversation and tried to steer it back to abstinence. Now Bristol's being put out on the air pushing the party line, and trying to prevent the kind of real sex ed that would have helped her.

I don't think it's useful or right attacking a teenage girl, but the simple fact of the situation is that she's being put out there for political reasons to sell an opinion that is not her own.

[walldude]

9. You are right it's not hypocrisy.. it's insanity.

Abstinence education does not work and Bristol is the fucking poster girl for that statement. She is now living the right wing mantra that if something doesn't work just do it louder. She is a fool. Maybe if she were being honest and preaching safe sex, people might not think she was so full of shit. But she's a Palin and they aren't predisposed to actually be honest or forthright with anyone.

[marshall]

7. That's like Richard Simmons giving diet advice

Yeah, he's skinny now. But he used to be HUGE! And no doubt ate nonstop to maintain that size.

[TheMightyFavog]

8. Hey that's New Yorkers for you...

They know bullshit when they hear it.

[Stevenmarc]

10. As a NY'er

That's not always true, we had Rudy Giuliani as a Mayor for 2 terms

[madmom]

11. Don't they know it's a "do as I say not as I do" kind of world out there?