TIME magazine is reporting that a group of Massachusetts teenage girls--some as young as 15 years old--have entered into a "pregnancy pact" to get pregnant and raise their children together. Read the whole article, originally reported last week, here.I find the whole debacle to be horribly disturbing. It would be easy to blame the teen-pregnancy epidemic on the teens' parents, who should be playing a larger role in the sex education and moral foundation of these children. I suppose part of the blame could be on schools, many of which refuse to teach about abstinence. And of course the girls should bear the largest burden of guilt--they do, after all, have at least some education and intelligence.
Now I hate to be a prude--I love a good movie or an addictive TV show as much as anyone. But isn't there also a measure of blame that should be directed toward Hollywood? Though movies like Knocked Up and Juno have tried to show the issue in a humorous and semi-truthful light, I can't help but wonder if they are partially responsible for glorifying premarital sex (particularly unprotected sex). More disturbing is the list of shows that pass for teen entertainment like Gossip Girl or pretty much anything on MTV or VH1. Why isn't there more of a desire from producers to address these issues in a more responsible way?
Hollywood defends itself by saying that they aren't evangelizing sexuality; they are simply reflecting the society in which we live. I suppose there is a measure of truth to that, but it's a chicken & egg type of scenario that really absolves everyone of any responsibility.
Obviously I'm not saying that we should boycott Hollywood, or even blame them for the world's evils. But I do hate to think of a world in which Lily won't be able to enjoy any mainstream entertainment simply because it glorifies behaviors that disagree with our values. So what's the solution?
4 comments:
The solution? Make your own movies for Lily to watch. Too easy!!
It's really depressing actually. These girls are in for a rude awakening when real life hits them. But by then their poor kids will have to suffer for their mom's lame choices.
Don't know what the solution is. But I have to say, as I have said before, now that I'm a parent I can see how easy it would be to be fanatical and bulid a bomb shelter and never come out. (or a compound without TV and the media ;) It's a crazy crazy world, but during the last five months I have come to realize that there is just as much good in the world as there is bad. Your role, as you said, is to "Teach correct priciples and let them govern themselves." If God intended for us not to learn how to choose the difference between what is right and good and what is not, then he would have put us on a dessert island all by ourselves...nothing else. It also goes to show how important the connections our kids have with our extended family is just as important. They need good role models and they will find them with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas, good neighbors and good friends. Help them find love and acceptance with all that's good in the world... and there is lots of it! (Sorry for the long rant.)
Becoming a mom at 18 1/2 not married- I loved Juno and I let my 12 year old son watch it w/me. I took it as a real movie. With that said I made some bad choices and life has had ups and downs-I'm not ashamed of being a young mom. The pact those girls made is so lame and unjust to those children they have no idea! I get so mad. The best we can do as parents is love our children and be upfront and honest with them when it comes to premarital sex- it is awkward to have those talks but I wish my parents/teachers/counselers had talked to me more openly when I had questions-
Post a Comment