I don’t live in San Fran, but I hope this passes. The girl quoted in the bold print at the top (whatever you journalists call that) obviously cannot be trusted to vote, let alone make decisions about abortion; she can’t even use grammar properly. “I wish I could vote so bad”? Take another English class, then maybe we can talk about voting.
The girl, Kandy Stewart, has personal experience with a pregnant cousin who is a minor: “My cousin is a model and a basketball player,” she said. “Now she feels like her career plans are over. Forcing teens to tell their parents is dangerous because a lot of parents have different ideas than their children do about the right way to go.”
Maybe she should have considered that before she had sex (that’s how you get pregnant, remember?). I have no sympathy for that. Yeah, it’s tough. But if you want people to think of you as an adult, act like one and take responsibility for your actions. Of course, that could be the problem, since it’s doubtful that most of these kids’ parents modeled acting responsibly. Her career plans are over? Hey, at least no one is poisoning her or puncturing her skull because it’s more convenient than letting her live. There is no moral ambiguity here; just mushy heads.
It’s “dangerous” to tell parents, because they might have different ideas about what the child should do? I know teenagers can have overinflated senses of how their parents will act, but there simply aren’t very many homicidal parents around. Being angry is not the same as dangerous. The only reason I can see why children–and that’s what they are–should not have to tell their parents they are pregnant is if their parents will force them to have an abortion. Then, they should go to court, go out of state, whatever it takes to defy their parents. Other than that, absolutely nothing is at stake but the money in Planned Parenthood’s pockets and teen girls’ feelings. The other reasons for opposition stated in the article are all so much fear-mongering and strawmen. What if, what if, what if; blah, blah, blah.
One girl says, “If I got pregnant, I, as a teenage girl still living under the jurisdiction of my Catholic father and grandmother, would rather risk my health and have an illegal abortion performed than face the shame of my family for years beyond my childhood.”
This is exactly why minors cannot make up their own minds, and why our give-rights-to-everyone-but-those-in-the-womb society has become simply ridiculous. Teenagers are inherently solipsistic and hyperbolic. Why are we so afraid to tell them this? They can make their own decisions when they are legally considered adults. Deal with it.
On a related note, this website tries to convince people to vote against the proposition.
Their arguments are just as inane and unsupported as the teenagers from the first article who can’t vote. [Just noticed that this site is a “project” of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. Still able to think logically, I’m sure.]
Consider:
Mandatory notification laws have resulted in teens – who for whatever reason can’t go to their parents — resorting to dangerous measures, like back-alley or self-induced abortions–instead of getting the medical help and counseling they need.
Ah yes, back to fear. What can back this up? Hmm, no link or anything. That’s (un)surprising.
While mandatory notification laws may sound good, in the real world they put teenagers in danger. Here’s why:
* This law puts vulnerable teenagers—those who may be from troubled homes and who most need our protection—in harm’s way.
* This law would force teens to go to court and try to navigate an overcrowded and complicated judicial system. Teens don’t need a judge, they need a counselor.
Are there links with information backing up these claims? No. Hey, mandatory notification laws still sound good to me. Oh, the poor “teens” have to “navigate” the judicial system? Once again, information that should have been considered prior to fornicating.
The thing at the top has a “quote” from a “parent” that says, “If she can’t come to me, I just want to keep her safe.” Yeah, makes all sorts of sense to me. What did you do to make sure she knew she could come to you? Nonsense. Campaign for Teen Safety, my donkey. If parents really want to keep their children safe, rather than keeping NARAL safe, they should let them know what God thinks about fornication, but that children can come to them with any problems. If, God forbid, the child should sin, they will not kick them out of the house, nor will they bludgeon them to death. That’s what forgiveness is. And if, God forbid, the daughter should get pregnant (I know it’s scary; I have a daughter), the parents will tell her that they will help her raise the child–if the father is an irresponsible jerk–but she will learn how to take responsibility for her actions.
I’m tired of this paper-spined mushy-headedness. Be parents! and if children have children, they will have to learn how to be parents as well.
Balaam's Ass 