RickandSusanna.com

Teen pregnancies are up and it’s a hot topic. “Juno and similar movies, along with pregnant, unmarried Hollywood starlets, ‘might have glamorized the idea of pregnancy’ and removed the stigma” (from Culture and Media Institute) a child psychologist tells CMI. “From 1991 to 2005, the teen birth rate dropped more than 34 percent, according to the CDC. In California, rates dropped 46 percent,” reports the San Diego Union Tribune yet in 2006 the birth rate rose by 3%.

Is this an alarming trend of moral decline? The media is quick to make that pronouncement, but I would encourage a different prognosis. Do you think teens engaged in less sex in the 90s? Or is something else at work here: “there is debate as to why teen pregnancies are up and the abortion rate is at a 30-year low” (from CBS Interactive).

Rejoice world, the abortion rate is down, the genocide takes a down-turn! Perhaps the moral fabric is knitting tighter not pulling apart! But wait, did you catch the tone? The abortion rate is down, this is a problem, something we need to debate.

Consider a confession such as this (1) I am having sex before marriage, (2) I got pregnant, (3) and I am keeping the baby. To the world (1) is to be rejoiced in as liberation, (2) can be casually “taken care of”, and (3) will incite the media furry. They are not upset at teen pregnancy. They are upset at teens giving birth. How could they be so audacious?

Are they concerned for the children in some twisted way? The news is not even that good. Society hates children and promotes self-centered, live your life for you, and if you must have children at least wait until after 35 (just pick up a copy of Plum magazine next chance you have).

Am I worried about a rise in teenage pregnancy? No, I’m worried about our attitude towards children.