Letters to the Editor
mckleroy
Published Letters: 4 Editor's Choice: 1
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I'm with you, Tracy
[Read the article: Shaming Jamie Lynn Spears]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I'm surprised by the amount of hostility toward Ms. Spears. Many readers have pointed out that there is nothing to be ashamed about regarding sex at 16, and I think that the knowledge that 16 year-olds will be having sex is good for awareness, education, and communication between parents and kids (and between kids and kids). Ms. Spears has acknowledged that hers is an unintended pregnancy - mistakes happen! Condoms do break, pills get skipped and forgotten. Shaming her, blaming her, or excoriating her for accidentally becoming pregnant are completely unacceptable. She is an actress. But as far as I know, young actors and actresses are not required to pledge that they will be high-minded leaders-by-example; Ms. Spears' academically-minded and confident character is certainly an acceptable role model, but why should she herself be required to be a leader more than any other 16-year old? And what about the boyfriend? Readers seem to have little insight into how his actions precipitated the pregnancy (a hint: he's at least 50% responsible). I feel bad for Ms. Spears in this day of rampant tabloidism, but it is in no way my place to judge her for a mistake she made. I wish that we as a society could move the widespread and blithely normative attitude that womens' bodies are for childmaking (and that controlling this function while it is active is a horrid offense), but for now we should keep our mouths closed, and maybe consider turning off the TV and serving as role models for the kids ourselves.
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What an interesting article!
[Read the article: What I wouldn't do for my cat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]My girlfriend and I have had a long-term, half-joking, half-not conversation about something very similar. She owns a dog, which she loves. I think the dog is great, and I enjoy taking him out for a run, playing with him, buying him a treat from the local pet store, all the good stuff. However, I can't say that I love him. I did not grow up with dogs, and I've never owned one in my adult life, so maybe I just don't know. But I have a hard time thinking that having a dog (or a similarly care-intensive pet) is really "worthwhile" in the long run(this being the bone of contention between my partner and I). I am a peaceful and happy person; I have a good (albeit lower-paying) job, I volunteer several hours a week at the local childrens' hospital, I have a wonderful, beautiful, girlfriend and a close group of great friends. I feel that adopting a pet (and paying for all of the basic and contingency costs associated with it) would draw on my resources in a significant way, and perhaps not give that much back to me. I think it's great to have an animal sleeping in with you on a lazy Saturday, but I can't really identify with all the family-type love that is expressed towards pets by many owners (including many here on these boards). An earlier poster mentioned that he or she spent a certain amount of money on luxuries instead of making larger charitable donations (which I think is legitimate and healthy, btw), and therefore could not justify not paying for treatment for an animal. Does it make me a terrible, inhumane person if I would choose to make larger charitable donations (which I feel is more "worthwhile" for all of society and myself personally) instead of assigning that money to a pet?
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Pamela Troy,
[Read the article: What I wouldn't do for my cat]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]...if she faces a choice like the writer of this piece did, I'm not sure you will be able to offer her the support she'll need.
That is certainly an important point. What if something happened to her dog? What would I do? I admit that I was surprised by my own immediate (and lasting) reaction: Without a doubt I would do anything to help her through such a situation, including by offering financial assistance, if that is what she wanted. I don't love her any less for loving a dog, I'm just not as personally attached to the/a pet.
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"...eliminate programs that don't work..."
[Read the article: Obama defines the moment]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Hinting at repealing all of the federal monies currently wasted on abstinence-only sexual education, perhaps?
Some background:
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/PUBLICATIONS/transitions/transitions1203_2.htm
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/factsheet/fshistoryabonly.htm