People have been buzzing about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy and I must admit, I can understand why. However, the judgmentalness coming with the buzz is what I have a problem with. The reason that in this country we never seem to be able to have a discussion about anything is because we are too worried about being right or wrong. We are too focused in competition and winning.

This is an opportunity, in my view, to have an open discussion with conservatives and liberals about sex education, contraceptives, and yes… even abortion.

Bristol Palin was raised to love God and Country. Her mother now has five children, including one infant son she had months ago.  I don’t pretend to know what kind of advice has been given to Bristol over the years or what kind of relationship Sarah Palin has with her (do they openly talk about boys? Can she sleep over her friends’ house? Was she sneaking around? Does Sarah talk to her daughter about sex? etc..) but I can look up the politician’s political stance on such matters.

According to Time Magazine:

«She is Christian and pro-life, but also a supporter of birth control: she’s a member of Feminists For Life (FFL), an anti-abortion, pro-contraception organization.»

It’s good to know she’s atleast for contraception, but who does she think should have access to it? Are teenagers allowed to be given condoms in school? Can young girls go on the pill without their parents knowing? What about single women who are adults; are they in charge of their own morality or would she be a supporter of government hurdles to suppress their rights over their own bodies?

Assuming her conservative political values leaked into the way she parented her children, it’s safe to say that the ways they propose aren’t 100% failproof like they believe. When someone does something from a spiritual stance, they tend to believe their actions and thoughts are the only way because they think their religion is infalliable. If what you are told to do comes from what you think to be the word of “god”, then there is no way anything else can apply because, well.. you got it from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Bristol was raised in such a home. A home with black and white spaces for good and evil. She was taught infalliable truths and I’m guessing she was taught a that abstinence was the best way. But if abstinence is the best way 100% of the time, then why do we have children like Bristol?

Granted, there are plenty of girls who belong to liberal families that end up pregnant, but that’s usually when the conservative side of the aisle starts judging.  That’s when conservative people look down at liberal beliefs. But when it happens to conservatives, liberals shouldn’t just laugh and say, “You see?!” they should reinvigorate their own argument.

Access to contraceptives is important.  Access to sex education is important.  Access to objective health professionals is VITAL to the debunking of inaccurate information on sex.

And let’s be happy that Bristol is only pregnant. She could have been one of the millions of people worldwide to have contracted HIV/AIDS or some other life altering STD.

This is not about Bristol, this is about attitudes and perceptions. No one way is a complete safeguard against things like this, but I think people should have the right to choose which method works for them. Both methods should be available.  Whatever reasoning a person uses to have sex responsibly should not be outlawed. To me, that goes against logic.