Lots of flotsam and jetsam this weekend on the whole Bristol Palin thing but here’s my two cents, then I’ll shut up about it
I can’t believe the number of postings I’ve seen on the various blogs and news sites that say that Bristol Palin’s pregnancy is a “family matter” and not a political issue! That’s just nonsense. There is not one “family matter” that doesn’t have one foot in the political arena simply because they affect us as individuals who are members of a community.
I may want to sit in my living room and smoke cigarettes, drink scotch and watch TV ’til I croak. I have the right to do so, but that doesn’t mean anyone can’t criticise or dicuss my behavior in the context of the overall health of the black male in society if they want to. I can act on it or give ‘em the finger but I can’t shut ‘em up.
Same for Bristol Palin’s pregnancy:
We have a right to talk about it in a political context because she’s another pregnant 17 year old in a country where woman have had to fight for the right NOT to end up in the same boat she’s in.
We have a right to talk about it in a political context because her own mother advocates a form of birth control that is unscientific, ineffectual and, like it or not, a part of our international AIDS policy which elicits worldwide disdain.
As long as we can legislate what goes on with the human body the body politic has a right to talk about it.
Alright, the soapbox is up for grabs now…
