Two Day Magazine

...Brought to You by Bristol Palin

Dear Bristol,

I watched your public service announcement for www.thecandiesfoundation.org, which is website dedicated to preventing and educating the youth about teen pregnancy. I went to the site, looked through it, and discovered that this site promotes birth control, waiting until you are ready to have sex and everything that goes along with it, as well as snazzy celeb PSAs, such as yours.

But, there was something terribly wrong with your PSA. It didn’t make much sense. Which makes sense, considering the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree...if you know what I’m sayin’.

In the announcement, you basically state that if you didn’t have all the support, fame, and opportunities that you have currently, that you would be in a very difficult situation, trying to take care of an infant on no money. Guess what? A lot of teen moms ARE in this current situation of no money and no support. Instead of educating young people about the consequences of unprotected sex, you ignore that part, instead ending your pointless announcement with “Pause before you play.”

Which is all fine and cute, but clearly not what you did. Had you used protection before you played, you wouldn’t be in this situation. Also, what I find disturbing about your ad, is that you basically insinuate that it is okay to have a baby when you are a teen if you come from an affluent family, because they can help you out. You are totally missing the point! Which is typical, considering the fact that your mother’s PR machine has been raging since you got pregnant with ways to skirt around actually talking about the benefits of using common sense plus birth control.

It isn’t ok for any young person to have their lives thrown away due to a totally preventable situation. I am still waiting for you to admit that had you used a condom, you would be a young woman on her way to college now, with no strings attached, no ex-boyfriends to deal with, no babies to feed, no mother breathing down your neck and controlling your life.

 Let’s not forget that your mom was a teen mother, as she got married because she was knocked up. You would think that she would have instilled in you the idea of using protection before sex, the idea of following your dreams before getting serious with a lover, the idea that your body is to be celebrated and enjoyed. But, no. Sarah lived with her head up her ass (and continues to do so, as she thinks you are going to stay a born-again virgin until you are married) and therefore left you in the dark to discover things the hard way.

Her abstinence-only stand didn’t even work for you, her own daughter, so why don’t you do everyone a favor and just come out in favor of the true way to prevent unwanted pregnancy: Education and protection. Everything else you say is just noise.

Sincerely yours,

Natalie Bencivenga