Politics notwithstanding, the fact that Bristol is keeping the baby is cool. Girls have made it through this situation before. She will have a big network of support, financial means and

I'm a little concerned, however that her family is letting her - or (making her?) - marry the father. She's 17, for goodness' sake. I definitely think the boy and his family should be responsible in supporting the child financially and otherwise, but can't they wait to "commit matrimony?" They are so young and under tons of pressure, including the national spotlight. This definitely forces them into adulthood early, but a marriage might only compound their pressures, not alleviate them. No one will think the worse of them if they don't tie the knot.

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Levi says he's a F redneck and doesn't want kids. hmmmm

Nooooooooooooo!!!! If that's an actual interview and that's really the guy, then the baby is the least of Bristol's troubles. He's even got the beginnings of a hockey mullet!!! Say it isn't so!!!!

Don't let her do it, Sarah!

Thanks for the link...!

say_what?:

I'm a little concerned, however that her family is letting her - or (making her?) - marry the father. She's 17, for goodness' sake. I definitely think the boy and his family should be responsible in supporting the child financially and otherwise, but can't they wait to "commit matrimony?"

They're already in a lifetime relationship with each other and with their child, whether they like it or not. You apparently believe that at their age being married is more likely to harm that relationship than help it. That's fair, I guess, but are you willing to consider that many, many people and millennia of tradition, religious belief, and social institutions back the opposite conclusion - and that they may be right?

I think this is how center-leftists can come across as anti-family to social conservatives (which I generally am not, btw.) Reading your post might give the (presumably incorrect) impression that you think marriage is a more dangerous proposition than pregnancy for a teen, and that the main contribution of a father to the upbringing of his child begins and ends with money. These cliches about the views of their opponents are often repeated among social conservatives, and by appearing to fit the paradigm, you and everyone else who's saying this sort of thing only cause them to close ranks and shut their ears. To them, by telling teen parents-to-be *not* to get married, you are spreading the word of Satan himself (and all the more so if your reasons are somewhat plausible)..

Satan??? Wow, that's scary. :-)

I don't really think that I raised all that bad or even provocative of a point, even for the most staunch conservative. The baby daddy, Levi, will grow up, but somehow I think Bristol can do a lot better. It's exactly because they both still have so much growing up to do that I question the wisdom of having them get married. The baby will have a huge support network and plenty of father figures beginning with the young grandad and uncle. I don't know - oh well - I wish everyone the best in this situation. Hopefully Levi mans up. :-)