Teenage Pregnancy

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Recommended: Debate against sex education

Judge Greg Mathis author of Republicans Don’t Procrastinate argues that a parent can instill good values in a child and give them all the love and attention that they deserve, but the Republican platform of abstinence-only education leaves too much to chance and sets young people up for failure. On the other hand, Marian Wright Edelman points out in her article Teen Pregnancy in America Today that everyone - both liberals and conservatives should be able to agree that it is in everyone’s best interest when teenagers wait before making the decision to have sex, which could result in unplanned pregnancies. She points out that it is everyone’s responsibility to make an effort to support programs, which will educate and give teenagers positive, productive ways to fill their time, which is a stronger argument than blaming the issue on one political party.

Mathis presents the ethos argument that the Republican Party is hypocritical to the principles that they address in regards to teenage pregnancy. Since presidential nominee John McCain appointed Sara Palin as his running mate for the 2008 presidential election, there has been much controversy over the pregnancy of Palin’s teenage daughter. As a rule, Republicans promote abstinence as the only form of birth control and disease prevention for teenagers and do not want schools lecturing on sex education. Republicans also do not want to give access to teenagers for condoms or birth control. Mathis believes that the GOP should finally admit that its sex-education curriculum is not only limited but also harmful. According to Mathis, eliminating sex education from the educational curriculum does not deter young people from having sex; it enables them to have unprotected sex.

Becau...

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...oth state that it can happen to anyone including someone as prestigious as the Vice-presidential candidate’s daughter.

I feel Edelman has a stronger argument that is going to have a stronger reception from the public. Her argument uses more pathos appeals, which is going to get more attention from the audience on this controversial subject, but it also does not point fingers at one government party over another. Her argument is saying everyone is responsible.

Works Cited

Edelman, M. W. (2008, October 18). Teen Pregnancy in America Today. Retrieved April 3, 2011, from Afro - American Red Star: http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.uwc.edu/docview/369727940?accountid=42411

Mathis, G. (2008, September 11). REPUBLICANS DON'T ABSTAIN! Retrieved April 3, 2011, from The Tennessee Tribune: http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.uwc.edu/docview/368887103?accountid=42411

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