Between the years 1991-2002 there was a decline in the overall teen
pregnancy rate.  It was indicated that the birth rate for black teens aged
15-19 fell 42%, and 20% for Hispanic teens, during this period.  However,
it still remains, higher than the other ethnic groups.  Yet, I believe
that we have a steadily increasing percentage of teen pregnancies due to
various influences in our society.  I would not just talk about teen
pregnancy, or the rise of it, without looking at the root cause of the
situation.  I would point out that teen pregnancy is just one result of a
conscious, irresponsible physical act.  Sexually transmitted diseases,
abortion, and the list can go on and on, are other consequences of such
sexually active behavior.  I write this column not just to make a
statement or to discriminate against anybody who may have been affected by
making poor choices.  I do so believing that we need to have discussions
in order to provide answers and solutions to these issues.  I do not want
to stir up controversies, but rather, be an instrument of positive change.
 We have all fallen short at some point, in one way or another, and it is
not for me to point a finger at anybody else.  “Do not judge” as the Word
says “lest you be judged” or “Take the log out of your own eye before you
point at a speck in your neighbor’s eye”.   Having said that, let us not
judge anybody in looking for solutions.

The rise in teen pregnancies did not come to me as a surprise due to the
fact, that everywhere you turn to in the media, there is an intentional
exposure to sexuality of some form.  When you look at the movies that are
coming out, the TV shows that are rolling out on the TV screens, the
access to the internet that gives our children access to various sites
that have these explicit images, cause or encourage the teens to
experiment with what they see.  We can spend the whole day trying to
address or intervene with those kids who are currently pregnant or are
raising babies, but if we do not address the source of the problem, this
rise in teen pregnancy will continue. Although between 1991 and 2002 there
was a decline, we are going to see more and more of it in the coming
years.  Another reason for the rise in this trend, I believe, is due to
the breakdown in the families, in the social structure.  This causes our
children to seek attention and to seek fulfillment in the wrong things.  I
have had conversations with many young people, and one of them made a
statement that by giving themselves in to indulging in sex is the way that
they feel they are loved.  So you see, the lack of appropriate love and
appropriate attention in the family structure and more importantly the
lack of role modeling by the parents in regard to healthy relationships,
results in the children following in their footsteps, seeking fulfillment
elsewhere with the influence of the media and other variables spurring
them on.  As parents it is our duty to exemplify our commitment in
relationships and to demonstrate to our children, self-respect and the
proper way of interacting in any relationship without subjecting oneself
to a compromised situation.

This subject is very dear to me.  I have a sister who, at 14 years old.
had a child out of wedlock.  How challenging and devastating that was.  I
remember she was rejected by the family at a very young age.  After a
couple of months during the pregnancy she returned home to have her baby.
Now we have a beautiful niece - she is married and has a family of her
own.  What I am trying to say is that let’s not be blind to the fact that
our children are experiencing inappropriate sexual activity at an early
age.  When you look at middle school age kids, I would venture to say one
kid in every four will experience it and almost every kid will have seen
it our thought about it.  Thinking about it is most likely to end up in
the act itself.

In closing, what is the solution?  Let me share with you what Cecile
Richards, president of Planned Parenthood has said “It should serve as a
wake-up call to anyone who still believes that teenagers aren’t sexually
active or that abstinence-only programs curb the rate of teen pregnancy.”
Deborah Kotz who posted an article on Jan 26, 2010 stated that Ms. Cecile
Richards “is happy that President Obama eliminated abstinence–only
education funding and has instead set aside $100 million for comprehensive
sex education programs to prevent teen pregnancies”.  What is the message?
 I believe, we need to teach our kids abstinence as a way of preventing
unwanted pregnancies.   Abstinence is dealing with the root of the issue,
eliminating the need to deal with the consequences.  Let me say that
prevention is always better and cheaper than intervention.  God bless you.

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