Sign of the Times

The bulk of today's teen pregnancy problem is less 'children having children' than increasing numbers of young adult women having babies outside of marriage. . . . Unwed teen mothers younger than 18 account for only 13 percent of babies born out of wedlock. As a society, we aim a fair amount of public money and many strong words at the problem of 'teen pregnancy,' that is, at the 376,000 births in one recent year to single mothers under the age of 20. Yet we pay comparatively little attention [indeed it often seems that as a society we are stonecold silent] regarding the 439,000 births that same year to single mothers in their early twenties.

Are we against the former but indifferent to the latter? If so, what is our reasoning? Consider the prospects for a typical 20- or 22-year-old single mother and her baby. Are they really that much different, or better, than those facing an 18- or 19-year-old single mother?

While capitalism, in all its lop-sided glory, bears a large slot of responsibility to our current state of the nation where culture is concerned, Old Navy has these nice tank tops designed with extra material for the 'belly bump'. Instead of sending a positive message for the sake of abstinence, they've decided to support the old adage "When life gives you lemons..."

2 for $15. Get yours today while they're hot hot hot...