Teen Motherhood Glorified?

By: Amy Perry

"Is teenage motherhood idolized on shows documenting it?" The answer is no. These shows are simply created to stop the increasingly popular trend of teen motherhood. For instance, Maury, a popular show known for its paternity test-geared episodes, occasionally does episodes focusing on young girls aged 12-17 who are desperate to engage in risky behavior and get pregnant. During each episode, a rambunctious and defiant girl comes out, and explains to Maury how desperate she is to get pregnant and have a baby, "somebody who will love me no matter what." Maury then ridicules the girl and brings out one of his boot-camp friends. He then takes the girls to a room full of babies that require much care. At the end of every episode, not one of the girls still wants to be a teen mom. Another show related to teen motherhood is Teen Mom, on MTV. This show documents four teenage mothers, all of whom live with their children, except for one who gave her daughter up for adoption. Nothing on this show seems glamorous at all. Hard times are all too prominent in these teenagers' lives, and only one of them is able to maintain a steady romantic relationship with her child's father (or for any man for that matter), the same girl who gave her child up for adoption. Nothing seems easy about these girls' lives, they have a new issue everyday. For anybody to say these shows glorify teen motherhood, would be an outright lie because nothing seems glamorous about these girls' lives in the least.


Rebuttal by: Bianca Rogers
"Teen Motherhood: Glorified," should be the new name for the show on MTV. What are these girls gaining recognition for, something that is looked down upon in our society? These girls are being glorified for having children at the age of sixteen ("Sixteen and Pregnant") and have been granted yet another television show chronicling their daily life events. Their lives are being seen as fantasy-like and like their lives are easy. Maci, a character on the show, is able to go to school, work, and own her own house, all while not being in a relationship. Does this even seem logical? How often do we come across a 16-year-old mother who is able to juggle all of those things? How often do we even come across a regular 16-year-old who is able to juggle school and work? Not too often. MTV does a great job of making these girls' lives seem simple and manageable when it is not an accurate depiction of what teenage motherhood is. Besides "Teen Mom," there is the Maury show, on which he sometimes looks at girls who want to have children. Though teenage motherhood is strongly discouraged on this show, it is still given too much attention. Young girls who watch these shows may try to emulate these poor examples of young women, and teenage motherhood is something that needs to be put to an end, not continued.

Marijuana: A Permanent Component of the American Lifestyle.

Written By: Annsleigh Thornton

“I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?” - Willie Nelson

Smoking marijuana has far fewer dangers and hazardous effects on society than legal drugs ie. alcohol and tobacco.

Prohibition has failed to control the use and domestic production of marijuana. The government has tried to use criminal penalties to prevent marijuana use for over 75 years. But, marijuana is now annually used by over 25 million people. Cannabis is currently the largest cash crop in the United States and marijuana is grown all over the planet. Claims that marijuana prohibition is a successful policy are ridiculous and unsupported by statistics. The idea that marijuana use will ever be eliminated is idealistic, but more so a delusion or fabircated dream.

A regulated legal market of marijuana would reduce sales and use amongst teenagers. Because reasonable rules would be implemented the actions of others will be monitored. The illegality of marijuana makes it more valuable and enticing. Youngsters are intrigued at the idea of making easy money and often receive an adrenaline rush from "breaking the rules". If the profits for marijuana sales were ended through legalization there would be less incentive for teens to sell.

Teenage use of alcohol and tobacco remain serious public health problems (even though these drugs are legal for adults), but the availability of alcohol and tobacco is not made more widespread by providing kids with economic incentives.

Legalized marijuana would also reduce the flow of money from our economy to international criminal gangs. Marijuana's illegality makes foreign cultivation and smuggling to the United States extremely profitable, sending billions of dollars overseas in an underground economy and diverting funds from productive economic development. 

Prohibition is based on lies and disinformation. Justification of marijuana's illegality requires distortions and selective use of scientific information, causing harm to the credibility of teachers, law enforcement officials, and scientists. The dangers of marijuana have been exaggerated for almost a century. Many claims of marijuana's danger are based on a time when science was uncertain about how marijuana produced its affects. Marijuana is not a lethal drug and is safer than alcohol and tobacco. It is an established scientific fact that marijuana is not toxic to humans. It is unfair and unjust to treat marijuana users more harshly under the law than the users of alochol or tobacco. 

Marijuana should instead be taxed to support beneficial government programs. 

Law enforcement has more important responsibilities than arresting 750,000 individuals a year for marijuana possession, especially given the costs of each of these cases. This is a waste of jail space and over crowds the court system. It diverts the time of the police, attorneys, and judges.  

Marijuana use has numerous positive attributes. Marijuana provides relief from pain, nausea, spasticity, stress, physicial ailments and other bodilly ills.

Once individuals of power, those of the government in particular, realize that marijuana encompasses far more pros than cons, and recognize the advantages it will add to our economy, its existence will become socially accepted. Our governing system is a prideful establishment, so prideful they will not admit to public defeat. A world without cannabis: a fool's paradise.


Rebuttal:
Amy Perry

While many argue that marijuana cannot become addictive and it is not accompanied by harmful physical effects, scientific evidence has shown that these arguments aren’t necessarily true. According to a study conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse marijuana has short term effects that include memory problems, difficulty thinking, distorted perception, a decline in problem-solving skills, feelings of panic, fear, and anxiety. Marijuana can also be addictive and may weaken the immune system. This may increase one’s likelihood of getting cancer.

Marijuana is often tried after one has used alcohol or cigarettes. If an individual was led by marijuana to openly try other drugs, why can't mrijuana lead to using other harder substances? Research conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that in over three hundred sets of twins where one twin had used marijuana and the other had not, the twin who had used marijuana was more likely to use other types of drugs. Numerous surveys have also shown that cocaine and heroin users tried marijuana first.

All too often people associate marijuana use with the calm, passive nature of the hippie movement of the 1960’s and 1970’s. This is not accurate. Today’s marijuana is not your father or grandfather’s marijuana. According to CNN, the potency level of marijuana is higher than it has ever been. Marijuana’s potency is measured by the concentration of its active ingredient THC. For the first time, marijuana’s potency level has risen above 10 percent. In fact, the potency level will continue to rise. Experienced users are likely to decrease their intake of this higher potency marijuana, but younger first-time users are not likely to monitor their intake. Moderate to heavy use of highly potent marijuana can increase its negative effects.

Legalizing marijuana will increase the number of people who use marijuana. People often want to try marijuana but aren’t sure where to find it. If marijuana is readily available, curiosity seekers are likely to indulge themselves. In addition to new marijuana users who would legally be able to purchase marijuana, there will likely be an influx of younger users. Take cigarettes and alcohol as examples. The legal ages for purchase and use of these substances are 18 and 21 respectively; however, the age for first-first time users of cigarettes and alcohol continues to drop. It is highly doubtful that marijuana would be an anomaly to this frightening truth.

Marijuana legalization will continue to be debated for years to come, but considering the reasons why marijuana should be illegal will help those realize why it should not progress to official legality.