A Short Letter to Bristol Palin

24 thoughts on A Short Letter to Bristol Palin

1. Lauren, this was beautiful. I hope she reads it.

2. It was definitely a nice letter, but I’m wondering if it’s even necessary. Anything that the Palin’s do is gold, remember? Bristol can’t do anything wrong because she’s White, conservative, pretty, and knocked up. That’s just how they do things in the AK. The conservative press who make a living off of shaming poor teens of color for doing the same things Bristol does will bend over backwards to paint her as a saint, like they did when she got pregnant.

3. Lauren, this is beautiful. Really. I was just barely finished being a teenager, and I can appreciate that advice in hindsight.

   I wish the tabloids (and even actual news, I’m talking to you BBC!) would leave this story alone.

4. TRG: Sure. I don’t necessarily disagree. But she’s just one in a line of teen moms in the spotlight that can serve as an example for the rest of us (not that they should, but they do).

   The key is support, support, support. Parents, all parents, are more likely to be successful parents if they have support from their friends, families, and larger communities. If Bristol has support from her community, it’s because her mom’s conservative allies are circling the wagons, not because their beliefs include room for exceptions for other kids like Bristol. But that doesn’t mean liberals and feminists should turn their noses up at a teenager like her because of her mom’s (and perhaps hers as well, I don’t know) politics. If the daughter of a conservative icon can say no to marrying her child’s dad just because they got pregnant and had a baby, it’s better in the long run that she publicly turns away from this conservative, “traditional” norm for every teen mom that comes afterward. I deeply believe that support as a single parent is good wherever you can get it, whether governmental or communal, no matter your background.

   If an analysis about conservative inconsistency in regards to the Palins and teen pregnancy is in demand, I’ll go there again too (see the third link in the post).

5. I think Bristol Palin will become a politician someday, just like her mom is doing. a real wonderful family which can represent america.

   and this letter is really what i want to tell you Bristol Palin. thanks the lauren.

   be a thinker, and do what you intend to do, no matter what your mom & dad say to you, but keep in mind that they just want you to live a rugged life.

6. She’s told the press that it was a mutual decision, not her “saying no to getting married”. I think you’re assuming Bristol’s mindset, just as many conservatives assumed it (albeit in a different direction) when her actions fit their narrative.

   We don’t really have data on the contents of her heart and soul; maybe it would be best to respect her space and treat her as a human being rather than as a political ragdoll. She’s got enough pressures on her already.

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8. Sad that a letter was needed Lauren. This is just another story that I can’t believe is national news. Celebrity breakups/hookups/pregnancies, the woman who had 8 babies, this girl, celebs that gain/lose weight… there is just too much tabloid journalism. And it just won’t stop…

9. Well, I’m glad at least her daughter doesn’t define marriage as the union between two unwilling teenagers.

10. I think Bristol is incredibly strong to stand up to her parents, first in not hiding her pregnancy at the convention, then in refusing to marry before the election (as was rumored), and then deciding not to marry her boyfriend. She was probably under tremendous pressure to “get right with God” by marrying Levi and becoming a good wife, and the news that she’s finishing high school and plans to study nursing is very heartening.

    She’ll be just fine.

11. That was beautiful, Lauren. There’s nothing more to say.

    (Of course, there are some obvious reasons why conservatives rally around Bristol and demonize poor young mothers, especially poor young mothers of colour. We can’t lose sight of that. *sigh*)

12. When I heard that Bristol and her fiance were splitting up, my first thought was “thank god–two fewer lives ruined!” It was obvious that the engagement was to please Sarah Palin, not Bristol or her boyfriend. I’m glad they had the sense to see that it wouldn’t work before they put themselves, and their child, through years of misery.

    And, yeah, Lauren’s letter is beautiful!

13. Thanks for this. As the grown daughter of a teen mother who turned out just fine – better than fine, thank you very much – it’s been really difficult to see the almost gleeful, gloating way this whole story has been handled, both by the mainstream media and by too many supposedly progressive blogs. Thanks for the humane touch.

14. I think the sentiments of ‘being able to do it alone’, and ‘don’t let anyone else dominate your decisions’ are wonderful here. I have to also agree with Dan in Denver. We cannot assume her mindset or reasons for ending the relationship. Maybe it was because the father turned tail and ran, like so many do. Maybe there was infidelity. Maybe abuse. Maybe she met somebody else. Maybe. . . We have to be VERY careful using this as a framework to express our ideologies. We cry foul when the other side does it. Let’s not borrow a page from that dangerous book.

15. Perfect.

16. I wish Bristol all the luck in the world for not doing what her parents and the conservative party wants. I hope she does get to read this letter and make a life for herself, and to at least, maybe, get spome peace from the media.

    I always had a feeling that Bristol never had much of a choice in any of what happened to her because of her parents and their political leanings. She couldn’t have learned about safge sex, only abstinence, and was no doubt forced, at first, into that marriage to make things okay for her mom.

17. What everyone else said. Beautiful work, Lauren.

18. So, I am glad that this is not a bash or the vile stuff others have written.
    But, I find it interesting that the consensus is that Bristol had no real choice at first… that she couldn’t have learned about safe sex, had to have the baby, was ‘no doubt forced’ into marriage plans.

    Well, we don’t know that. Given the Palin’s beliefs, we could assume that those are truths. But, public policies and your desires for you own daughter and grandson are not necessarily the same.

    Plus, don’t all of us give our kids our beliefs? How many here with daughters teach about reproductive rights and abortions and contraception? What if you daughter said, you know, I don’t think aborition is right. I think that is killing a baby and I want to be an Pro-Life activist. Would you say.. go ahead or would you try to change her mind or prevent her?

19. Awesome. Especially “Most importantly, make sure you can carve out a life for you and the baby without the economic support of a man.” Hope she’s listening!

20. Great letter, it’s good that she’s doing what’s best for her as opposed to what’s best for the party etc.

21. “The conservative press who make a living off of shaming poor teens of color for doing the same things Bristol does will bend over backwards to paint her as a saint, like they did when she got pregnant.”

    No need to worry, TRG…Daily Kos and Andrew Sullivan are more than capable of picking up the slack.

22. Totally with TRG, here.

    Read some Alaskan blogs like Mudfalats.

    The rich white girl is NOT in school, has a nanny and a new quite grown up boyfriend.

    Somehow, I don’t thinks she requires your “atta girl!”

23. Right on, girl!!

    Your post on how you found yourself that you did a while back was the most emotional piece that I have read coming from your POV. Can you link it to this?

    Not sure how far to go with my applause for you–got it?

24. “Beautiful”? Really?

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