Girl, 11, will be Britain's youngest mother

Girl, 11, will be Britain's youngest mother By IAN DRURY, Daily Mail
A girl is to become Britain's youngest mother after becoming pregnant at 11.
The girl smokes 20 cigarettes a day despite being eight months' pregnant. She conceived aged 11 when she lost her virginity to a boy of 15 on a drunken night out with friends.
The 15-year-old has since been charged with rape by police, and is due to appear again at Edinburgh sheriff court on July 10.
Her 34-year-old mother, who gave birth to her youngest child eight months ago, said she was 'proud' of her daughter.
She will be 12 years and 8 months when she has the child next month. Jenny Teague, Britain's youngest mother until now, was a month older when she gave birth in 1997.
How can we best tackle this problem? Tell us in reader comments below
The youngster, who lives near Edinburgh, says looking after her younger brothers has prepared her for motherhood.
But the girl admits she "panics and cries" when babies are unwell and does not feel able to bathe them.
The mother-to-be, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had unprotected sex with the teenage boy, who also cannot be identified, while drunk last August.
'Excited'
She told the Sun: "I didn't think I'd get pregnant because it was my first time. But I'm really excited and looking forward to being a mum.
"I can't wait to take the baby swimming and out for walks in the pram. I think I'll be able to cope as I've had lots of practice looking after my brothers.
"I know how to feed a baby its bottle and I can change nappies. But I panic and cry if they're sick and I don't like giving them a bath because I'm a bit frightened.
"It's good to know I'll have my mum here to help me if I need her."
Concerned she might be pregnant, the girl visited a GP three times but tests proved negative. She learned the truth after buying a home-testing kit from a supermarket.
After the device displayed two blue lines, indicating she was pregnant, she pleaded with a female relative to break the news to her mother. The girl, who has been suspended from her first year of secondary school for fighting, said: "I was paranoid about what my mum was going to say and just frightened about being pregnant too.
"I knew straight away that I couldn't have an abortion because that's something I don't believe in.
"I was upset and so was my mum, especially as she'd just had my wee brother. We had a big argument and I ended up locking myself in my room and running away to a friend's.
"It was really hard but it's brought me and my mum closer, which is good. I knew my mum would stand by me no matter what, but I told her straight away I was going to keep the baby.
"The social worker suggested I got rid of it but I'd never do that."
Smoking at nine
The girl, who has shoulder-length dark hair, began smoking at nine and started drinking tonic wine and vodka cocktails at ten. She claimed her cigarette habit was not harming the health of her unborn child.
She said: "I can give up smoking at any time, but I don't find it affects my pregnancy."
The girl, whose parents split up several years ago, said she would like a baby boy - and may call him Leo.
She is currently being educated at a local community centre but knows she must return to school.
She told the Sun: "My mum has said she will look after the baby so I can go to school. I don't know what I want to do with my life when I leave. I used to want to be a nursery nurse, but now I'm not so sure."
'Proud of my daughter'
Her mum said: "I'm not ashamed of my daughter at all - in fact, I'm proud of her for keeping the baby.
"I know she's worried what other people will say but she can walk out there with her head held high.
"At first I wasn't too happy about becoming a gran. But now I'm used to the idea. I'm really looking forward to having another baby in the house."
The Scottish Conservatives has called for society and families to unite to change attitudes towards sex following the news.
Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=385968&in_page_id=1774
(C)2006 Associated New Media

You will be glad to know after reading this that the folks in Britian have the same insight and intellegence about this matter as thier cousins across the pond. Namely....absolutely none. Read and barf....

13/03/06 - Femail section

Time to get tough on teenage mums by KATIE HAMPSON, Mail online
Samantha McCall fell pregnant at 16 and says she receives child tax credit, income support, child benefit and a £500 maternity grant.
The shocking extent of benefits made available to such gym-slip mums as Samantha were detailed in the Daily Mail's article today about the young mothers-to-be - all of whom have been likened to the teenage tearaway Vicky Pollard.
The girls interviewed, some as young as 14, are attending a £100,000 course funded by the taxpayer, where they have classes in everything from claiming benefits to writing a CV and understanding the dangers of smoking while pregnant.
Each 'student' is paid £30 a week to attend - and receives a £100 bonus if she completes the 16-week course without missing a lesson.

'Makes a mockery of the Government'
However, it is by providing these financial incentives that the government is effectively condoning under-age sex. It also puts a gloss on teenage motherhood, with the result being many youngsters consider it an attractive lifestyle.
Perhaps most crucially, handouts like these make a mockery of the Government's strategy aimed at cutting teenage pregnancies.
The Government has vowed to half the number of pregnant under-16s by 2010. But how can it achieve this goal when it is offering teenagers such 'help' as £500 maternity grants? These policies are simply encouraging pregnancies among young women.

'Benefits need to be curtailed'
A report published in the Daily Mail from the Prince's Trust revealed single teenage girls on sink estates admire their peers who have given birth and often seek to copy their status and acquire the free flat they think having a baby usually brings.
Such alarming attitudes should provide the government with a stark warning that welfare benefits to single teenage mothers need to be curtailed.
Britain has long had among the highest teen pregnancy rates in the EU. The initiatives introduced to tackle the problem are not working. But this is shrugged off by the Government, which claims the situation will improve.

'Say no to sex'
But how can it improve when teenagers are confronted at every turn with the notion that teenage sex is acceptable?
Teenage pregnancy plotlines are now are in all of our television soaps.
High Street stores are targetting youngsters with sexy underwear and makeup.
Then there's the government's promotion of abortion and contraception among school-aged children which in effect condones and encourages sexual activity.
The Government must change tack and adopt a tougher line.
The message to teenagers should be 'say no to sex'.

'Bring back old-fashioned values'
Advocating abstention is a policy which has worked in America. So, if America can cut teen pregnancies, why can't we?
Britain has effectively made under-age sex acceptable by handing out condoms to children and proposing confidential sex counselling to girls under 16.
Why aren't we reinforcing the meaning between sex and love and the importance of committment between sexual partners?
Education is vital in combatting teenage pregnancies, not the incentives for young mums-to-be that come with generous financial handouts.
Children must be provided with the confidence and techniques to resist peer pressure and be shown the negative side to having children so young.

'Don't back down'
I have just turned 27 years-old and yet I am adament we need to carefully re-introduce old-fashioned values such as modesty and dignity so they are no longer ridiculed.
It's not good enough for parents, or the government, to throw their hands up in their air and say the battle can't be won.
Our role as responsible parents is to tell our teenagers that sex under 16 is wrong and against their best interests. Terrify them with the consequences, show them examples of the uphill battle children who have children face. And don't back down.
Meanwhile, the government needs to back parents up with policies that have the power to change and reinforce more traditional social attitudes.
The promotion of 'safe sex' is important for teenagers, especially once they turn 16.
But the 'say no to sex' approach is the message we need to get through to young people now.

Find this story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=379738&in_page_id=1879 ©2006 Associated New Media

Where do we start..........well, I won;t say much, since the handful of people in both countries who do have a brain can see through the folly of this.

Just a couple of queries, tho'. First...you want to cut off benefits to kids? Innocent bystanders in all of this? Fine. Do that. Just don't write to me when the product of your prudery crawls through your window and steals your telly.

And as for say no to kids. How do you expect your kids to do what you wouldn't at age whatever. Once and for all, your kids are having sex. Have been. Always will. Probably you did. Nothing changes.

What MUST change is the rampant erotophobia that permeates thoughts like "just say no." Tell that to a 16 years-old's hormones. Maybe you might have dodged that bullet, staying a virgin through high school, but I would surely like to see your high school picture to see if that virginity was in any danger.

Unless we get REAL about teen's sexuality, there will be more children having children, among other things. Maybe, instead of calling sexuality this evil thing that mus be avoided at all costs, maybe we should be truthful and tell our children how wonderful sex really is, but with that comes responsibility. That pregnancy CAN happen the first time. That you may not be ready for sex physically or emotionally. But most important, if something does happen, you have a loving mom and dad with you to support you and care for you all the way.

But for that to happen, we need a seachange on thought of gargantuan porportions. A total elimimation of erotophobia from all segments of our sociey and life.

They'll find those WMD's in Iraq before then. Way before.

Wildmon Watch 2: Get Yer Facts Staright, Boy!

Well, another little love letter from Tupelo's favorite 'phobe, Rev. NoNeck, has filtered its way through my e-mail. Seems they are having a gay festival in DEE-Troit in June, and they are havinging a weeeeee bit of a problem with the sponsor.

Here's the e-mail, with PB blandishments.


Oh brother!

Ford To Sponsor Homosexual 'Marriage' at Motor City Pride
Event

Dear Donald,

Showing contempt for the
concerns of traditional families, Ford has
agreed to sponsor the "Family
Area" at the Motor City Pride Event June 2-4 which
will feature a homosexual
marriage "commitment ceremony." The purpose of the
ceremony is to "make a
political statement."

Ahhhh, Donny dear, the
actual website does not denote that the ceremony will place in the family area.
Also when you go to the ACTUAL site for the
ceremony, you do not find a sponor there.

According to the Motor City
Pride website, "Metropolitan Community
(homosexual) Church of Detroit and
Triangle Foundation are looking for
Same-Gender couples willing to make a
political statement by celebrating
their love in a commitment ceremony to be
held in the City of Ferdale on
June 4, 2006." When one clicks on the "Family"
section of the website, the
caption reads: "The Family Area (which includes the
'marriage' ceremony) is
Generously Sponsored by: Ford Motor Company Fund."

Ford Motor Company
Fund gets its funding from Ford Motor Company. Click here to see the Ford sponsorship.

I highlighted this part for a particular reason. Maybe its the fact that the education level in Mississippi is not the nest or what, but if you are going to make a case, investigate first.

This is the ACTUAL website for the Ford Motor Company fund, which clearly states: "Ford Motor Company Fund is not affiliated with the Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation is a separate entity from Ford Motor Company. No member of the Ford family or Ford Motor Company management is on the Ford Foundation's Board of Directors."

Do you homework, Donny dear.

To see the Committment Ceremony page, click here.

Since the boycott began, Ford stock has fallen 7%
and Associated Press
stated that Ford sales were down 5% in March. Many financial consultants believe
that Ford is headed for bankruptcy.

Oh don't take all the credit. GM sales have dropped too. But those sales come from slow selling, gas-guzzling SYVs, not your hoarde of born-again robots. Oh, and just so you know, Ford's drop was a mere 4% as opposed to GM's whopping 11% (read, fool: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-autosales4apr04,1,6238687.story?coll=la-headlines-business).

As for bankruptcy, don't on it. The reason Ford, and most of the American auto industry is in such dire starits is not due sales alone, although, I must admit, Ford has had some pretty boring cars with that blue oval attached recently, but with high costs of things like health care, which could be eased with, say, a goverment health plan that covers all Americans. Now, Rev, I'm sure that you are for THAT, right? Oh,I forget, goverment healthplans make you break out in hives.

Besides, Bill Ford is becoming the Lee Iococca of the new millienum. He has stated uncatagorically that Chapter Anything is not an option. He sites "muscular" liquidity and Ford has stated its third consecutive profit. And with 18% share of the market, he doesn't need you, Donny dear.

It appears that Ford is more willing to face bankruptcy than ending their
support of homosexual groups and causes.

On the contrary, Nimrod. It seems that Ford is REACHING OUT to a market that flexes considerable muscle. According to Diversity Best Practices and HRC, GLBT spending power is projected top well over $600 million this year.

$600 million. That is a pretty nice chink of a $300 billion ecomomy. ANd powerful numbers to walki into a board room with. SOething you should know next time you decide to hold up a company.


Take Action

Please sign the Boycott Ford

Call your local dealer and ask why Ford
is sponsoring this "marriage ceremony." Click here to find the phone number and email address of your
Ford Motor Company dealers (Click on Ford, Jaugar, Land Rover, Mazda, Lincoln,
Mercury, Volvo icons at the top of the page).

And while your at it, tell them thank you, and tell them you will be down within the hour to pick your Ford(all hail Mustang!, Jaguar (I suggest the new XK, it rocks), Land Rover, Mazda, Lincoln, or Mrecury

Please forward this to your
family and friends to let them know of Ford's
commitment to homosexual marriage.
You might also want to forward this to
the Ford dealers in your area.More
than 20 pro-family groups have called for
a boycott of Ford. To learn more of
Ford's promotion of homosexual marriage,
visit BoycottFord.com.

In short, once again Wildmon shows the depth of his dumbth. the fact that he has to manipulate facts and not research them for his arguments show that he is on very shaky ground.

Basically, in your in Detroit, go to the festival. If you are looking for a car, By a Ford.

And if you are Donald Wildmon, or any one of his zombies, pray for a brain.

The Perp As Victim The Perp As Victim

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press WriterTue Apr 4, 11:11 PM ET

Justin
Berry, who for five years starred in his own Web cam child pornography business,
told a House panel Tuesday that the Justice Department is moving too slowly to
round up 1,500 pedophiles whose information he surrendered last year.
"I
believed that the government would protect the children being abused. I believed
they would act quickly," Berry, now 19, told the House Energy and Commerce
Committee. "I was wrong."

Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra
disputed that, citing a threefold increase in federal prosecutions of child
pornography and abuse cases nationally over the past decade. The unit
investigating Berry's case, which Sierra could not discuss, has seen its
workload increase 450 percent in the last four years.

"One of law
enforcement's highest priorities is the protection of innocent children from
sexual predators who lurk on the Internet," Sierra said.

The same
committee will hear from the Justice Department, among other federal agencies,
on Thursday.

Berry's story of a lonely teenager who sought friends on
the Internet but instead grew rich attracting pedophiles was reported in
December by the New York Times after a six-month investigation. Its author, Kurt
Eichenwald, told the Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that Berry is the
first such teenage witness known to turn over such a vast cache of evidence to
the government.

But even Berry's catalog of his clients' names, credit
card numbers and other details has resulted in only one arrest, he and
Eichenwald said.

"From the time that the government was notified of
Justin's information to the point where the children in direct danger were
saved, more than 50 days passed," Eichenwald told the panel. "Some people
identified as perpetrators literally could not get themselves arrested if they
tried."

Berry embarked on his sordid journey into the world of
pedophelia and drugs when at 13, living in Bakersfield, Calif., he acquired a
Web camera as part of a deal with an Internet service provider. A lonely kid of
a divorced family without many friends, Berry hoped to use the device to make
friends his own age.

Instead, a pedophile sent him an instant message
within minutes of Berry's image landing on a Web site called Spotlife.com(by the
way, don't even thing about it, its not there anymore!-polybi). More followed;
then men worked to earn his trust.

"At 13, I believed these people were
my friends," Berry told the panel. "They were kind. They complimented me. They
wanted to know about my day."

A few weeks later, he said, "everything
changed" when one man proposed to pay Berry $50 to take off his shirt for a few
minutes in front of the Web cam. The man helped Berry set up an account with
Paypal, an online money payment system.
Last June, Eichenwald approached
Berry for a story he was doing on Internet pornography. Berry agreed to help
with the story and tell law enforcement what he knew about other children being
exploited.

But the Justice Department and other massive federal agencies
were slow to respond, Berry and Eichenwald told the panel. Berry said he has
feared for his life.
___
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060405/ap_on_re_us/child_pornography_3&printer=1;_ylt=AoiMl77sTJSB6TGE2t9m4IZH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE

So do I have a problem with this? Yes.

A few weeks later, he said, "everything changed" when one man proposed to pay
Berry $50 to take off his shirt for a few minutes in front of the Web cam. The
man helped Berry set up an account with Paypal, an online money payment system.

In other words, little Justin TOOK THE MONEY!

There was no seedy pimp maniulating this poor boy;s morals, selling his body to the highest bidder. Or at least the pictures of said body.

And he continued to do it...raking in the bucks. I would assume that the shame he started feeling coincided with the moment the cuffs were slapped on his teenaged wrists.

And this is the thing most people do NOT want to hear....that this enterprise was produced, directed, starrred, and profited by the very same type of teenager we have tried to "protect." Add this to the teacher-sex scandals, the MySpace contriversies, various and sundry executives, goverment workers, and celebrated people, and you get a pretty good idea that, not only are the last taboos about to go by the wayside, but that we now have to seriously deal with the increasing complxity of teenage (and in some cases, subteenage)...gasp!....sexuality!

This is something that will not be solved by trying to throw it under the rug, planting stings of adults looking for minors (although, it would be interesting to see what a reverse sting would net), and forcing a "abstainance only" curruculum and policy that obviously is being ignored wholesale.

We have run away from this for too long, and like most problems it will rear its ugly head in the most inopportune places and times. It is time we dealt with this in a way we never have: honestly, without judgement or recrimination. To do that, there are facts that we have to face about our sexuality, our society, our kids, and ourselves.

It may be something we do not have to courage to do. Not just yet.