What Bristol Palin Says About American Families… And ‘Mama Grizzlies’
Two years ago Bristol Palin was an irresistible voice for teenage pregnancy. She followed in the steps behind her mother, Sarah Palin, supporting her candidacy as a vice presidential nominee. At 17 years old, she was vibrant, and looked like what a stereotypical teen should look like; she was realistic, yet pregnant. The McCain camp never tried to hide Bristol’s pregnancy, or her rugged self proclaimed “fuckin’ redneck” fiancé either; it was just a fact that the Republican nominee for vice president had a young pregnant daughter. That fact then became the notion that the Palin family was just like modern families today, suffering all the traditional woes of teens engaging in sexual intercourse improperly. Forget angst, where are the condoms?
Then something happened. Barack Obama won the presidency, and before the American public knew it, Sarah Palin resigned as Governor of Alaska. Then? Bristol Palin left home, with Tripp of course, but without Levi… Tripp’s father.
The young Palin is now coming in to her own as a sort of media necessity. But, it did not start that way. It began with Bristol Palin working with the Candie’s Foundation to tell teens that teen pregnancy does have negative consequences, despite what they may think. Now, Palin is simply on a speaker’s circuit. The cost of her coming is horribly steep: $15,000 to $30,000.
Now Bristol Palin, Levi Johnson and the young Tripp have graced the cover of Us Weekly. This time they are not speaking out against teenage pregnancy, or engaging in safe sexual practices. Instead, they were announcing their engagement to the world. And by world, they were announcing the engagement to everyone for the first time, even their parents. Needless to say, this cover story was a bold move, even immature and distasteful.
The traditional engagement, most often involves the father and mother of the soon to be possible bride giving the man asking her hand permission to propose to their daughter. Then comes the proposal, and the frantic phone calls to each family member to say “We’re getting married!” So far, Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have shown us they are not forging on the traditional route, but another one. A route much less traveled, and much more publicized.
For Levi Johnston this media move does not say much different about him than we already know. We have heard him publicly bash the Palin family, then apologize, and we have even seen him sprawled out in the nude for Playgirl. Of all the things Levi Johnston has partaken in these past two years, this may be the most mild, yet still a whirlwind in the media journey of a young man.
But for Bristol, this says something much different about her than the norm. And not just about her, but her mother too. With the recent ‘Mama Grizzlies’ campaign and Bristol Palin’s unwillingness to reveal her engagement to her mother out of fear of her reaction, should ‘Mama Grizzlies’ forewarn us of mean conservative mothers instead of mother’s protective of their “cubs”?
The fear Bristol Palin has of her mother shows us something. The Palin family may resemble an every day family, but why is Bristol Palin that scared? Is there a side of Sarah Palin that the American public is missing out on? Bristol Palin said of the wide reveal and her mother: “It is intimidating and scary just to think about what her reaction is going to be. Hopefully she will jump on board.” Then came this statement from Todd and Sarah Palin both: “Bristol at 19 is now a young adult. We obviously want what’s best for our children. Bristol believes in redemption and forgiveness to a degree most of us struggle to put in practice in our lives.”
Maybe the ‘Mama Grizzlies’ campaign should stay a political thing, and be pushed from the relationship it could have within the Palin family. But personally, I think Bristol Palin’s move to go straight to the media with her engagement and not her family first is enlightening.
Now, the rumors are that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston are shopping reality shows. Their rep is denying this rumor, but wouldn’t it make sense? Sarah Palin went from Governor of Alaska to a Fox commentator. If the apple does not fall far from the tree then Bristol may be pushing the same career path as her infamous and much sought after mother.
If the rekindled romance is fact, and not a stunt, then a ‘Best of Luck’ is in order for the young couple that due to statistics may suffer a failed marriage. We have seen the couple crash and burn once before, correct? And the burning was so awful. Who knows, maybe this time things will be different especially with Bristol Palin’s fantastic ability to forgive.
September 25, 2010
Come One, Come All
These next coming days will probably be the only days I stick to a severely biased news network and do not mind doing so. Why? Well, because for once, they are beyond right and I cannot seem to do anything but nod in agreement with them. The network? Fox News… Now, please, stop shaking your finger at me. The issue? Immigration. I know, immigration has been so drawn out and chatted about it is almost unnerving. But, as long as there are border hoppers and illegal workers illegal immigration will always be relevant, so why not chat some more concerning it?
Everyone knows the deal with illegal immigration. I mean deal as in definition, so far very few parties have made out well in this illegal situation and I am sure you can guess by process of elimination that so far, America has not been one of them. In 2007, America’s immigrant population reached 37.9 million, this including both legal and illegal immigrants. This statistic translates roughly to one in eight of those residing in America to be immigrants. If one would like to go further and know how many of those immigrants happen to be illegal, it is about one in three. Where do many of them hail from? Nearly half of the Mexican immigrants in America are here illegally, along with one half of Central American immigrants and one-third of South American immigrants. It may sound like the singling out of an ethnicity, but it’s not, it is just a cold hard truth.
With this constant flow of negative statistics, a person has to wonder: why are these immigrants coming, and staying, illegally? Is it for the American Dream of that darling cape with a white picket fence? Ah, to have two full sized bathrooms and a breakfast nook. Or is it because they are safer here in the good ole’ United States? I mean, who really wants to stay in Mexico with this unending drug war? No hands? I didn’t think so. Then what is it?
If you could enter a country, nearly free of financial cost, send your children to school without having to pay taxes, and possibly receive government financial aid, wouldn’t you jump on that border crossing band wagon? Welcome to America, land of the free.
I know, illegal immigrants do participate in their share of work, and at a depressingly low cost. Remember, this low cost is generally paid under the table, tax-free. It is that cost that makes these illegal immigrants attractive, and so employable by corporations and small businesses alike. Actually, so employable that they are among the highest percentage of employed people residing in New York City today. Citing recent Census statistics, Mexicans, as the one of the largest immigrant groups present in New York City, are more likely to be employed than an actual New York City native. This employable nonsense is not something that is only harbored in New York City; it is spreading among the country too. Illegal immigrants are taking jobs that should rightfully be handed to those who live in America, legally.
If only the problem with illegal immigration stopped with those who have become employed over legal American citizens. There is also the crime to think about. First off, illegal immigration is a crime punishable by the United States government. A family of illegal immigrants crossing American borders and staying undermines America’s national security and puts a drain on national funding. Though, statistics can be found that illegal immigrants are less likely than an American native to commit a heinous crime due to fear of being deported, isn’t living in America illegally and forcing Americans to pay the way heinous enough?
If all of this is true, then why did Stephen Colbert appear in Congress fighting for rights of immigrants currently residing and working in the United States? He may like to speak out for those who are not usually heard, and fight for their rights but… Why would you give an illegal resident Constitutional rights? I may not have been there when the Bill of Rights was first drafted, but I am immensely confident that “We the People” meant Americans, and those legally residing in America.
Colbert’s show of meager intelligence and mockery was just that, nothing more. Essentially, his satirical notion came down to those illegal immigrants holding agricultural jobs. Colbert, before addressing Congress did participate in a day’s work to become a sort of self-proclaimed expert.
Farm work may be grueling, but does that mean a legal American would deny such a job? I would like to think the answer to that question would be a ‘no’.
Stephen Colbert’s appearance may have been nothing more than a headache inducer, but the Democratic Party seems intent on making illegal immigration more of an everlasting migraine. It looks as if Colbert may have had one thing right, many of them may be out of jobs come November.
This notion in turn brings me to The DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act. If I were to go with the nutshell explanation of what The DREAM Act really is, I would tell you it is amnesty for illegal immigrants between the ages of twelve and thirty-five. Oh yes, amnesty. How? By receiving credits in higher education or serving proper military service, those illegal immigrants previously in the United States for five years, can apply and be granted American citizenship. The cost? Well, that would mean American taxes paying for those four years of high school, and the possible years before that, required by any higher education institution. And an illegal immigrant participating opts to go in to the military? Those positions are paid once boot camp is completely. So yes, the Democratic Party wants to pay illegal immigrants to become legal.
Then, what does the Republican Party so desire within the realms of illegal immigration? Do not fret; this issue was rightfully addressed in their newest “Pledge to America”.
This whole debate may sound like it is leaking from a Conservative’s mouth, or maybe even a Tea Partier’s political leanings but isn’t it just common sense that illegal immigrants are illegal? This then striking the possibilities of a well-rounded education, employment opportunities and equal rights… Away? That is what I had though, but who knows, maybe it’s not common sense and somewhere along the way a large group of Americans forgot what “We the People” truly means. Or, maybe that meaning has just evolved in to more of a “Come one, Come all, here is my open wallet” type of interpretation.