The homicide rate in the city of Philadelphia in 2006 has reached 125. That comes out to almost one murder for every day of the year so far. If you were to turn on any of the major local news networks at any given time in this area, the big story always concerns how to reduce the crime rate in the city.

What do I think is the first step in stopping the cycle of violence and crime in Philadelphia?

Birth control. Young, uneducated women must stop having babies; otherwise, the cycle of welfare, drugs, crime, and violence will never end.

Think about it. That's where it all begins. Most young girls who get pregnant either stop their education at high school graduation or drop out altogether to have babies. In doing this, they have generally rendered themselves unqualified to land a skilled job. Many young mothers are raising their children without financial, physical, or emotional help from the father. Instead, they depend on public assistance and/or profits from criminal activities. When a child is raised in this type of environment, how do you think that child will end up? The cycle will continue. Sure, there may be a few who escape that life relatively unscathed (I sure as hell hope so), but I think for the most part, the same story will play itself out over and over again.

Why are young women having babies in the first place? Because they think that a child will allow them to experience unconditional love. Probably because their own mothers were young and uneducated when they had them, too. Maybe they truly don't understand the concept of birth control, and they don't know that a baby is a result of inserting Tab A into Slot B. Perhaps it's peer pressure: that's what they think they should do, because all their girlfriends and sisters and cousins are doing it. Or maybe they're just being careless. As someone who understood from a very young age that having a kid as a teenager or without a serious and lasting commitment from my partner would screw up not only my own life, but the kid's life too, I honestly don't know why anyone would choose to make a baby when the odds are so obviously stacked again her.

Birth control is the clear starting point to reduce the murder rate. It will not be effective immediately, but in the long run, I can't help but think it would change life in Philadelphia for the better. People like my parents, who believe birth control and premarital sex are sins, should pull their heads out of the sand and take a whiff of the real world: these kids are having sex, and nothing will prevent them or stop them from doing it. Further, I would venture to say that most teenagers who are having babies aren't benefitting from secure parenting themselves, so they're not getting good information or learning good decision-making skills at home.

My fervent wish is that someday, in the very near future, the Philadelphia public school system will make condoms and other forms of birth control available to preteens and teenagers. Educate them about anatomy and sex. Give these kids access to healthcare professionals who will answer their questions honestly and without judgment.

I completely agree that abstinence is the only 100% guaranteed way to avoid pregnancy, but to most young people, that is just not an option. Period.

/rant

Labels: bad news, deep thoughts, health, local news, parenting, Philadelphia, scary, sex