It's unfortunate that Bristol Palin found herself pregnant at 17 years of age, but we've been told that she made the choice to keep the baby and marry the father.
Or so we've been told.
Certainly, these discussions and the choices made are private family business, and it should not be our intention to interfere.
However...
What if Bristol wasn't given a choice?
What if she doesn't want the child?
What if she wants the child, but doesn't want to get married to the father?
What is not uncommon in situations like this is that parents might try to pull power trips to get their way - and the strings they can pull are both emotional and financial.
There's not much we can do about the emotional aspects of this situation. But we can do something about the financial aspects.
So.
Bristol.
If you're reading this...
You don't have to marry that guy if you don't want to.
Being a single mom is hard, and your family might not approve, but we 're taking up a collection to help you if you want to choose that path.
You don't have to keep the child.
We know it's a difficult decision, but you don't have to go through with this. We're taking up a collection to help you with adoption agencies or other options, as well as money to get out on your own for a while, hopefully enough to keep you going until your parents come around.
Someone should extend a helping hand, just in cased it's needed.
Now, what can Kaily Kos members do? Reply to this diary with a pledge - a sincere pledge of whatever you feel you can donate. No obligation.
Let's see how much money we can collect, just in case this is really needed.