Did the Birth Control Story in Oct. Issue Offend You?

I received this letter earlier today, and following it is my response. I put it here, because I want to know what YOU think. And did it offend you? How would you explain the teaser on the front to your child if she or he asked about it?

LETTER

Dear Carol:>
> I have been a reader of your publication "Birmingham Parent" since my family
> relocated to Alabama 7 years ago. I have always enjoyed your magazine. That
is
> until I picked up the October 2007 issue in the Pelham Public Library and was
> astonished to find on the front cover a reference for an article entitled
"Birth Control for Busy Moms."
>
> I am saddened and disappointed that a magazine that purports to be about
> parents, families, and children would actually have an article in it that is
> about birth control - much less to have it blatantly advertised on the front
> cover. You'd best hope that these "busy moms" don't take you too literally or
> there won't be much need for a publication aimed at parents. In addition to
> this most unbiblical article on birth control I find it disturbing that I now
> have to censor this magazine from my children. This I would expect from
> something trashy like "Cosmopolitan" or "The Enquirer" - but from "Birmingham
> Parent??" In case you are not aware - children as young as 1st and 2nd grade
> are more than capable of reading what is printed on your front cover. I don't
> really think I should have to try to explain to my 7 year old daughter what
> birth control is when we haven't even had the "birds & bees" talk yet. I find
> it truly appalling that you would take something as sacred and private as the
> marriage act to be the basis of one of your feature articles.
>
> I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to support your publication in the
future
> - nor the people who advertise in it. I'll be sure to let my friends know as
> well - in case they unwittingly pass by this magazine with their young
children
> in tow. In future, I sincerely hope you will be more careful about what you
> consider to be appropriate for your publication.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Monica Duvall

EDITOR'S RESPONSE:

Dear Monica,
Thank you for your honest opinion. I appreciate it very much. I am truly sorry
you were offended by the story in our Oct. issue. That is never our intent.

I am also sorry that you will let one story discourage you from picking up our
magazine again. If you use those standards with other publications, you will
probably not be able to read media including the newspaper or watch the news.
And you will always find things you disagree with, no matter what you read.

Our magazine has never been a children's magazine -- it is for parents, so we
try to offer subjects we believe our readers are interested in. I believe we
are an excellent local resource for parents -- but that is the point, it's for
parents. This topic was something that was proposed to us and some readers had
an interest in. I think it was handled tastefully, though it was definitely an
adult subject -- not a child's one. Just a year or so ago, we did a series on
online predators -- definitely NOT a subject for children to see or look at due
to the things we discussed, but still very important for PARENTS to know about.
I hope that your child did not read those stories, either.

I am so sorry if it caused a problem for you with your child. I do take to heart
your complaint, and we will reconsider the language we use on our cover in the
future. However, we have to present subjects of interest to the parents, so I
doubt that part of the process will change, though will we always try to provide
such subjects in a tasteful, considerate way.

Again, many thanks for making your opinion known.

Sincerely,
Carol Muse Evans
Publisher, Birmingham Parent


Now, what do you think of the article? The reader's letter? Our response? We want to hear from you?

Correction - Homeless Blog

Correction - the 30-plus churches feed the homeless daily downtown "under the bridge." Not simply every Thursday. Thanks to my husband for correcting me on this.

Feeding the Homeless - Helping, or Enabling?

In a recent interview with Fox 6's Ashley Nix, a city of Birmingham official said that the efforts of some area churches to feed the homeless on regular basis downtown near the BJCC was "enabling them to remain homeless," rather than truly helping them.

What do you think?

While I see his point (it is better to teach a man to fish than to simply give him a fish), I would also like to know his solution to fixing their homelessness. I'm sure many churches, like my home church, would like fresh, new ideas on how to help the homeless find jobs, resolve mental, physical and addiction issues, and find a place to call home. But every homeless person has a different story that led them to where they are today, and it may not be that simple. Yet, their need to fill their bellies is immediate.

I think we have to help meet the needs of those in need -- and my religious convictions lead me to believe if I do that, it's the same as if I was doing it for God. I'm not saying give them money -- but a meal when they are hungry.

My home church does it once a month. While my husband and 14-year-old son have gone and helped numerous times, my daughter and I did it for the first time last week. I think we were probably more "rewarded" by our efforts than possibly the people we were there to help. And it made us more grateful people, and more humble, at least for a little while.

What do you think? Why?

We want to hear from you!

Can You Say, "Frivolous Lawsuit?"

I'm trying to teach my children to pick their battles, and I'm trying to take that advice myself. Since they are teenagers, I'm also trying to teach them not to act like babies. It gets hard when adults in positions of authority get away with acting this way themselves.

Have you heard about the Washington, D. C. judge suing his dry cleaner for $54 million over a lost pair of pants? Today is "day two" in the case of the missing pants. The judge claims he's suing over the sign in the cleaners that says "satisfaction guaranteed" rather than his lost pants, for which he was offered $2,000 by the cleaners to replace the lost pants initially. And now the cleaners' have presented the judge with a pair of pants they say are his, and the judge says they are not.

Even if the dry cleaners never found the pair of pants, does this lawsuit have any true merit? And why should it cost the cleaners thousands of dollars to defend themselves? What message does it send to discourage, or encourage, MORE frivolous lawsuits that clog our legal system and make suits with merit take forever? And bottom line for ME, what does it tell my kids about adults and our legal system?

Give me a break. Lost pants are hardly worth crying over, and certainly not worth $54 million.

Cussing Baby? Is it Really Funny?

It's been a subject of the talking head shows recently, and my 14-year-old son discovered it on You Tube -- it's a comedy bit featuring actor/comedian Will Farrell and a toddler girl impersonating his landlord with a foul mouth while demanding her rent money.

On the surface, you might think it's funny. But is it REALLY? This little baby is using the b**** word, talking about drinking, getting drunk, having a "buzz," etc. You get the drift. It sure sounds like the baby is really saying everything. I suppose it could be voiced over, but I don't think so.

And what about the baby actor's parents? How could a parent teach a child to talk like that for a joke? How can it be un-taught, and what parent would really think it was funny to hear their baby talk like this?

Will Ferrell is a major comedic talent, however irreverent, but I think this crosses the line. What do you think? Am I just a prude?

Anna Nicole Saga Continues

The sad saga of the life and death of Anna Nicole Smith continues in the news. I can't seem to turn on a television news show without it popping up at least within the first 10 minutes.

Why so much coverage of this accidentally famous woman, and how do we explain it all, as well as her, to our kids? How do we explain so much of the media's fascination with scandal and tragedy, as well as the public's insatiable appetite for it?

We're Learning

Forgive us for a few chinks in this system - we are learning about Blogging and how to manage a blog account.

More will be coming soon, with a re-designed look to our Birmingham Parent Blog. We look forward to hearing from all of you.
Carol Evans
Publisher/Editor

Welcome!

Welcome to Birmingham Parent's first Blog for Birmingham-area parents. We hope this blog will serve as a sounding board for the parenting community in the Magic City, and we also hope that readers will share comments, thoughts, tips and more about parenting.

Look for more to come! Thanks for reading!
Carol Evans