Opinion

Rockport teen: Beverly Farms paraders owe girls, city apology


Published: July 15, 2008

To the editor:

Pregnancy is not to be taken lightly — no matter what the age.

I am 18 and a senior in high school. After seeing the YouTube video on the Horribles Parade in Beverly, my heart dropped.

America should be appalled by the behavior and actions of the parade. Floats displayed profane images, and signs read, "GHS girls went to band camps and came back pregnant tramps" and "We got humped now we got bumps."

Girls were dancing to the Will.I.Am song, "I Got It From My Mama," with stripper moves and fake pregnant bellies. Not only did all this make me feel uncomfortable, it made me feel how unfair all this publicity must be for the Gloucester girls.

My generation loves controversy. Everyone wants to do something for attention, but is it worth it?

When Americans are supposed to be celebrating the Fourth of July, this parade disregards all respect and makes families into a laughing matter. These girls from Gloucester face hardship and they should not have to see the next town over pointing fingers at them. The media have taken this story and spit it out with accusations that make others look down on the pregnant teens.

It takes a village to raise a child and just maybe, it takes more than one village. Gloucester now has some serious soul searching to do and needs help and respect from its neighbors, not ridicule.

The surrounding adults determine the success of the child. Those who participated in the Beverly Farms floats owe a sincere apology to the future mothers and the city of Gloucester.

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REBECCA HILDRETH

Rockport