I think Carly Smith has acquired enough dents in her shield to be acknowledged as a local editorialist. I first met Carly a couple of years ago when I appeared a few times as a guest presenter in her high school debate class. I have had probably five or six brief meetings with her, usually in class settings but always with other people involved, and Carly strikes me as honest and thoughtful, passionate about her convictions, and willing to offer first argument. If we look past our own personal convictions about the morality of her advocacy for a moment, Carly's arguments deserve consideration. Carly forces us to contend with upsetting realities.
Abortion is a good example.
This is a provocative point of view. If we say a girl must have a baby she will spend the rest of her life mothering, we are obligated to solve the problem of raising it. If we are willing to accept aborting a pregnancy, we owe her proper medical and spiritual care - the earlier the better. If we want to avoid the issue entirely, we must help her prevent pregnancy without pretending we can prevent sex. Otherwise, we really ought to stay the hell out of it.