sex de-education

In one of the text books I had to read for one of my women's studies classes, the author discussed the sex ed controversy in our schools. Basically she asked the question, Do we teach our kids too much about sex, or too little?” The author then goes on to discuss the different aspects of the “sex education” controversy.

One of the sides of the "controversy" that pisses me offf personally is this concept of the “abstinence only sex education” that is being implemented in some parts of the United States. The concept, to me, seems like a bit of an oxymoron and an avoidance strategy. For the kids who do choose abstinence it would be fine, but what about the ones that don’t? We don’t need figures and statistics to tell us that kids do not always listen to their parents. There are bound to be teens that do have sex, as the teen pregnancy rates indicate clearly.

I’ve sometimes heard parents bring “morality” into the debate. It’s “immoral” to expose our children to these types of discussions…. Poor, poor unsuspecting parents. I don’t have the heart to tell many of the ones I've heard whine and complain about imorality being taught in schools the true horrors of the discussions their kids probably have in high school about so-called “immoral” concepts, including sex. When I was in high school, I know for certain that not a day went by without someone telling some new fact or story, some true, some completely false. We are not saving teens from hearing about sex by keeping it a hush hush topic in the classroom. And anyway, what's so immoral about sex? Those parents did it, because if they hadn't, those kids wouldn't exist.

The other problem I personally see with abstinence only sex education is that it could inadvertently make sex a taboo topic that is never talked about with adults. This, for some people, could possibly lead to kids who do have sex being unwilling to tell health professionals, which could lead to a whole bunch of other crap like undiagnosed sexually transmitted diseases.

Just in case this isn't creepy enough, apparently the whole point of some of these sex ed programs is to scare kids into not having sex. One mom who supports them told me last weekend that she wishes they had those in canada, because "if we sscare them enough they won't do it." wonderful. So we'll have a generation of sexually confused kids, who will grow up to be sexually confused adults, who nev er want to talk about sex and are scared that if they do it they will burn in hell for etournity. Way to ensure the psychological and physical health of our kids for generations to come!

useful? maybe. Strange? definitely

If you want an umbrella when it rains, but want both hands free while walking, just buy a Nubrella. I think the idea's a little weird, but heck. It must appeal to someone out there. I love the description they give of the thing. "It's a bit like the lovechild of a space helmet and a baby carriage." Awsome! But I think I'll just wear a raincoat with a hood, thanks.

I never wanted to go there anyway...

If you're gay, don't move to Egypt. If you're HIV positive, it isn't the best place to be either, because you might get sent to prison. Apparently the guys "confessed" to being gay under pressure, but it's disturbing that any police force anywhere would assume someone was homosexual just because they have aids.

I must have skipped that part of the Bible

A Christian radeo group in Wisconsin has a new topic to whine about, after an elementary school in Reedsburg allowed students to dress as members of the opposite gender for "wacky week." Apparently the school is "encouraging "alternative lifestyles" and striking "at the heart and core of the Biblical values. " Wow dudes! That's a strong statement to make. I'll admit I've never heard of an event like that, but I'm sure every school has fun events. I think my elementary school did wacky hair day or something. The kids were given another alternative if they did want to dress up, so it's not like they were insisting that the kids cross-dress. If it's that big a deal, don't send your kid to school that day if you're afraid they'll be *gasp* exposed to new ideas, or, evil of evils, have a litttle fun and joke around with friends!

Of course, they are allowed to have their opinion, and they do have a right to express it on Christian radio, but I'm not understanding how this "strikes at the heart and core of the Biblical values. " I don't remember the chapter about cross-dressing.

There's something to be said for thinking things through

Demetrius Robinson from Athens, Georgia must not be a very smart cookie. He decided that the perfect way to kill time while waiting to rob a store was to fill out a job application. Right. So did he at least put down fake info? Of course not! Needless to say, he's now in custody... and probably mentally kicking himself.

time to let it go

I think everyone, at least once in their lives, has said something they regret. For most of us, it's not that big a deal, and we simply move on with our lives. For Tom Lukiwski however, this is not to be. His homophobic comments were captured on tape, so they can be heard over, and over, and over again.

If he had made the comments yesterday, I might have a different opinion, but he didn't. He made them seventeen years ago. It's over, it's done. Let's move on! I don't see why they want him fired. He did appologize, and, given the attitudes of society at the time he made the comments, it is very possible that he's learned a lot since then. Yes people need to watch what they say in public office, but I think this should be let go. He obviously hasn't done anything horrible in the last 17 years, or we would have heard about him before now.

Not only that, but it appears the comments were made in a social context. Yes he should have made the connection, videotape rolling, I won't make stupid comments, but I think we all make comments while socializing that we wouldn't ordinarily make any other time.