Comments on: A creative approach to STDs

By: Dayna Sour

Dayna Sour — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 06:19:00 +0000

The ozone depletion propagandists dismiss this natural chlorine by arguing that not an ounce of it reaches the stratosphere. No scientist ever made such a claim. F Sherwood Rowland, one of the leading propagandists wrote.The very large volcanic eruption of El Chichon in 1982 increased the total amount of stratospheric chlorine by about 10%, only to fade into the CFC background in about a year.

By: S.E.H.

S.E.H. — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:55:44 +0000

To speak directly to this program, I think we have to remember that this program and other outreach programs are often intended for ‘non-traditional’ youth. These are kids who don’t have parents who will sit down with them to talk about safe sex; they may be sexually abused by an adult in their life; or maybe they skip school frequently and miss the sex education lesson-if it’s even offered. So we can’t impose traditional methods or logics on this population. While I think it is important to advocate for comprehensive sex ed in the schools, other approaches- like Fred Evans’ community outreach-will only reach a wider audience and improve the health of all youth via multiple channels.
And while we’d all like to teach kids about ‘real love,’ I bet a number of teenagers-regardless of their background or home life-would claim that they are in love.

By: Mr. Reader

Mr. Reader — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:36:31 +0000

I foresee two solutions to exploding rates of teen pregnancy and teen STD’s. (1) A return to norms of sensible self-restraint. Like it or not, that means preaching abstinence as the only sure-fire preventative measure, possibly with safer-sex information as a backup. Young peer educators may be a very effective supplement, especially if they have personal experience with pregnancy or STD’s. (2) A return to norms of supervised free time for teens. Like it or not, that means monitoring, curfews, and chauffeuring by responsible adults.

I am 60 and graduated from high school in 1965. Of course, my generation chafed at the norms described in (1) and (2 above. But our rates of pregnancy and STD’s were much lower. When will the “old” health statistics of that era be publicized?

Tragically, we Baby Boomers embraced the Sexual Liberation movement of the 1970’s and passed this permissiveness on to our kids. Now we are reaping what we sowed. It’s time we go “back to the future” and rediscovered the practical benefits of level-headed restraint. It was “realistic” then and it’s “realistic” now. Just do it.

By: Bec

Bec — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:18:50 +0000

Simply put, the status quo in educating kids about sex isn’t working. Teaching abstinence only sexual education doesn’t work– nor does our seemingly ineffective safe sex lessons. We need a new approach. Kudos to Fred for at least trying a different approach. Not all people/parents open up the line of communication about sex with their kids and then it falls to the schools to do that service.

Also, in regard to Bryan Cochran’s comment, Planned Parenthood and the “abortion industry” don’t pocket a ton of money from unplanned pregnancies. Planned Parenthood, for example, runs on a sliding fee scale and a young woman (or man) won’t be denied care even if she/he can’t afford it. Please don’t belittle this valuable service.

By: Carole Sundblad

Carole Sundblad — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:48:58 +0000

When will this Country ever learn that the way to a happy healthy sex life free of disease is the way God ordained us to live. Talk to anyone who has maintained chastity and purity until their marriage day and the joy of knowing how special you are to each other. Yes, this is old fashioned in the eyes of the world we live in. We have allowed Hollywood, Videos, advertising, a former President, congressmen, and you name it to turn what was mean’t to be a wonderful part of marriage into a free for all, animalistic, immoral, degrading, exploitation of Men, Women, Young people, and children. Now our young people are paying the price because we allowed rampant sexual activity and they are getting STD’s and many will die of these or cervical cancer or throat cancer or will become sterile. We should be so proud that we took God and abstinence out of our schools and replaced it with SAFE SEX. The results are staring us in the face. Its quite a price to pay when society has decided there are no longer any moral rules to live by. This Country doesn’t stand a chance unless we go back to teaching abstinance because that is the way it was mean’t to be.

By: Stacy Harris

Stacy Harris — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:02:00 +0000

Are the “three Rs” being taught in a “sexy or loud and flashy manner?”

No? So why sex education?

Sex ed, and by that I mean all of the options teens face- from abstinence to to safe sex- as well as the manners of sexual expression (autoeroticism, heterosexual, homosexual and bisexul relations), is never boring when it’s all new, wondrous, confusing and there are internal and external pressures governing one’s choices.

Sexy, loud and flashy have no place in the classroom. At least not if you’re spending my tax dollars…

Stacy Harris
Publisher/Editor
Stacy’s Music Row Report
http://www.countrymusicreport.com/Stacyharris.htm

By: CS

CS — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:13:14 +0000

I think this is a great blog idea! I hope it catches on. As for the topic here - It’s worth a shot to glamorize safe sex… I’m not thrilled with the thought that my kids will likely start experimenting with sex in their teens. However, nine out of ten of my friends and I did so why would our children be different? I came of age as AIDS was just starting to be recognized as more than a “gay disease” so we had the constant fear of death instilled in us by nurses, counselors, dorm “moms” etc. I worry that people are not scared of HIV/AIDS anymore and don’t even consider the other STIs. That does concern me in general. As for the abstinence movement - great, just not realistic for most people in my eyes. A few carefully chosen partners prior to marriage might actually be a wise route in my humble opinion. Sexual/physical compatibility is arguably a critical aspect of most adult lives/livelihoods.

By: John

John — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:16:48 +0000

The Audacity of Hope:

I have the audacity to beleive that kids are more than dogs in heat. I have the audacity to believe that if we as parents actually taught them morality, some - yes, many would listen. I have the audacity to hope that my kids will wait until they are married regardless of what pop culture says.

As for the safe/free sex message: How’s that working for our kids?

By: fred evans

fred evans — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:58:20 +0000

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MINNEAPOLIS,MN 55412
612-287-2423

By: catie

catie — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:29:38 +0000

I completely agree. I don’t even think it should matter what parents think about discussing safe sex in schools. If children are doing it than it needs to be discussed. It is a huge problem. People need to stop being so scared about discussing these types of subjects.