Hello Barack Obama, Goodbye Abstinence?

I'm so glad other people are offended by this.
Bristol Palin knew about contraceptives. If she 'didn't', her boyfriend sure as hades did. She's a kid. Kids mess up. Just because she's the daughter of the political party that you don't agree with, there's no reason to be rude and snarky about it. She's a kid. Grow up.

As for the government being in charge of educating kids about sex...how completely pointless. It should be a parent/guardian's responsibilty to do that. My grandma talked to me about sex when I was 12, over sunny-side-up eggs. Was it awkward? You bet. but I remember it. My mom, later on in life, made the subject blunt and very clear. "You;re a smart girl. You're on the pill. I don't care. You're too smart to have a mistake happen. Use a condom."
Taadaa! Thanks millions of government dollars! Oh wait.......

I agree with SKL. (That's weird, we have the same initials). Obama is going to be the president, not Jesus Christ. He's not a miracle worker by any means. So, yeah, I'll be waiting for him to magically make it all go away.

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I also didn't appreciate the attacks on Bristol. She has nothing to do with this subject as a whole.

Kids are going to do as they please, but I know when they show vivid pictures of STDs, it certainly deters you from fooling around. I do think, however, that places like Family Planning and Planned Parenthood should be told to them just the same. Free birth control until they do turn 18. Free exams until they turn 18. Free condoms in the waiting room. If kids do decide to participate in sexual activity, they should know there is free protection and care available to those that want it. If my daughter decided she wanted me to take her to one of these places after a certain age (assuming under 18) I would rather do this, talk to her about it on the way, and let her get the birth control and exam.

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In defense of Roger,

Why hasn't anyone offered any substantial evidence that abstinanece education works? You seem comfortable attacking the author for say what he says yet you only offer insults, why not try to persuade him by backing up your point of view. Also try reading the last paragraph of his article(or the whole post) before you decide to post your own comments. Here I'll quote the last paragraoh for you.

"Ideally, parents would teach their children what they need to know -- or at least what the parents want them to know (and the rest can be picked up in the schoolyard), but not all parents have the knowledge, time, or courage to address these issues with their kids. So, rather than have to deal with lots of unwanted pregnancies, it seems like a good idea for the government to fill in where parents can't or won't".

Roger is basically saying what your saying yet your attacking him.

As for the dig at Bristol Palin, why not? Her mother ran for a political office based on the idea that she is a good christian women who loves and cares for her children. Yet no one mentions that she seems to have failed to teach those morals to her beloved family? So why would I want someone holding an political office, that ran on a false premise? Why would anyone?

As for the premise that Obama is Jesus Christ, Roger again never said that in fact he inserted a bit of skepticism into what Obama may do.

"It is unsure, as yet, what an Obama budget will offer in the way of funding for sex education, but it is well known that he is in favor of comprehensive education".

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Roger - While it's appropriate to make statements about issues related to parenting here, it shows a real lack of class to pick on a kid who made a mistake and is taking responsibility for that mistake and dealing with the consequences of it. While you may not agree with her mother's politics, this was unkind and unnecessary. You can make a substantive comment about your opinions on abstinence-only sex ed. without picking on Bristol Palin. You are a good enough writer that you shouldn't have to resort to this sort of tactic to be convincing.

Personally, I'd like to have the public schools spend ALL of their precious class time teaching academics - math, science, reading, writing, etc. Yes, some kids are going to have sex - and some kids are going to choose to defer sex until later. Meanwhile, we should make sure that they're all learning things that will allow them to eventually support themselves and be productive members of society. It's not fair to penalize the parents who are educating their kids about sexuality and the kids who are making healthy choices with a bunch of class time devoted to sex ed (whether abstinence or contraception). It's analogous to spending the first month of kindergarten teaching everyone their colors and letters because you presume their parents are incompetent.

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This I swear will be my last entry for today. I've got to say that I remember my first intercourse as a young adult and really it was so necessary, that who would think about getting pregnant. Luckily I didn't then but waited and happily later when I did it was by choice. What most need to realize is that having sex is natural. Nature decrees that we procreate and the way we learn to procreate is by practice. Unfortunately without proper protection practice leads to unwanted pregnancy. Nothing my parents or school had to say to me could stand in the way of having sexual intercourse. When I met my first love it was all I could think of, touching, kissing, loving, and he wanted to have sex as much as I did. Of course back then there wasn't much talk about protection, it was more about not doing it. Now, being a grown adult with children of my own to raise I recommend protection because it is the safest way to have a consentual relationship without unwanted pregnancy. Of course preaching to the choir is also a good thing to do but like I said earlier if I couldn't "hear" then most likely neither will my own.

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I was lucky enough to be in a county where they focused on comprehensive sex ed, and I'm very glad that they covered both bases there! Even if you plan on abstaining until marriage, you're still going to need to know about contraception AFTER you get married unless you're like these Quiverfull parents who believe that any form of birth control, bet it natural or artificial is going against God's will. Knowledge is power, especially knowledge of how you can control what happens with your own body! And contrary to popular belief, I didn't immediately turn into this promiscuous little tramp upon obtaining this knowledge (in fact, I was the last person in my group to lose my virginity, and that wasn't until I was in college!). I plan to teach my daughters about contraception, especially since we live in a county now that has abstinence as its main focus (and the proof that it doesn't work is obvious; this county has the fourth-highest teen pregnance rate in the state!). I also plan to teach them that sex is a natural celebration of the love between two committed adults, and therefore should not be entered into casually-none of this "hooking up" crap. Sex is a wonderful celebration of love (why else would it be called "making love?")-if it was strictly for procreation like the monotheistic religions insist, then wouldn't we have mating seasons like the rest of the animal kingdom? And it doesn't matter if you engage in a monogamous relationship without getting married or actually tie the knot-you should protect yourself, not only against unwanted pregnancy, but also STDs, even to the point of insisting that your SO get tested for everything before you jump into making love! Knowledge about safe, reliable, effective contraception + access to same = fewer unwanted pregnancies = fewer abortions!

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This is just another example at how this blog panders to the Planned Parenthood types. Every chance you guys get you take wise cracks at conservative Christians who prefer to teach their children abstinence. This blog also consistently looks at the abstinence-only position with derision and incrudelity.

The bottom line is this: sexual education should be taught at home. I don't want my tax money going to Planned Parenthood or any other organization with a political agenda. Throw out both programs and let parents do their job.

On a side note, can we please cut out the distasteful and incordial attempts to belittle conservative Christians on this blog?

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All this talk about how abstinence vs. "safe" sex. I am against sex education in school. I think that if we really want this country to be "protected" we need to start at the top. I agree sex sells, I once worked in a store in an area known for this stuff, but I don't believe that "safe" sex is safe at all. As someone who grew up with a wonderful "religious" mother, I knew against it. But I know what made me want to have sex, the influences surrounding me. I believe that the more sex education we have, the more that it is acceptable to society and school, the more that the youth of this nation will want to have sex out of wedlock.
I think this country and the government needs to carefully consider what they teach in schools. What was so bad about God that He was taken out of schools? It is for God and being able to worship Him freely and rightly that the pilgrims came to this country, otherwise our constitution would not mention God. I think that maybe if we consider letting God back into our lives we might not have this issue.

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I am an abstienence education instructor and I am so sick and tired of hearing all of the negative talk about Abstinence Education. I know without a doubt it does work, I mentor thousands of teens and I see the results. No you don't get through to them all, but I thank God for the ones he allows the message to touch there heart. May question to you is what about self-respect, what about there virginity the gift they have to give to there husband or wife?

Why can't we say to them Yes You Can Wait! Why can't we build them from within so that there children will be proud of the choice they made. Let us teach knowing we are molding them with values. I would be very disappointed with and in President Obama for allowing Abstinence Education to go away. Not all want to have sex, there are those kids out there you know who value who they are. Let us set before the kids good standards and cease compromise. Thirty two years ago I was a teen mother, I wish I had someone to tell me that I had a gift to give. So now I've learned and WILL continue to tell young people - YES YOU CAN!!

Wake up President Obama

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