Act
In The Culture
Issues
Campaigns
Support
About
Advocates For Youth
Who was robbed at this year's Oscars?
Avatar for Best Picture
Gabby Sidibe
Up in the Air for Adapted Screenplay
Anna Kendrick for Supporting Actress
Fantastic Mr. Fox for Best Animation
Johnny Weir! Still bitter.

You must be logged in to vote.
You must be logged in to vote




My Sistahs - A webite by and for young women of color
Youth Resource - A website by and for lgbtq youth
Advocates for Youth - A website for parents, health professionals and educators
AmbienteJoven.org 
Blog - Amplify your voice

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 9:00:00 PM EST
Rating:

Please read this article: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/dec/09120903.html

Mr. Mason, quite frankly I have concluded that you are either highly naive or simply do not care about the health and safety of youth.

Allow me to explore some of your comments:

  •  "The Senate health care plan is going to teach kids about sex. Graphically, and early. With heaps of tax dollars."

First off there is nothing wrong with teaching kids about sex, being safe, and being abstinent which is also included in the curriculum.

Graphically, well there may be images of genitalia, but keep in mind you are referring to a course regarding sex.... As for "Early," Obama does not want to teach Kindergarteners how to put on a condom, but teach age appropriate information.

The curriculum will not be free, but the cost goes to saving lives, preventing STIs/STDs and preventing teenage pregnancy-- all of which are very costly. So by spending the money on an effective education, we will save money in the long run
 

  • "What 'age-appropriate information' can the bill possibly have in mind for an 11-year-old boy" 
11 year olds may not need to know everything, but this is an age where boys are certainly curious and cannot be denied the information. Keep in mind you do not want to target kids that are having sex, but the kids who have not had sex so you can educate them prior to them deciding to engage in unsafe sex. Also sex is not the only thing to be taught, other information includes: relationships, personal skills, society and culture, and how to remain abstinent.
  • "what good is "abstinence education" if contraception and abortion are being pushed right alongside it"
Comprehensive sex education strongly encourages abstinence and recognizes it is 100% effective in preventing STDs and pregnancy. Yet contraception is taught because youth are undoubtably having sex and it is best for them to be safe about it. If they are safe then the abortion which you are concerned about will be reduced because there will be fewer unwanted pregnancies.
  • "America has some of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the Western world precisely because of the graphic, value-free sex education that children are constantly exposed to."
This is just not a true statement. I believe the "value-free sex education" which you refer to is comprehensive sex education. This education highly values youth and provides them them knowledge they seek to be healthy. And youth are not constantly exposed to comprehensive sex education and that is why teenage pregnancy continues to be so high. Also, it has been scientifically proven that those who are exposed to comprehensive sex education are less likely to have teen pregnancies
  • "The days of Woodstock and free love are long gone, and no amount of public funding or legislative mandates will bring them back."
I'm not really sure the relevance of your concluding sentence, but it seems that you are recognizing that comprehensive sex education is a form of love for the youth. Mr. Mason, I am sorry that you have given up and you lack hope for a better future.

Comments
Great post!
# Posted By Mahayana | 12/9/09 09:54 PM | Report | Reply
 This guy Mason needs to read this post.  Lots of useful info here, great post :)
# Posted By  dandaman6007 | 12/10/09 01:00 PM | Report | Reply
Go Tilly Rose! What an awesome and well-thought out response!! Love you! 
# Posted By annabeale | 12/10/09 03:38 PM | Report | Reply
 Great post. Also, about the abstinence-only people insisting that contraception can't be taught along with abstinence because it dilutes the message - what about when these students get married? It is supposed to be abstinence-only-until-marriage, after all. Even if abstinence-only did what it was supposed to and premarital sex became non-existent, couples would still need to know how to control their family size. Married women and women who are already mothers do get abortions, so ensuring that every pregnancy is wanted in the first place is the best way to reduce abortions, which the abstinence-only people tend to abhor so much. Furthermore, some women can't have children or don't want to risk passing on genetic defects. They should have comprehensive information about their options.
And what about married people who get HIV and STIs from blood transfusions, needle pricks, having an infected mother at birth, etc.? They weren't being unfaithful, so that whole moral judgement about cheaters getting what they deserve (which is crap anyway and not a reason to not give everyone info about BC and condoms, but that's another topic) goes out the window - those couples still have the right to be sexual and they should be taught about how to best protect themselves.

# Posted By ecjeppesen | 12/11/09 11:27 AM | Report | Reply
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
    1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31    
san francisco! where great things are combined
By Leightd
0 comments

Teen Health Now Event: Online Organizing and Advocacy Training for Youth!
By dandaman6007
0 comments

My Belief About Sex
By susanacuellar
0 comments

Phenomenally, Phenomenal Women
By elizabeth
0 comments

Kenyan Men Arrested for Attempting Gay Marriage
By vanessaaishacoleman
0 comments

While in DC...
By tillyrose
0 comments

District of Columbia has the World's First Female Football Coach
By kirbygirl87
0 comments

Commodity for Sale
By justifiable
0 comments

Vatican Doesn't Believe in Safe Sex: Condom Machines "Trivalize Sexuality"
By kirbygirl87
0 comments

Sorry, No More Antiretroviral Drugs For You
By AFY_Durryle
1 comments

International Women Day in Ethiopia
By Mery
0 comments

The Celluloid Ceiling
By Culture_Voyeur
1 comments

What Do We Know About Open Relationships?
By Media_Justice
0 comments

Know your options. Respect them!
By Aye
0 comments

Naruto Shippuden!
By narutoandsoniclover
1 comments

A Step Backwards
By addiszemen
1 comments

Beijing +15
By pedlarm
1 comments

To abort? or not to abort? That is the question
By KarachiYWOCLC
3 comments

HIROSHIMA IMAGES-1 more to come.
By snorkamaiden
0 comments

Prom Cancelled Because a Girl Wanted to Bring Her Girlfriend
By RyAnYWOC
3 comments

My Love Letter to Feminism
By Jill
2 comments

Midwest Unite + Fight Conference is This Weekend
By Mahayana
0 comments

Utah: Prosecuting women is a “national model” for the anti-abortion movement
By AFY_Will
2 comments

Guest Post: The Fight for Sex Education in Utah
By Amplify_Staff
0 comments

24% of Young Adults Think 2 Condoms is Better!
By kirbygirl87
1 comments