Why is this even being debated? Why do right-wing fundies need to turn everything into "OMGOHNOEZ promotion of sex in my Alphabits!!1one!"? What the hell will they do if an AIDS vaccine is ever found? Tell everyone mandatory vaccines of a deadly disease are ridiculous because everyone will hump in one big orgy?
Christ on a cracker...
I'm pissed that there's even a forum about this. It shouldn't be debated. Here we have the potential to take out a major cause of cervical cancer (HPV) and the fundies are freaking out that kids will see it as free pass to boink each other. Right. So it's a good idea to use a potentially deadly disease to terrify kids into being abstinent.
I'd like to take this moment to say, "It's not working". Kids are having sex. They'll always have sex. Even some of those 'good 'lil Christian girls" are having sex. They were having sex decades ago, only then, they hid it better. And STDs weren't born yesterday. They've been around a long time. People got them then, people get them now.
People are going to screw. You might not like it, but it's the truth. Denying a preventive vaccine for a disease that kills thousands of women each year is idiotic, and if you ask me irresponsible. I don't know about you, but if a cure for a deadly disease drops into my hand, I feel an obligation to use it immediately--on everyone!
Here are a few thoughts. How about letting schools teach sex ed? And I'm not talking about just the 'what goes where' crap I got in high school. Teach them about STDs, safe sex, birth control, and the implications of both disease and pregnancy on a teenager's life. I'm not saying go out and tell kids it's okay, but arm them with the information they need to make responsible choices. Giving them a death sentence is pretty harsh; and that's exactly what's going on here with this debate over the HPV vaccine.
Parents need to step up to the plate too. A lot of parents shy away from the 'sex talk'. Here, in American, sex is dirty and evil! Kids shouldn't think about it! It's wrong! It's immoral! Christ, teenagers are going to think about it people...especially boys. It's the parent’s job to talk with their kids about this stuff too. Just sending them to church or telling them "Wait until you're married" isn't going to cut it. Answer their questions, explain things to them. No need to be graphic or crude, but be honest--it's the right, and responsible, thing to do.
My kid is 11. He knows what sex is, though he doesn't get how it all fits together yet. When he asks me questions, I answer them the best I can. I'm not embarrassed. He's growing up, seeing things on TV and hearing stuff from other kids at school. The other day, he asked what an STD was (he happened to see one of those stupid herpes commercials on TV--if I had herpes, I wouldn't look that happy...). Anyway, I told him what they were, how people got them, how bad a lot of them were, and how a lot of them aren't curable. He's still young, but as the questions come, I'll answer them. That's my job.
If this goes through, I'll probably get my son vaccinated. Does this mean I'm telling him it's okay to have sex when he becomes a teen? No. I'm pretty certain they won't be handing out certificates that say, "HPV free! Go have sex now!” It's just another disease, sexually transmitted or not--and I think as a society, we have a responsibility to prevent the spread of it.
You might bend over backwards to teach your kid your morals and values, but you never, ever, know what the future holds. You could be the best Christian/Parent in the world, but still end up standing by your daughter's hospital bed as she takes her last breath from a disease YOU could have prevented. And yes, it'll be YOUR fault. Congratulations, you killed your kid with your ignorance. Good job. Where are your morals now, asshole?
I agree with you Zoso. Why is this topic even debated? With the kids where I'm from, it should be mandatory. I know 8th graders that have gone farther than I have. I'm not saying that its o.k. to do, but if they are going to do it anyway, why not give them protection against something that could be life-threatening? I don't think that kids or even young adults (below 18) should have sex, but if they are going to, why not try to protect them from disease. I don't know, this whole thing seems obvious to me, but apparently some people do not agree with me.
Posted by: Mia Hoshifaia at November 2, 2005 01:08 PMExactly. To me, it seems like 'punishment by disease'. That's wrong. Sick even. I can't believe I live in a country that even considers something like to be debatable.
It's disgusting.
Posted by: Zoso at November 2, 2005 02:08 PMI went to an all-girls' school where they taught us sex-ed about STDs and protection and all that jazz. Didn't stop plenty of girls I knew losing their virginity before they were sixteen. The fact of the matter is that there is NOTHING anyone can do about it other than make sure the kid knows facts (they'll do things anyway, but better they know than don't) and give them vaccines/whatever if the opportunity arises. This is actually the first I've heard of the vaccine... is it all safe and been tested etc?
Posted by: DR at November 3, 2005 01:59 AMYeah, kids are going to do it, even though it's stupid. Nothing anyone can do.
From what I understand, the vaccine has gone through trial and will be availible next year (if okayed by the FDA). It only prevents HPV (or rather two strains that commonly cause cervical cancer).
Posted by: Zoso at November 3, 2005 06:58 AMHere in the Great Waste State they teach us about STDs and AIDs and teen pregnancy. In fact, the aid for the class (a high school student) got his girlfriend pregnant while I was taking the class. If we had any questions we'd ask him. Also during that year a good friend of mine got pregnant. She's only fifteen and she had the kid last week.
It was all fine and dandy in class until we started learning about drugs (acid, marijuana, etc.). What the hell does drugs have to do with sex ed.? Maybe they think being on drugs make you more likely to have sex. O.o
Anyways, I have to agree that it is quite stupid that they are debating over it. There shouldn't be any questions asked. Period.
Posted by: Vampire_Fire at November 3, 2005 04:40 PMWow, they actually teach decent sex ed in your state? That's impressive, not to mention rather hopeful for the rest of us. But yeah, sex ed or not, kids are going to do it if they want to. At least giving them the info is a step in the right direction.
What sucks is a lot of people have that "it won't happen to me" mentality. Not just teens, but adults too. (*raises hand* I had my son when I was 18. Granted, we used protection, but still got caught. *sigh*) I can't imagine having a kid at 15. o_O 18 was hard enough, but 15...Wow. Good luck to her. If she keeps the baby, just tell her to keep her chin up, stay in school, and kick ass.
I didn't learn much about drugs in school. Actually, I can't remember any class that taught us about drugs. There were assemblies and stuff where guest speakers would show up and talk about it, but we never did any book learning about it. *shrug* Never had an interest in drugs myself and the notion to try them hadn't crossed my mind.
Posted by: Zoso at November 4, 2005 09:17 AMPeople who think that it won't happen them are probably the ones that have it happen to them. And yes, she is keeping her beautiful baby girl and plans on taking care of her.
We had the drug talks to, but everyone at my school isn't really affected by them. They go on with their daily lives and do drugs. Yes, some of my friends do drugs. A lot of them smoke weed and drink until they get drunk. One of my cousins smokes weed while the other gets drunk. And let's not forget my cousin who has sex. For some reason, me and my sister seem to be the only sane ones.
Posted by: Vampire_Fire at November 4, 2005 02:25 PM