U.S. needs "sexual literacy" - ex-surgeon generals

[deadparrot]

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. efforts to promote abstinence as a cornerstone of sexual education have not lowered levels of sexually transmitted diseases, two former U.S. surgeon generals said on Thursday.

Joycelyn Elders and David Satcher told a news conference in San Francisco that a broad effort was needed to promote the "sexual literacy" of Americans to counter unacceptable levels of sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, especially among teens and young adults.

"The vows of abstinence break far more easily than latex condoms," said Elders, who was fired by President Bill Clinton after she suggested that schools teach children about masturbation.

Satcher said it would be an "injustice" if sexual education did not go beyond encouraging abstinence. He took over as surgeon general after Elders, serving three years under Clinton and one year under President George W. Bush.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061102/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_sex

[nytemare]

1. The literacy we need goes far beyond just sexual.

If it was phrased to the Neo-cons as a National Security issue, meaning that other countries, potential enemies (since under Bush, everybody is a potential enemy) are progressing further in science than we are. Who knows what this country can lose by this Puritan approach to science? What other countries will be able to heal through stem cell research, and won't share that information with us, since at this point, we don't seem interested?

This ignorance is amazing to me.

[kestrel91316]

2. Abstinence education promotes ignorance. period.

[ninkasi]

3. This country just needs to grow up about sex

Sex shouldn't be regulated by politics, or fundamentalists. Sex is normal, healthy, and what is acceptable should be between consenting adults. We accept the fact that while most people are right-handed, some are left-handed. The lefties aren't inferior, or deviant, they just were born with a different preference as to which hand is dominant for them. The majority of people are heterosexual, but some are not, and they are in no way abnormal, or immoral.

For some reason, the conservatives frown on sex, and glorify violence, and killing, and war. They seem to be stuck in some pre-adolescent mentality, and can't acknowledge that most normal adults want, and need, sexual relationships in order to live what to them is a happy life.
Solving the problems on teen pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases lies in educating people about the dangers of unprotected sex, and offering a variety of options. Abstinence is one, but so are condoms.

Regardless of how strongly right-wingers might feel about sex being somehow a shameful thing, young people feeling perfectly natural sexual urges are obviously not listening to the abstinence only crowd. People have a perfect right to remain celibate if that what they want, but they don't have the right to dictate that everybody else practices the same celibacy. How about letting consenting adults, who have been educated in "sexual literacy" make their own decisions?

[alittlelark]

4. If someone told me to be abstinent in HS

I would have laughed and headed off to the foothills w/hubby.


Of course he wasn't hubby then - but you get the point.

[Finder]

10. I think teaching it is OK to be abstinent...

is important as long as the other options are covered as well.

[pamela]

5. There's a great movie related to this subject.

The Education of Shelby Knox.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427206/

[Deja Q]

6. How about the psychological factor?

Are people depressed about the future and are all humpin' for AIDS?

If people had something to look forward to, damn straight they'd be more choosy about partners and not be bastards, cheat, play games, or anything else.

Jocelyn is quite right, but these days there is definitely an added element of concern. And there's more to it than "it feels good" as to why people do it.

[gorbal]

7. They need to be taught to freak dance safely

From what I hear it has replaced sex in some quarters:)

[brooklynite]

8. A small linguistic point...

it should be "Surgeons General".

[dbt]

9. Give 'em some MORE hell, Dr. Elders!

You are a Neocon's worst nightmare: an "uppity" Black College-Educated Southern Woman--and an Arkie on top of it all! Ma'am, you offset at least eight Mike Huckabees; you are a STERLING example of everything I love about Arkansas!

:bounce:
dbt
Remember New Orleans

[mongo]

11. That's one of my bumperstickers

vows of abstinence break far more easily than condoms

[Marnieworld]

12. Elders was right then and she's right now

Heaven forbid teenagers masturbate! Can't have that. :eyes:

[TheVirginian]

13. The plural of "surgeon general" is "surgeons general", not "surgeon generals".