4A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OPINION
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 13, 2002
POINT-COUNTERPOINT
Sex education: Bring it on or just say no
Classes should address emotions, not just anatomy, condoms, STDs
Have you ever felt emotionally betrayed by someone you've been physically intimate with? Or has it ever felt awkward sterilizing the act of making love with latex or chemicals?
Sex education is more than learning how the genitals function and how to put on a condom. It encompasses all aspects of life, including the psychological, emotional and moral implications of premarital sex. Therefore, abstinence should be taught with equal emphasis in sex-education classes in middle and high school.
The responsible choice of abstinence has many advantages that are not promoted by our educators or really presented as an option for many of today's teens. A 1996 study, for example, found that when parents divorce, the children place less value on marriage and find premarital sex more acceptable.
Abstinence education is based on a way of life that provides one with a sense of freedom, and some studies show that Americans want more of it; a survey conducted by a Colorado Christian ministry in 2000 shows that 94 percent of parents want schools to address the pressure to have sex and the emotional consequences of becoming sexually active.
Abstinence education should include testimonies from sexually promiscuous victims and couples who share the dynamics of marriage and what sex means to them. In fact, there are a few studies indicating that couples having the most satisfying sex are in a monogamous, marital relationship. These facts need to be heard by today's youth if our culture is to remain sustainable.
President Bush has realized this disparity in sex education and has properly allocated more money in his budget proposal for abstinence education to inform our youth fairly on this crucial issue. The tragic results of "sexual liberation" and licentiousness
Teaching abstinence discourages the exploitation meted up upon young lives by constant American sensationalism. Our sexual views are formed from our precious experiences, natural impulses and stories from those who are mature and have great sex. It requires more genuine verbal communication than non media leads us to believe.
have spread across our society, producing epidemics of abortion, STDs and illegitimate children, with all the accompanying social pathologies including school problems, drug and alcohol abuse and crime. If both partners have refrained from premarital sex, the chance for spreading HIV or STDs is lessened.
Modern pragmatism
President George W. Bush's budget proposal makes it clear that he doesn't want unmarried people to have sex. He proposed that more be spent teaching them to "just say no to sex."
Learning how to stay safe cannot give way to 'no sex' education
safety. If you're going to have sex, then you can take the responsibility of buying your own condoms.
Undertaking sexual activity thoughtfully means asking questions — and listening carefully to the answers — before leaping into bed with someone. Along with contraception, educators need to teach taking responsibility for our sexual lifestyle and choosing with whom we want to share the most intimate physical experience. Old fashioned wisdom says abstinence makes the heart grow fonder.
This is a terrible idea.
STDs and irresponsible behavior are the problem not sex
Tim Lang for the editorial board.
intrusion in this area is also unhealthy. Sex education should be an objective open dialogue that doesn't condemn a lifestyle.
in personal matters such as sexuality, people have a right to be left alone by their government. They have the right and responsibility to make their own choices, whether that means waiting until vows are exchanged to have sex.
Government
Consider lessons learned from government efforts to keep alcohol out of the hands of youth.
In countries where alcohol is less regulated, more people grow up with a healthy attitude
about drinking.
In America where drinking is taboo and punished for those under the age of 21, alcohol is badly abused. "Getting wasted" is part of the student culture. The goal should be a healthy attitude, not government regulation.
Making something taboo does not promote a healthy attitude. If Prohibition in the 1920s didn't keep people from drinking, why should abstinence education keep people from having sex?
The government needs to concentrate on educating youth. An abstinence-focused health class is an example of government infringing upon the lives of Americans.
Public school teachers should do just that teach, not preach. Promote individual thinking and trust people to make their own choices.
The teaching of sex safe cannot be compromised. Young people need to know the consequences of their actions. The STD videos, stories of unprepared parents and information on abstinence being the safest sex are important to get across. A lot needs to be taught about sexuality.
To take money away from safe-sex education and allocate it to "no-sex" education is a mistake that would compromise the health of Americans.
The purpose of sex education is to make sure the youth of America know how their bodies work and just what is out there. Once the government comes in and imposes its agenda on young Americans — single or married — the education process becomes less effective and more dogmatic.
President Bush means well, and abstinence is not inherently bad. But rather than an unthinking "just say no" mantra, the message should be one of personal responsibility, honesty and respect.
John Roth for the editorial board.
LETTERSTO THE EDITOR
HERITAGE MONTHS STILL NEEDED
Dear editor.
we disagree with most of the articles about students' opinions about having a month dedicated to particular heritages ("History months: progressive or pointless?" Feb. 8). We agree with Laurel Burchfield's opinion that equality should be taught in school, not "difference." However, we disagree with "all people are [not] the same, or even that all individuals are equal for that matter." We are, as it is said, "created equal," however it does not always seem that way. Salary, job opportunities and treatment in society in general point out that to some we are not viewed at as equal. What makes us different — heritage, physical appearance or beliefs — shouldn't be what makes those views.
To have one's heritage acknowledged during a month of the year helps society to look at a culture's history. History started before 1776. Our ancestors were conquistadors, fishermen, Native Americans and farmers from the motherland.
To celebrate one month is to look at history as a stepping stone for the future. We have to look at the history of our country for what it was — divided. To learn about what America was is to learn from it and not repeat it all over again.
The majority of our school history lessons involved Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States. One October learning about one of my ancestors, Hernando De Soto. That was the most I can remember learning to Hispanic Heritage in school. My roommate learned about Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks as the main characters of black history.
Setting aside a heritage month may be prejudiced in its own way, but schools should teach cultural history in schools. As long as people know of and understand other's cultures we can be one nation and one country united.
Rebecca Narvaez, Costa Mesa, Calif, sophomore and Akilah Alleyne Topeka sophomore
RED CROSS BLOOD POLICY
Dear editor.
Regardless of what one thinks of the Red Cross's policy excluding sexually active gay men from donating blood, the Student Rights Committee took the easy way out when they voted down the bill to fund advertising for the KU Blood Drive Feb. 25 through March 1.
It's disappointing that students use this avenue to protest the policy. Actually denying funding for advertising the blood drive is not activism. It's passivism. Not funding ads for this drive will have less affect on the American Red Cross than a letter from each of the students who voted against it. In fact, each person who did vote against the bill soul take the time to do just that. If the issue of discrimination is important enough to them to vote to stop advertising and decrease the number of participants, then it should be important enough to take action.
The only real difference this decision will make is that less people will give blood. Studies show
that Kansan advertising has a direct effect on the amount of blood given. Opponents just don't want to allocate money to something that is unfair.
The blood drive does not exclude gay men from participating. Sexually active gay men can donate their time, talents and services to the blood drive by helping with advertising or volunteering with assistant donors. Senate funded the February Sisters, an organization sponsoring the "Vagina Monologues." While men are excluded from acting in the monologues. Senate decided the group wasn't discriminatory because there were still opportunities for men to participate in other capacities.
The most ironic thing about the discussion was the student body president Justin Mills' speech against the bill. A meager $906 would have been allocated to the blood drive. The "Bring Justin Home" campaign, which raised $30,000 for the American Red Cross, the same organization that administers the "discriminatory sex questions."
TALKTOUS
Andy Knopp
Manhattan sophomore
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For more comments, go to www.kansan.com.
Attention all you students who like to walk in the street on Stratford, there is a sidewalk there. Use it. I'm tired of having to drive around you. The roadway is for motor vehicles. So, if I run over you, it's your fault.
Just remember guys, waitresses usually make $2.13 an hour. We have to pay rent. We have to buy food. We have to buy books. We have to do stupid design projects. Please tip your waitresses. Thank you.
You know, we spent a lot of time and money here this last weekend honoring a man who was a racist, communist and all around insult to God. What's next—the Hitler symposium?
Last week, I said if the New England Patriots can win the Super Bowl then the KU football team can make it to a bowl, but of course that didn't make it into the Free For All, because it was a positive statement about the football team. Is the only way the football team can get in the Free for All to say something negative?
I just want to say thanks to the UDK for their satis-
piece about Hash in Thursday's paper, because I'm
This is for the person who called and wanted to know why gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people get the rainbow for our symbol. Well, we asked for it first.
sick of these people who live in Hash acting like they're some superior group of non-conformists. I've got news for them, we all conform to something, even them. It's pretty arrogant of them to think they're the first group of misunderstood kids who decided to wear vintage clothes and stop washing their hair. They had to get those alternative, quote unquote, ideas somewhere. Come off your high horses Hasianas. You're just like everyone else.
Yeah, this is for the rapists and potential rapists. Consent means agreement, not lack of resistance.
In defense of all the girls, we don't want to look like Britney Spears, because we don't want to walk around half-naked and look like hoochie-mommas.
Broderick Thompson, a former KU football player, died in a motorcycle accident last Monday. KU will miss him.
Lately on weekends, I can't decide whether I want to stay home and watch movies or drink a bottle of Jack and go to the strip clubs.
Yeah, to the pro-death advocate in Friday's Free for All, coat hangers is two words. Yeah, that's two words. Thanks, bye.
With this tuition increase, are we going to get a new jumbo-tron?
I'm at the Texas Tech-KU game right now, and it's been voted on and agreed that Texas Tech has the ugliest uniforms in the Big 12.
This is the girl who is responsible for the "Shouting wrong name reveals deeper problem" by the relationships columnist, and actually I think I just called
Hi, I just wanted to give a big shout to coach Ben Miller. He's my new favorite Kansas coach. Thanks so much for the piece of pizza you gave me when I was camping, because it really made my day.
the wrong name out of habit. So, now to be on the safe side, I just say "Oh, God" instead of "Oh," insert name here.
In response to the bogus, right-wing propaganda connecting drug money to terrorists, I would like to point out that every time you fill up your car with gas you are supporting the Bush administration.
It's a disgrace to KU basketball fans when so-called
bats don't recognize a good basketball player.
I wish the parking department would find something other to do on Friday night than ticket people who park in a spot for five freaking minutes.
I want to congratulate Scott Russell, who broke the NCAA collegiate record in the 35 pound weight with a throw of 81-1. Congratulations, Scottie.
OK, it's 11:30 on Friday night. We're drinking wine and watching lumberjack sports.
There is so much I could say at this point in my life, so much I could describe, but there's only one thing I truly love—and that is the Kansas City Chiefs.
On the Friday issue of the Kansan there's a guy holding a telephone with a cut-off cord. Wouldn't you just get a cell phone, you think?
Four out of five students attend class moderately or not at all? Well, where the hell was I when they took this survey? I didn't fly 3,000 miles from Alaska to sit on my ass and not go to class and learn something.
I was just calling to say that the ushers at Allen Fieldhouse are really bad. They're packing us in like
Why do we let old people into the student section?
Way to go, Drew. Bite his head off. 'Atta kid.
sardines, and that's no good.
If penguins could fly I would trade my car in for one of those bad boys.
Does anybody else think that Bryant Nash kind of looks like Kenny Gregory now that he shaved his head?
Does anyone ever clean Allen Fieldhouse? You can't walk without sticking to the floor, and the restrooms that do work are dirty before the games start
Totally sober. Snuggle, snuggle, little twink. Who the hell you are, I think. I'm the under wooden call the alcofluence of inahol. I'm just a little slort of sheep. I'm not drunk you or he. I don't know who is me yet, but the drunken I stand here the longer I get. Just give me one more drink to fill my cup, because I got all day Sunday to sober up.
You know, if Christina Aguilera wasn't so ugly, she could possibly be pretty.
To the person who made the comment about Todd Kappelmann. I think you're a loser who's just jealous and plays basketball in the parking lot of your dorm.
I just hung out with two girls from Mizzou, and they just wanted to say one thing: We suck.
This is in response to the person who was upset about homosexuals having the rainbow as their sign. You know you can still like the rainbow unless you're not comfortable of your own sexuality, in which case maybe you should wear a brown ribbon as a sign of your heterosexuality. Oh my god, Becky, look at her ribbon.
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Yeah, coat hanger, that's two words. Hell—that's one.