Crap on a cracker

Abstinence-only. That's what I call crap on a cracker. But, RB, I'm told, that's what parents want taught in their schools. Allowing that there may possibly be one iota of truth to the statement, let's take a little look at some of what parents want. Seventy-one (71) percent of all parents believe that teens need to know that they can obtain birth control pills from family planning clinics without permission from a parent. Eighty-three (83) percent want youth to know how to put on a condom.

That may not tell some folks anything. But, it tells me that as parents, they don't want their kids out fucking everything that walks or approximates that. However, they realize that sex is a primal instinct. And, just like other animals, our children will, for the most part, be out there participating.

Abstinence-only. More, crap on a cracker. Abstinence-only education delays sexual initiation and reduces teen pregnancy. A federally-funded evaluation shows us that abstinence-only education is not effective at delaying the initiation of sexual activity or in reducing teen pregnancy.

The whole of the abstinence-only meme was pushed along by the Bush Administration to give some red meat to the Christian right wing of the Republican Party. And, given plenty of air and ink by the traditional media. Did they ever really believe that it would work? Can't say for sure. But, probably not.

Abstinence-only. Yet, more crap on a cracker. Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs reflect American values. Even among those who abstained from sex until age 20 or older, eighty-one (81) percent reported having had premarital sex. That tells me that whoever is behind selling this bullshit doesn't have a clue about American values. And, they sure as hell don't know anything about biology.

Don't suppose there is any ideology driven programs being perpetrated upon our children and grandchildren by the Bush cabal, eh? Certainly, they wouldn't let the nuttiest of the wingnuts dictate a program so important to our very future? Or, would they?

Abstinence-only. Oh for Christ's sake. Another example of crap on a cracker. Virginity pledges delay the onset of sexual activity and protect teens from STI's (sexually transmitted infection (HIV, Gonnorhea, human papalomavirus). Let's see here. Hmmmm. Study says, sexual activity among pledgers was delayed by 18 months. And, those who took the pledge were 1/3 less likely to use to use contraception when they finally did succumb to their animal instincts.

So. What did we find out from this little exercise? That Abstinence-only. Or, crap on a cracker, is just exactly that. Shit. It's a complete fabrication of the truth. It does not lower the STI count. It does not reduce pregnancy. And, it leaves our children fumbling in the dark. So to speak. We know that it is a complete failure. And, it only cost us 1.5 billion dollars. And, of course, the miseducation of thousands of our children and grandchildren. Crap on a cracker.