Have Tennessee Republicans lost their minds?

1. 0

   Sooner28posted 11 years ago

   Aside from the "don't say gay bill," Tennessee lawmakers now believe it's a great idea to prohibit sex education classes from proving demonstrations of "gateway sexual activities."   http://living.msn.com/life-inspired/the … id=todlf11
   
   The author, Larry West, speculates as to what exactly is meant by this vague phrase.  It can mean anything to anyone. 
   
   Why, even though Tennessee is in the top tier of teenage pregnancy, does it continue to push such inane policies?  Are these lawmakers literally immune from empirical evidence?  What drives human beings to such stupidity?

   replyreport
2. 71

   Cagsilposted 11 years ago

   The "smell" of Christian Righteousness is all over this. It "smells" of some Christian lobbyist pulling a little too much political juice, so as to institute Christian virtues into schools.
   
   Yet, another attack as personal freedom.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Apparently, educating teenagers on the actual process of sex has become somehow part of a "liberal" agenda, even though teen pregnancy is higher in states with abstinence only sex education. 
      
      But facts don't matter in this case!

      replyreport
3. 70

   Paradise7posted 11 years ago

   All the teenagers I know have had more sex than I ever will.  They don't need to be educated, they need to be restrained somehow from acquiring so many adult practices so long before they are adults.  It simply isn't healthy for them.  Not only teen pregnancy is an issue, but the stats on STD (sexually transmitted diseases, some of them incurable) in teens today in the United States is simply appalling.  Believe me, this isn't some rampant Christian thing.  It's a country-wide epidemic, a real problem.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No one denies it's a problem.  But states that teach abstinence only have higher rates of all the bad teenage stuff we all hear about. 
      
      Sex-education isn't about promoting teenage sex.  It's fine to promote abstinence until they are of a mature age; the problem is the abstinence only people are not willing to couple it with real, honest sex education. 
      
      One side is willing teach abstinence, but are not naive enough to believe teenagers won't secretly have sex, so it is coupled with more.  The other side is still living in the 1950s.

      replyreport
   2. 61

      Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Abstinence and advocating restraint is beyond pointless, we live in a sexually liberated era and that is not going to change and teens are going to have sex no matter what we tell them, it is an evolutionary imperative so I absolutely agree with Sooner (and the statistics back that) that the best method is to teach them responsible and safe sex, the lack of knowledge in this area leads to negative consequences.
      
      Interestingly enough, 2010 (according to the CDC) had the lowest teenage pregnancy rate in recorded US history education and safer contraception are working, now if only we could get that through certain thick conservative skulls.
      
      http://jezebel.com/5900723/teen-pregnan … ect-terror

      replyreport
4. 70

   Paradise7posted 11 years ago

   Sooner, I think the kids already know about safe sex, and have been told all the healthy stuff in Health in school, if not by the Mom and Dad at home.  The problem isn't that they don't know--it's just they don't believe the consequences until they experience them, unfortunately, and have no real idea what they're playing at.  They're kids, after all.

   replyreport
5. 74

   Shanna11posted 11 years ago

   Whatever happened to self discipline?
   
   Before anyone jumps on me-- I'm all for a thorough sex education. It obviously has positive results. But I just don't understand why people have given up on the idea of people being capable of self restraint? Guess I'm just old fashioned that way.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's not about self restraint. It's about self respect. Which is the problem.

      replyreport
      1. 74

         Shanna11posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I'm not sure I understand....are you saying the problem is that teens don't have enough self respect to practice abstinence? (Genuine question).
         
         If that's not what you mean, I apologize. I just want to be sure I'm reading what you're saying right.

         replyreport
         1. 71

            Cagsilposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            In essence I am saying that it is because of a lack of self respect.
            
            A teen who has no self respect will allow themselves to be put into positions which have consequences which the teen is unable to comprehend at the time.
            
            A person who is taught self respect from their parents from the day they are old enough to understand what it means, is most likely going to have less pressure place upon them by other people.
            
            However, this is yet another failing of parents in America. Many children have no respect for themselves or for others for that matter. I have written on the matter in several aspects.
            
            Everything a person does(actions) is based on whether or not they have respect for themselves. Actions speak volumes more than a person's words. I have respect for myself, so I have respect for those who are required to get it and those who need to earn it will have to still earn it.
            
            As for practicing abstinence? This requires "self" control of an extreme nature and shouldn't be practiced. Self control to a teenager? Is laughable. They are just coming into feelings, emotions, urges or whatever else you want to call it, and they are interested in knowing and understanding them. If there's no solid parent to talk to them and guide them, then there will be a continued problem.
            
            Secondly, for any human being to completely suppress their feelings, emotions, urges, for any extended period of time will cause insanity.

            replyreport
   2. 61

      Josakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am not sure good old fashioned restraint ever existed, I think that mostly people did not talk about teenage sex as much as we do today but the average age of loss of virginity according to pretty extensive studies has only fallen about a six months since the late 50s. Functionally though teens do stupid things, I shudder to think at some of the stuff I did as a teen.

      replyreport
   3. 0

      Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Self-discipline is something that should be espoused, no doubt. Teenagers shouldn't be ENCOURAGED to engage in sex.  It's only a question of practicality, and the actual results of the world we are currently living in.
      
      http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/04 … ?mobile=nc  Teaching abstinence alone hasn't produced good results.

      replyreport
   4. 59

      Ron Montgomeryposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      
      
      I think that's illegal in Tennessee based on the fact that it causes blindness and warts.....
      
      Oh Wait, you meant self control...
      
      Never mind.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Sooner28posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         LOL.

         replyreport
6. 77

   Mighty Momposted 11 years ago

   Gateway sex? Is that like moving from first based to second base to third base to all the way?
   Or more like you sleaze your way through the gate into something wild and once over there you may find yourself stuck in a deviant sexual role and the gate will slam shut and lock and you can't cross back over to being hetero.
   Locked for life in gaydom.
   Sounds a bit like corraling cows and leading them to slaughter.

   replyreport