" I just read through this thread for the first time. Interesting... "

" Why dont the parent teach there kids? Why do my tax dollars have to be spent on something as easy as saying if you have sex you risk catching a disease? It sounds like a waste of 1.5 billion dollars to me. I would rather have a new stop sign. "

" "ethereal"

I grew up in the 1950s. Back then, women generally remained a virgin until the wedding night.

Out of wedlock pregnancys occurred, but they were rare and when it did occur, the male did the honorable thing and married the girl. How often does that happen these days?

Back then, the boy usually went to the father and asked his permission for the hand of his daughter. How often does that happen today?

Far too many today have this "anything goes" attitude.

Society is paying a very heavy financial price for multiple decades of a lack of morals. The taxpayers are having to support the children born out of wedlock, in many cases for LIFE, because the "anything goes" attitude by the parents is picked up by those children who continue the practice of BILKING the taxpayers.

Both abstinence and safe sex should be taught.

What I object to is that only safe sex is being taught. Whether you believe it or not, Planned Parenthood is in the grizzly business of encouraging infantiside [murdering a fetus] through their policy of "only" advocating abortion. They should also stress giving the child up for adoption.

The events of the 1920s/1930s weren't as wide-spread as hollywood projects.

It is just like hollywood's depiction of WESTERNS. Contrary to their showing multiple shootouts on mainstreet, it rarely happened that way.

Back then, the vast majority of the citizenry actually packed heat. That six-shooter on their hip was primarily for self-defense against predators [animal and human].

Where did I advocate returning to the days of slavery? "

" Naive how you would think abstinence-only education would be some grand panacea to the problems presented.

This is not some perfect world, and better to teach all options than the way one person thinks is proper.

So, purple, as your military family obviously supports the freedom you fight for, you should have no problem with both both abstinence and safe sex being taught. Otherwise, hypocrisy would plague you.

And here's a thought, too: Move forward instead of dwelling on the past. This country is not back in the "moral" days of Temperance, Prohibition, and wait... Speakeasies, lack of women's rights, and lack of African American rights... Oh, the good days of...morality.

Unless you wanted to push us all the way back to the days of the revolutionary war...oh wait, slavery...

Where are these times of beautiful morality? I seemed to have missed them. "

" "militarymom"

YOU LOSE THE BET.

I have 3 sons, all of whom are either serving or have served in the military.

My oldest is Army AIRBORNE, an E-6 and going before the E-7 promotion board this month, and has been in for almost 8 years now. He has served a tour of duty in both Afghanistan and in Iraq.

# 2 son served 4 years in the air force and got out to pursue his education goal

My youngest enlisted in the Army Reserves right after graduating from high school this past summer.

And I served nearly 21 years in the military.

We are part of the warrior class in this country. Without the warrior class the rest would be living under one form of dictatorship or other with far fewer freedoms they now enjoy. Far too many of them take their freedoms for granted. "

" I am the mother of 6 children who are 25 to 18, Four girls and two boys. Four out of 6 are married 2 are active duty military (helping to preserve the freedom we all have to express ourselves). In a perfect world everyone would practice abstinence would be practiced by all non married couples. Since we all know that this is not a perfect world I taught my children to always practice safe sex if they fell in love and hormones took over and I have to say I beat the national average of 1 out 4 girls get pregnant before 18 and while I have 3 incredible granddaughters with one more baby coming some time in May. ALL my children have been married before they had children and I know that they did not practice abstinence but instead safe sex. I would bet by the statements Purple, put in he or she has NO children... "

" Duke - hang in there and keep fighting the good fight. Like skosena, I always enjoy your posts. You've got a great sense of humor and your comments are spot-on. Cheers! "

" Purple, your logic is impeccable. If people would only practice abstinence no one would ever suffer from the consequences of having sex.

And if they would only stay indoors they would never suffer from sunburn. So should we assume that this advice is sufficient and not tell anyone about sunscreen? After all, sunscreen is less than 80% effective.

Abstinence-only education doesn't work; where it has been tried there are more teen pregnancies, abortions and STD's, not fewer. One link to this informaiton has already been posted by my2cents.

Your insensitivity is, as ever, appalling. Happy New Year. "

" Abstinence means less money for Planned Parenthood.

Abstinence means fewer children born out of wedlock.

Abstinence means fewer fetuses being murdered.

Abstinence doesn't spread sexually transmitted diseases.

Abstinence doesn't spread HIV/AIDS.

Abstinence doesn't spread a decline in morality.

Yep, teaching abstinence is a bad thing for our society. Imagine this nation returning to the day when morals mattered. "

" I think that ANY type of education we give our children helps. Wether its abstinence or safe sex. And yes advertising, movies, etc don't help. And its pretty sad when at 6pm on a cable channel (ESPN or ET for example) are showing commercials about "BOB" or "VIAGRA" WTH! And I don't think that letting my 15 year old watch ESPN at 6pm is a bad thing. But must I watch everything with him, or can we just agree that this is innappropriate? I'm a very strict parent, but sometimes I have to fold a load of laundry or wash the dishes and can't be there at every moment. And he doesn't watch a ton of TV...but 6pm? "

" http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081229/hl_hsn/manyteensdontkeepvirginitypledges

Saw this article and remebered this forum. Just thought people may want to check it out. "

" Funny how many different interpretations result from Barbara's letter. Her words are chosen carefully and very compassionate. She does not say those with HIV/AIDS are a waste, but lives lost to this devastating desease is a waste.
Skooter, messenger and Duke have missed the point in this letter. Do we not raise our children to practice abstinence from a young age, or do we hand them a condom and a bottle of birth control pills before they get their drivers license.
Abstinence and sex education is not a compromise but should be taught in all schools, life is full of choices. Once you know all the facts then one can make their own personal decision on how to proceed. "

" purple-

When the warnings have been out there about being shot, blown up, and/or killed once you've enlisted in the military and they ignore those warnings, then yep, apparently IYHO they are trying to kill themselves on purpose because they are going ahead and enlisting anyway.

You've got a rock solid argument.

...and a happy New Year. "

" "my2cents"

When the warnings are out there about UNPROTECTED sex and about using dirty needles when injecting illicit drugs into your body and they IGNORE those warnings, then yep IMHO, they are trying to get those diseases on purpose because they are doing nothing to prevent it from happening. "

" purple - do you really think anyone sets out to contract this disease? I'm sure there may be a rare case - but I can't see anyone trying to get HIV/AIDS on purpose. "

" The only folks who contract HIV/AIDS whom I feel for are those who got the disease through no fault of their own.

If they contracted the disease through their own personal lifestyle choice, tough! "

" Abstinence only programs will never work in this day and age. Almost every form of media that pre-teens and young adults are exposed to is extremely sexually charged. Music, television and movies glorify sexual acts.

While practicing abstinence is the most effective way of not contracting a sexually transmitted disease, it is by far not the most realistic.

Not educating a teenager, who is full of hormones, on the proper use of condoms, dental dams, etc. is a terrible idea. "

" Keep rocking Duke - you are money! Good luck. "

" I just want to share a thought. I grew up with a church going family. I was taught abstinence from all around. I made the CHOICE at almost 18 to have sex. You can teach and teach and teach a child abstinence but it will ultimately come down to their choice. But saying that people with HIV/AIDS aren't worth the money their treatment costs is absoloutely disgusting. The money would be a waste on an abstinence only program.
I also would like to agree with skosena. I have completely enjoyed reading thedukeofhelena's posts. Merry Christmas to you all!! "

" Duke and skosena--Miss LaRue didn't say you were a "waste of humanity." That is what you read into it. She said the "waste" is the death of people from the disease. She was defending the funding for abstinence education, not attacking you. Why don't you people actually read what is written instead of trying to twist it to fit your mantra. "

" Interesting how some people can spin statements.
Ms. LaRue states that due to lifestyle choices, lives are wasted needlessly, and you people spin that to say that people with HIV/AIDs are a waste.

Gyroscopes can't spin nearly as well as the left in this country.

Absinence while waiting for your spouse can't increase pregnancy or STD's anymore than walking increases your chance of dying in an airplane crash.
If you don't pursue the activity, you don't suffer the consequenses.

Merry CHRISTMAS to all. "

" If people had MORE sex (protected) maybe they wouldn't be so crabby! "

" Duke....you are not a waste...i hope that miss barbara is rethinking her choice of words. I know we don't know each other...and sometimes I disagree with your view and I am sure you don't always like mine....but I think you are funny and smart and lovely to interact with here in the land of the IR web site:) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Don't let one person over shadow the truth of your value and worth and the fact that you do matter! Blessings. "

" Yes Barbara I would have to agree with gfguy, two days before Christmas and you have that nice little tid bit in the newspaper....lovely!! I would definately say that 1.5 Billion dollars to spread the abstinance message was a waste as it produced insane results in the opposite direction. We had more STD's and the % of teenagers getting pregnant went through the roof. This money needs to go into educating our youth. Trust you me I have some text books with some graphic photos of vag inal warts and if you blew that up (and I am talking close up photos of the warts not the vag ina) and showed it to a class of 15 year olds and explained to them what it was and how they got it and how it would affect the rest of their lives, I really think that would do wonders on the movement to stop teenagers from having sex. But that is just my opinion?? Really it is a delicate balance of encouraging young people to respect their bodies and to wait for a respectful partner at an appropriate age or for some families it is more about waiting to be married....either way I believe there is a balance of teaching abstinance and giving them the knowledge they need to make these tough choices. When you know better you do better. For all of you who think it encourages sex....RUBBISH....the facts don't back you up. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!!!!!!!! "

" Thanks Barbara! As a person living with HIV/AIDS, it's so refreshing to hear that you and your ilk think I'm a waste of humanity. You've done wonders in helping me with my depression and other health issues. How very thoughtful you are. Merry Xmas to you too. "

" We have lost some of our most talented people to AIDS. I know more people that have died from AIDS than from drinking and driving. No one would call drunk driving an acceptable life style.
Safe-sex is not safe. Condoms work less than 80 percent of the time.
promoting safe sex is dangerous! "

" An abstinence 'only' program is as successful as AA. Only 5% never drink again. "

" Way to go Barbara! You have got my vote. "

" Interesting analogy to the stop sign. Yes, people who run the sign suffer the consequences. However, we do offer driver's education which helps to prevent accidents.
Burying your head in the sand and thinking that teaching abstinence only will solve the problem is naive at best. Giving them information to help them make careful choices is the best we can do.
Oh, and Ms. LaRue, it sure is nice to hear that you think of people with HIV/AIDS as a waste. You're just brimming with compassion. "

" Barbara, your comments are well stated. Abstinence in conjuction with other programs to reduce STI's may represent the best way to combat HIV/AIDS. Planned Parenthood presents only their agenda and seemingly dismisses any other programs as not effective or worthy of funding. "