Think Progress

Specter quietly boosts abstinence funding.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) added more than two dozen earmarks for abstinence education to the “Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations measure that passed the panel in June.” His requests totalled more than $1 million. He is the only lawmaker to sponsor such a spending request abstinence education.



116 Responses to “Specter quietly boosts abstinence funding.”

  1. Jake D. says:

    How many world-wide problems would be solved over night if EVERYONE waited for sex until marriage? Consider it the conservative’s pipedream just like your side’s oil-free economies.


  2. DM says:

    Arlen “If I ain’t gettin’ any, no one is” Specter


  3. Ringo says:

    We shouldn’t teach abstinence to kids?


  4. Ned says:

    Jesus! Another extreme waste of money by this moonbat. The statistics say that abstinence education is not effective. Bible thumpers don’t get though.


  5. Roger_Roger says:

    Are you against this?


  6. Dan says:

    Fred Thompson needs to state his position on “abstinence education”. He got his girlfriend pregnant at 17 (OK, 50 years ago so we’ll give him a pass). He was divorced in 1986 and did not remarry until 2002. Was HE abstinent outside marriage all that time? Was the famous “skirt chaser” Fred Thompson all talk and no action?


  7. katy says:

    His requests totalled more than $1 million.

    … wasted…


  8. Ned says:

    Or, if you’re a Moron-I mean Mormon- wait until you get married and then have 25 kids to use up an unfair amout of resources.


  9. Ringo says:

    Abstinence until marriage and fidelity after marriage would certainly be the best thing for Africa, don’t you think?


  10. Buck Fush says:

    I agree, all republicans should try abstinence…for the good of the country. Too bad the Bush Senior didn’t, we’d all be better off for it.


  11. VerbalKint says:

    How many world-wide problems would be solved over night if EVERYONE waited for sex until marriage?
    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007 @ 2:05 pm

    What does it have to do with marriage, Jake? Married people can have sex in an irresponsible way, and unmarried people can have sex in a responsible way. Also, are you aware that abstinence-based sex education has been proven worthless? It has no effect on when or how children first become sexually active, nor does it have any effect on number of sex partners. It is a waste of money.


  12. Jake D. says:

    Obviously, Ringo and Roger_Roger, they don’t think we should teach abstinence to kids (unless it’s abstinence from traditional values, oil, or trans fats ; )


  13. Ned says:

    We should all follow Newt’s example of fidelity and marriage.


  14. PeterW says:

    Considering that abstinence-education programs have been repeatedly proven to be couterproductive, whatever merits abstinence itself might have, teaching it is not worth the taxpayer’s dollars.

    But the right doesn’t care about efficacy – they care about ideology.


  15. Romeo'sDelight says:

    Think of the decrease in STD’s if we all practiced abstinence.
    I’m sure you don’t want your teenaged daughter whoring around with the entire football team.
    I’m not saying it’s the only education to be taught, but it should be integrated.


  16. Dan says:

    Rudy Giuliani and Judy Stish Ross Nathan Giuliani – does the GOP think they will be credible spokespeople for “abstinence until marriage and fidelity after marriage”?


  17. Jake D. says:

    PeterW:

    Same argument can be made against the death penalty not being a deterrance to murder (because we don’t execute murderers swiftly enough, that is — someone kills his parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the Court as an orphan).


  18. MapleStreet says:

    Please check your facts which are so obviously in error. The Republicans hate earmarks. As Shrub has said many times, the earmarks are the action of the Democratic Congress.

    I do believe in fairies. I do! I do! I do!


  19. Romeo'sDelight says:

    Okay, I’ll ask again:
    What is harmful about being educated to abstain?
    Sorry kids, but the era of “if it feels good, do it” is over, with drastic consequences to boot!


  20. Jay Randal says:

    Specter is a weirdo since he defends Larry Craig exposing himself in public restrooms at airports for sex.


  21. Jake D. says:

    Sorry, Romero’sDelight, but decreased STDs (or abortions, or all other manner of world-wide problems would be solved over night) are not the PROGRESSIVE way.


  22. Jake D. says:

    Romero’sDelight = Ringo?


  23. Ringo says:

    Although nobody is perfect and adults should be free make their own choices regarding their sexual lives, abstinence and fidelity should still be held up before our youth as the ideal.

    As for federal money being spent to promote it, well, I do think that this is something which should be funded on a state and local level.


  24. Psycho Pres says:

    I hate abstinence….it sucks…since the twins were born, Laura told me I could F myself from now on…hehe…so I F’d the world..hehe…take that Laura…hehe…I F’d the freakin world….hehehe….besides Karl told me that it would get me votes from the Christofascists….hehe….Babs get me some more pretzels.

    Pull my finger….hehe


  25. Jake D. says:

    Romero = Romeo

    Were Romeo and Juliet (sp?) “married” I wonder?


  26. Ringo says:

    Romero’sDelight = Ringo?

    Comment by Jake D
    ———————————–

    No…I only post under one name.


  27. Jake D. says:

    Thanks, Ringo. I must have missed where Romeo asked the “first” time: What is harmful about being educated to abstain?


  28. Ned says:

    Christofascists – I love it! I’ll see how many times I can use that word this week.


  29. Boudin Bob says:

    And just what is so wrong with abstinence? Why does this issue get all you liberals so hot and bothered. Abstinence is good. Not having irresponsible sex is good. Not having sex before you’re mature enough is good. What’s your problem?


  30. Jake D. says:

    Ned:

    If the $1 million can prevent even ONE unwanted pregnancy, isn’t that worth it?


  31. Romeo'sDelight says:

    Jake D.
    Deleted post


  32. Jake D. says:

    Boudin Bob:

    Two words: Planned Parenthood.


  33. the fly-man says:

    abstinence funding, isn’t that an oxymoron relating to congress?


  34. Jake D. says:

    Romeo’sDelight:

    That happens : )


  35. ann says:

    Children are taught abstinence: by their parents. Why waste taxpayer dollars teaching them what they’ve already been told? Especially when we know it doesn’t work!

    Come TPers, admit it: did you abstain from sex until you were married? How many of you are still virgins? People have sex when they want to regardless of what they are taught in school or what they were told by their parents. I’ll bet Jenna Bush isn’t a virgin.


  36. Jay Randal says:

    Boy the Bush lover trolls on here must all be virgins. They are nerdy GOPers who hang out on PCs and never get laid.


  37. PeterW says:

    #17 – it’s not that abstinence education is INeffective, it’s counterproductive. Teen pregnancy and disease go up when abstinence-only programs are used.

    It’s an ideological boondoggle.



  38. upside00 says:

    It’s an ideological boondoggle.

    Comment by PeterW — September 18, 2007 @ 2:27 pm

    But a real boon to the Pharmas producing STD treatments and to the abortion clinics or to the crooked lawyers selling unwanted babies.


  39. Wilco says:

    I think people here see this as abstinence-only education, which has been proven not to work. I don’t think that’s what Spector has suggested be financed, at least not from what I’m seeing. Truth be told, though, I can’t access the linked article.
    Abstinence, in my opinion, should be taught alongside responsible sexual behavior. But no, it should not be taught solely.


  40. katy says:

    Abstinence until marriage and fidelity after marriage would certainly be the best thing for Africa, don’t you think?
    Comment by Ringo — September 18, 2007 @ 2:07 pm

    ringo, there are times… times i have some hope…
    and then you go and say somethin’ really dumb…

    why do some USpeople think that cultural norms are supposed to be
    white bread amurcan for the whole of the world ? …

    it’s a small world… learn about it…


  41. Buck Fush says:

    Christofascists, nice…turn around is fair play.

    Pull my finger….hehe

    Comment by Psycho Pres

    Pretty funny posts there Psycho.


  42. Ned says:

    #30 – Nope. An abortion is less than a grand. Simple economics. Next question.


  43. Jay Randal says:

    Touch yourselves young Bush lovers and realize you can have good sex if you do NOT seek it in dirty public restooms like Senator Craig.


  44. ann says:

    Planned Parenthood happens to be where I got all of my gynocological care from college until I was in my mid-20s and had decent health insurance. They do pap tests, breast exams, great screening tests for cancer. They will also prescribe birth control so women don’t have unplanned pregnancies. It’s a great organization. I think I’ll make a donation in honor of the TP trolls.


  45. Romeo'sDelight says:

    They are nerdy GOPers who hang out on PCs and never get laid.

    Comment by Jay Randal — September 18, 2007 @ 2:26 pm

    ….says the man who has multiple posts here all day, today.


  46. dim wit says:

    If abstinence funding will help create less right wing republicans, I’m all for it.


  47. upside00 says:

    Comment by Ringo — September 18, 2007 @ 2:27 pm

    And the relevance of this post is ….????


  48. Bobwurst says:

    Thanks, Ringo. I must have missed where Romeo asked the “first” time: What is harmful about being educated to abstain?

    Comment by Jake D.

    The harm is that in abstaince education programs funded by cons, there is no mention of birth control. sex is human nature and it’s been proven that abstaince only programs don’t work:

    http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/abstinenceonly.htm
    http://www.teenpregnancy.org/resources/data/pdf/abstinence_eval.pdf

    Further harm comes from the fact that federally funded programs in Africa that are aimed at fighting AIDS can’t talk about the use of condoms even though they are the cheapest and most effective way of stopping the tranmission of AIDS.

    Jake, why do you think the military gave you condoms when you were in Korea? It wasn’t so you could blow them up like balloons for your birthday.


  49. Jake D. says:

    For the record, I think it’s worth $1 million even if it only prevents ONE teenager from having sex.


  50. Ned says:

    The Repub neocons shouldn’t be worried about getting anyone pregnant since they only like dude-on-dude sex.


  51. Jay Randal says:

    Comments a guy named “Romeo’sDelight” who picks a screenname from a play about wanton sex between unmarried lovers.


  52. Bobwurst says:

    If the $1 million can prevent even ONE unwanted pregnancy, isn’t that worth it?

    Comment by Jake D.
    you can get a condom for a buck at the truckstop…


  53. Ned says:

    I remember hearing about this abstinence stuff one time on a documentary about the Inquisition.


  54. Jake D. says:

    Very funny, Ned. I would actually CRIMINALIZE homosexual sex, so consider yourself lucky. According to a Stanford study, 40 million abortions account for the major reduction in crime too — so, using that logic, I guess the MOST “effective” way to reduce crime would be to sterilize inner-city youth.


  55. Ringo says:

    Comments a guy named “Romeo’sDelight” who picks a screenname from a play about wanton sex between unmarried lovers.

    Comment by Jay Randal
    ———————————————

    Jay,

    If you were familiar with the play, you would know that the character of Friar Lawrence marries the two young lovers before they sleep together.


  56. Jay Randal says:

    For a fraction of the wasted funds for abstinence alot of condoms could be passed out to young people.


  57. Romeo'sDelight says:

    Jay Randal,
    A) Who said I was a “guy”?
    B) Romeo’sDelight is taken from the classic Van Halen album, Women and Children First


  58. Jay Randal says:

    Ringo lol they were not officially married couple. They lusted sexually for each other.


  59. Wilco says:

    Ned, are you really saying that suggesting abstinence among teens is akin to being a memeber in the Inquisition?!
    That’s one heck of a stretch. That’s just really out there.
    Oh, and the Inquisition didn’t care about abstinence. They cared about Catholics becoming Protestants. And they cared about torturing you until you agreed to be a Catholic again.
    Abstinence really didn’t play into it.


  60. Buck Fush says:

    What’s the matter Jake D Fake – you dreaming of men alot lately?
    By the way you are an abortion Jake.


  61. ebbAndflow says:

    “According to a Stanford study, 40 million…
    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007 @ 2:35 pm”

    And this ’study’ can be found where?
    Link or it ‘aitn’t so’.


  62. Jay Randal says:

    Assumed you were a guy, but should have said guy or gal.


  63. Ringo says:

    why do some USpeople think that cultural norms are supposed to be
    white bread amurcan for the whole of the world ? …

    it’s a small world… learn about it…
    …

    Comment by katy
    ———————————————

    The spread AIDS in Africa is directly related to the lack of abstinence as well as to the common superstition that having sex with a virgin can cured AIDS.

    BTW – I’ve been to Africa, have you?


  64. Jay Randal says:

    I have to go, but enjoy yourselves young GOPer trolls for Dubya.


  65. Ned says:

    60 – There were a LOT of things you could do to get burned alive by those Christofacists. Being unwed and pregnant would get your ass exectued in the name of Christ.


  66. Jake D. says:

    I cannot “link” to sub-atomic particles, but that does not make them fantasy. The world existed BEFORE the Internets, you know?

    (Here’s a link, anyways: http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/990812/abortion.shtml )


  67. Snidely Whiplash says:

    Abstinence only education simply does not work.

    Just ask the teenagers in Texas.


  68. dim wit says:

    Very funny, Ned. I would actually CRIMINALIZE homosexual sex, so consider yourself lucky.
    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007 @ 2:35 pm

    So I take it you’re not a Small Government conservative? I mean if you were a REAL conservative you’d be saying $hit like “it not government’s responsibility to teach kids to not screw” and “the goverment can’t dictate morality”
    However, you don’t. So I’ll take it you’re the theocratic type of Republican who would have the Republican stormtroopers watching all Americans have sex to ensure we don’t stick it the wrong hole.


  69. Ringo says:

    Ringo lol they were not officially married couple. They lusted sexually for each other.

    Comment by Jay Randal
    ———————————————-

    Romeo and Juliet were married in Act Two, Scene Six.


  70. Jake D. says:

    For the record, I am registered Independent. I have the same conservative opinion of homosexual sex as any Founding Father would have : )


  71. lefty says:

    You could stop a whole generation of poor black kids if teenage girls stopped getting pregnant and end up raising the kids by themselves. This is the biggest reason young black women have a harder time being successful.


  72. Jake D. says:

    Thanks for looking that up, Ringo. Keep up the great work.


  73. Jake D. says:

    lefty:

    See my “Modest Proposal” above backed up by the Stanford study.


  74. Snidely Whiplash says:

    Unfortunately, despite spending more than $10 million on abstinence-only programs in Texas alone, this strategy has not been shown to be effective at curbing teen pregnancies or halting the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. During President Bush’s tenure as governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000, for instance, with abstinence-only programs in place, the state ranked last in the nation in the decline of teen birth rates among 15- to 17-year-old females. Overall, the teen pregnancy rate in Texas was exceeded by only four other states.

    (www.advocatesforyouth.org)


  75. Jake D. says:

    What if we spent $1 million per child? I think I could get them to stop having sex.


  76. katy says:

    ringo – i know about the troubles in africa…
    no, i’ve never been there… my sister spent 8 years in sierra leone…
    wisked her and fellow nuns out of there before the horrors escalated…
    i’m just saying that you can’t apply a simplistic, unrealistic notion of
    abstinence on another culture such as the one most of africa is…
    it doesn’t even work in puritanic/victorian USA!…

    sex education and reproductive health needs to encompass
    a broad range of topics and must be adapted to the “audience”…


  77. Ringo says:

    Here is a lovely old illustration of the marriage of Romeo and Juliet:
    http://foreverthine.com/images/romeo_and_juliet_4fjf.jpg


  78. gummitch says:

    What if we spent $1 million per child? I think I could get them to stop having sex.

    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007 @ 2:55 pm

    You could get quicker and cheaper results by giving them naked pictures of yourself, Jake. They’d give up on sex forever.


  79. Ringo says:

    Katy,

    i’m just saying that you can’t apply a simplistic, unrealistic notion of
    abstinence on another culture such as the one most of africa is…
    ——————————————————————————————–

    Africa is a large continent with many different cultures.

    Abstinence has worked very well in Uganda where AIDS cases have decreased dramatically:
    http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/ed007047-0e93-4964-9fba-aa887d42817e.asp

    Of course, condoms are also promoted for adults, but the main focus of education is abstinence until marriage.


  80. ann says:

    “What if we spent $1 million per child? I think I could get them to stop having sex.”

    Absurd. Besides, what’s wrong with teens having sex if they practice safe sex? I’m sure Bush had sex before he married Laura. Teenagers have always had sex before marriage, and they always will. Stop stigmatizing it.

    Jake, did you have sex before marriage?


  81. ann says:

    Romeo and Juliet is fiction, people.


  82. Snidely Whiplash says:

    U.S.-funded “abstinence-only” programs are jeopardizing Uganda’s successful fight against HIV/AIDS. Abstinence-only programs deny young people information about any method of HIV prevention other than sexual abstinence until marriage. Uganda gained a reputation in the 1990s for its high-level leadership against HIV/AIDS and acceptance of sexually candid HIV-prevention messages. But public health experts and Ugandan AIDS organizations fear that the shift toward abstinence-only programs will reverse this success. — Human Rights Watch

    http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/03/30/uganda10380.htm


  83. Ringo says:

    Romeo and Juliet is fiction, people.

    Comment by ann — September 18, 2007
    —————–

    Really?


  84. gummitch says:

    It’s weird, because “conservatives” always complain bitterly about spending government money for what they call “social engineering”. Of course, they’re referring to spending funds on public transit or the like, but apparently spending funds convincing teenagers that sex is bad. . . well that’s a whole different kind of “social engineering” and it’s perfectly OK.


  85. Micro Macro says:

    They’d give up on sex forever.
    Comment by gummitch — September 18, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

    Too bad your parents didnt choose that route.


  86. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Too bad your parents didnt choose that route.

    Comment by Micro Macro — September 18, 2007 @ 3:11 pm

    Too bad your “father” did… ** cough… cough**.


  87. A Patriot Acting says:

    “I have the same conservative opinion of homosexual sex as any Founding Father would have : )”

    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007 @ 2:50 pm

    I guess you’re not talking about Thomas Jefferson then.

    The trolls are quite dillusional today. Preaching abstinence while defending their corrupt, sexually deviate representatives. Just because you trolls CAN’T get any from deep within the bowels of your mom’s basements doesn’t mean you’re actually PRACTICING abstinence.


  88. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    They’d give up on sex forever.

    Comment by gummitch — September 18, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

    Gummitch, my lunch just voted unanimously to withdraw from my stomach.


  89. Micro Macro says:

    Too bad your “father” did… ** cough… cough**.
    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 18, 2007 @ 3:12 pm

    Dad? DAD? DAD! I finally found you!


  90. Raven says:

    “Too bad your parents didnt choose that route.”

    Comment by Micro Macro

    Hark, do I hear something coming from yon petri dish?


  91. Ringo says:

    Uganda gained a reputation in the 1990s for its high-level leadership against HIV/AIDS and acceptance of sexually candid HIV-prevention messages. But public health experts and Ugandan AIDS organizations fear that the shift toward abstinence-only programs will reverse this success.

    — Human Rights Watch
    —————————————————————–

    They may “fear” that abstinence will reverse the success, but it hasn’t happened yet. Besides which, Human Rights Watch is a Leftist organisation that has other agendas.

    When you can demonstrate that the AIDS rates are increasing in Uganda, let me know.


  92. Micro Macro says:

    Gummitch, my lunch just voted unanimously to withdraw from my stomach.
    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 18, 2007 @ 3:13 pm

    Your boyfriend must be shocked at this turn of events. Try eating actual food next time.


  93. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    Try eating actual food next time.

    Comment by Micro Macro — September 18, 2007 @ 3:16 pm

    Awww… is that supposed to pass for “clever”?

    Beats the sh*t you eat.


  94. WaltTheMan says:

    Abstinence education and anti-smoking education only serve to make teens wonder: What’s so good about this if I am being asked to forgo it? I managed, but only because the class nympho infected the entire football team. I was on the basketball team and we stayed pure as our season followed their’s. The locker room benches and floors were washed down with bleach whenever they used it.


  95. Micro Macro says:

    Awww… is that supposed to pass for “clever”?
    Beats the sh*t you eat.
    Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — September 18, 2007 @ 3:26 pm

    It must have been just clever enough considering you felt compelled to post such a lame-o retort.


  96. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    It must have been just clever enough considering you felt compelled to post such a lame-o retort.

    Comment by Micro Macro — September 18, 2007 @ 3:31 pm

    Go ask yer “father” **cough… cough** to explain it to ya, if you can find him.


  97. The Republic of Stupidity says:

    IF he’s willing to admit he is yer father.


  98. Micro Macro says:

    IF he’s willing to admit he is yer father.

    Something you want to admit? Dad? DAD! Finally I found you!


  99. Snidely Whiplash says:

    “In the first two years since the U.S.-funded focus on abstinence Uganda’s rate of HIV infection has nearly doubled.”

    “In the first two years since the U.S.-funded focus on abstinence Uganda’s rate of HIV infection has nearly doubled.”

    “In the first two years since the U.S.-funded focus on abstinence Uganda’s rate of HIV infection has nearly doubled.”

    “In the first two years since the U.S.-funded focus on abstinence Uganda’s rate of HIV infection has nearly doubled.”

    Plain and simple, Ringo.

    http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/07/uganda_the_cond.html


  100. Snidely Whiplash says:

    I forgot to add…

    ha ha ha ha ha

    you make it to easy, Ringo. The facts are on our side.


  101. Snidely Whiplash says:

    *too* easy.

    …. aaaaah ha ha ha ha! *inhales* …. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!


  102. cha cha cha says:

    “For the record, I think it’s worth $1 million even if it only prevents ONE teenager from having sex.
    Comment by Jake D. — September 18, 2007″

    awesome. have a bakesale then moron, and leave the government money for shit that isn’t fantasy-based.


  103. Snidely Whiplash says:

    hello? Ringo???

    * * * crickets chirping * * *


  104. Snidely Whiplash says:

    * * * quiet sobbing * * *

    hello?


  105. bitblt says:

    Christ directly addresses the man-woman issue in the book of Matthew ( in the New Testament ) when he says the Creator intended there to be one man one woman sexual relationship in marriage. This scripture is really only important to Christians, but others could benefit from the wisdom that comes from this first century Jewish teaching.

    Wonder why they could teach this in the first century but we can’t in the twentieth-first.

    Why is it society can’t tell our young people that they can protect themselves physically and emotionally by waiting until they’re married to have sex. You won’t die from abstaining. No part of your body will turn blue, and you avoid a load of guilt – at least for many.

    Seems to me to be very telling when a culture can’t agree on how to train their children in the area of sex education.

    Apparently this can’t even be discussed on TP. Don’t believe I’ve see a post that suggests an alternative as safe as one man one woman forever.

    Is this the best we have to offer: condoms and abortions?

    So I go into a convenience store yesterday where a young clerk with a swollen belly takes my money. She looks like she’s not out of her teen years. Married or unmarried? Don’t know. It doesn’t really matter. There are enough unmarried mothers working in convenience stores to make the situation I describe wholly representative.

    Young women who, for whatever reason, become mothers before they’re ready, and they’re stuck as convenience store clerks – forever. Perhaps it’s to escape abuse. Perhaps it’s because they were “in love.” Perhaps it’s because they want a baby “to love me.”

    What they wanted doesn’t really matter any more, because they’re never going to get it.

    Some irresponsible guy gets what he wants; the woman gets some companionship, and her greatest hopes are right out the window. Repeat cycle with her offspring.

    Men know more ways to get over on women. That’s what abortion and teaching safe sex are about – getting over on women.

    Believe I’ve read both the following: Girls involve in athletics tend to have a lower pregnancy rate, and girls who put off having sex until they’re married tend to have more wealth.

    At the moment I can’t point to a link on these. If you’re interested in the second – have more wealth, you might search http://www.family.org – that’s Dr. Dobson’s site.


  106. gummitch says:

    Some irresponsible guy gets what he wants; the woman gets some companionship, and her greatest hopes are right out the window. Repeat cycle with her offspring.

    Men know more ways to get over on women. That’s what abortion and teaching safe sex are about – getting over on women.

    Comment by bitblt — September 18, 2007 @ 4:26 pm

    And there we have it in a nutshell from the Right: guys are just about sex and women are just about being taken advantage of. Women certainly don’t have sex because they like it. Horrors!

    No one is advocating irresponsible behavior. In fact, the Left has been advocating for responsible sexual behavior for decades. It’s just that the Right doesn’t think *any* sexual behavior outside marriage can ever be “responsible,” which is why they advocate against teaching responsible sexual behavior.


  107. Ringo says:

    Snidely Whiplash,

    “In the first two years since the U.S.-funded focus on abstinence Uganda’s rate of HIV infection has nearly doubled.”
    ——————————————————————–

    The article that you linked to quotes Daniele Anastasion in one sentence, yet offers no evidence to support her claim. Also, since the abstinence programs started in the early 1990’s, AIDS rates dropped aprox. 70% before the year 2000, so even if they have doubled since then the number is still far lower in Uganda than elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa.

    See here: http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/ed007047-0e93-4964-9fba-aa887d42817e.asp

    Personally I have no problem with condoms and education, but still, I think that teaching abstinence to children and the youth (and fidelity to adults) is the best long term solution.


  108. Snidely Whiplash says:

    You need to view the program on the site, Ringo. It contains more details.


  109. Snidely Whiplash says:

    Also, the programs in Uganda, prior to 2005, included the express USE OF CONDOMS. Get it?? They weren’t “abstince only” until after that point, at which time HIV doubled.


  110. Ringo says:

    Mr. Whilash,

    You might also read this BBC article from 2005:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4433069.stm

    It’s a complicated issue, yet it seems undeniable that the promotion of abstinence has worked well in Uganda….although not perfectly.

    We are human afterall.


  111. Ringo says:

    Get it?? They weren’t “abstince only” until after that point, at which time HIV doubled.

    Comment by Snidely Whiplash
    ——————————————

    As I said, I support condoms and education as well.


  112. Ringo says:

    You need to view the program on the site, Ringo. It contains more details.

    Comment by Snidely Whiplash
    ————————————————-

    Can’t do that right now, I’m at work.

    I will check later though.


  113. Ringo says:

    I support condoms….
    ———————————–

    There must be a joke there somewhere.


  114. Raven says:

    I support condoms….
    ———————————–

    There must be a joke there somewhere.

    Comment by Ringo

    I agree, condoms sure don’t support themselves…


  115. bitblt says:

    #195
    Comment by TripMaster Monkey — September 19, 2007 @ 11:49 am

    You assume that each event recorded in Genesis 2 happened in strict, sequential order. Believe you can assume that about the opening verses of Genesis 1 because the text uses the markers for a Jewish day – the day starts at sundown, but this doesn’t necessarily apply to Genesis 2.

    You would have done better to have asked me who recorded Genesis 1? Some Genesis scholars say that Genesis one is from God’s viewpoint of creation, and that Genesis 2 is from Adam’s viewpoint of creation.

    It’s simply different accounts of the same, related events.

    This explanation is adequate for me. Is it adequate for you?

    My suggestion is that if you don’t believe it don’t bother yourself with it.

    Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.(NIV)

    Besides, “…had formed…” is not the same as “…next formed…”

    Who do you suppose taught Adam to talk?

    BTW, who taught you to talk, and who taught your teachers to talk? Get the point?



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