Think Progress

Swift Boat Vets PR Firm Now Pushing Abstinence-Only Education Campaign

joins.gif On Sunday, the Washington Post reported that the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is launching a $1 million “Parents for Truth” campaign. Its mission is to enlist 1 million parents to back abstinence-only education by lobbying local schools and working to elect supportive lawmakers. Last week, the NAEA e-mailed “30,000 supporters, practitioners and parents to try to recruit participants and plans to e-mail 100,000 this week.”

There is very little that is truthful about this “Parents for Truth” campaign. Not only is it pushing misleading, discredited claims about abstinence-only education, but the entire effort appears to be run by unethical individuals with strong ties in the anti-gay movement:

Valerie Huber, the NAEA’s executive director, was found guilty of “neglect of duty” while at the Ohio Department of Health in 2006. She “participated to a substantial degree in the selection of a vendor” for which she also worked. Huber was given a one-day suspension from her position.

– Melissa Cox was one of the vendors with which Huber had ties. Cox had previously worked for the Medical Institute for Sexual Health, which advocated “curing” gays through “conversion therapy. An abstinence-only conference planned by Huber in October 2005 had been criticized for its “overt Christian messages and anti-gay speakers, including ones openly recruiting for the ‘ex-gay’ movement.”

– As noted by the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, NAEA has hired the PR firm Creative Response Concepts to “develop and implement a national public relations campaign to improve the public understanding and perception of abstinence education.” Creative Response Concepts was best known for leading the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” campaign in 2004. Its other clients have included the RNC, Christian Coalition, Concerned Women for America, and the Discovery Institute.

Abstinence-only programs don’t work. Last November, 10 leading scientists in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health warned that abstinence-only education withholds “information that may be critical to protecting the health of young people.” More recently, health experts testified to Congress that these programs “have not cut teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at which sex begins.”

Hypothetically Speaking, Pandagon, and Scott Swenson have more on Huber.



90 Responses to “Swift Boat Vets PR Firm Now Pushing Abstinence-Only Education Campaign”

  1. dbadass says:

    What the lame ass pants at K-Mart aren’t doing the trick. Damn that biological imperative.


  2. Zimzone says:

    I always buy my ‘no sex’ underwear at KameApart. Even when my partner is overly excited and can’t wait a second longer, all she has to do is look at my underwear and the passion vanishes.

    Thanks, KameApart, you’ve enabled me to be more productive, clear minded and yes, this is total snark.


  3. hanshiro says:

    Abstinence-only programs don’t work…More recently, health experts testified to Congress that these programs “have not cut teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at which sex begins.”

    Silly! Republicans don’t back programs that work, republicans back programs that lend the appearance of concern and caring.

    That way, they don’t actually have to care, do any heavy lifting or even actually abide by the mores embodied in their storefront. That’s why religion, flags and lapel pins are so attractive to republicans: all the promises and symbology, none of the commitment.

    As long as it looks like they care, they can keep the same republican attitude: huh, like they care…


  4. RantingTommy says:

    Shorter Republican: Keep em stupid and they’ll be easier to control.


  5. conniptionfit says:

    Here in Colorado, we have a saying: “Focus on your OWN damn family!”. Why can’t these wing nuts get that their “family values” are their own business, and no one else has any interest in them, whatsoever? These women, still looking for Daddy’s approval.


  6. misshusseinmolly says:

    Apparently there is no cause so worthless, so lost, so completely dead in the water that a PR firm can’t bring it back to life.

    There is a segment of our population that will always believe that programs and policies that reflect their values are worth pushing, no matter how often they have been proven worthless. There are still people who believe that capital punishment deters crime, even though it’s been proven not to.

    Normally, I would say this is a harmless way to occupy this PR firm’s time during this election year. However, abstinence-only programs are not just merely ineffective. They are actually harmful in that they don’t give teens accurate information about condoms and other information they need to mitigate risk of pregnancy and STDs.


  7. RantingTommy says:

    “Family Values” is a misnomer

    It should be called “Anti-Family, Anti-women, Anti-freedom Values” to be more accurate.


  8. RantingTommy says:

    Also, you have to remember that the Christian aversion to sex education isn’t about keeping girls from getting pregnant or preventing disease. It is about maintaining the punishment for having sex.

    Anti-choice people don’t care about babies, they are only concerned with ensuring that the girls that have sex cannot avoid the possible consequences for having sex, thereby keeping the PUNISHMENT, which is at the heart of all religions that believe in terrorizing people with threats of eternal torture by fire.


  9. shoeless says:

    I think we should have an amendment to the Constitution which says Republicans are required to practice abstinence only for their entire lives.


  10. DRxJ says:

    Here’s an idea:
    Why not sex education that includes abstinence in it’s subject matter?
    Maybe it’s just me, but my hope (belief) is that our teenagers, who are maturing into free thinking adults, would like to hear both sides of a subject before making THEIR decision.

    But again, that’s just me!


  11. conniptionfit says:

    Republicans! Returning like a dog to it’s vomit. Every damn election cycle.
    Here’s why this “works”. Republicans have organized as a political party through churches all over the country. And “saving” our children from sex and teh gay have been the surest way to turn out conservative voters.


  12. Paul W says:

    Abstinence-only programs don’t work. Last November, 10 leading scientists in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health warned that abstinence-only education withholds “information that may be critical to protecting the health of young people.” More recently, health experts testified to Congress that these programs “have not cut teen pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases or delayed the age at which sex begins.”

    The right continues to advocate for programs that don’t work and in many cases are harmful, using lies, distortions and flat out delusion and yet it’s the left that’s supposed to “radical” and “out there.”

    http://progressiveworldreview.com


  13. VerbalKint says:

    The right continues to advocate for programs that don’t work and in many cases are harmful, using lies, distortions and flat out delusion and yet it’s the left that’s supposed to “radical” and “out there.”

    They don’t just advocate these programs. They also steer lots of money to their friends who run these bogus programs.


  14. RantingTommy says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Gay people
    Sex of any kind
    Cave-dwelling criminals
    Black people
    Brown people
    Poor people
    Hollywood
    Education

    anyone care to add to the list?


  15. dbadass says:

    don’t forget government and the media


  16. hanshiro says:

    16. RantingTommy Says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death…anyone care to add to the list?

    Military service

    Culpability

    *tosses baton*


  17. Abu Ben Hussein Leporello says:

    16. RantingTommy Says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death…anyone care to add to the list?

    Accountablity
    Honor
    Duty
    Personal Responsiblity
    Love
    Compassion

    IC&B&STC!


  18. raynman says:

    For a party that claims that they want government out of our lives, they sure to find time to put government in places where it doesn’t belong, don’t they?


  19. misshusseinmolly says:

    Dr. Hussein Matt Says
    June 3rd, 2008 at 10:18 am

    DRxJ Says:
    Here’s an idea:
    Why not sex education that includes abstinence in it’s subject matter?

    Like including creationism in biology class?
    ___________________________________________

    No, I think our resident pharmacist is suggesting a comprehensive sex education program that includes abstinence as a legitimate birth-control and STD prevention method (which it is) — not “abstinence-only”.

    Abstinence IS still the most effective method of preventing pregnancy. Sterilization is second (although this method isn’t all that appropriate for teens). Followed by oral contraceptives, barrier methods, spermicides, etc. Douching, withdrawal, and doing nothing are way, way, way down the list. As far as preventing the spread of STDs, abstinence and condoms are about the only effective methods.

    There is nothing wrong with giving teens factual information. There IS a problem with telling teens outright lies, such as “condoms don’t work so don’t bother.”


  20. hussein toasterhead says:

    raynman Says:

    For a party that claims that they want government out of our lives, they sure to find time to put government in places where it doesn’t belong, don’t they?

    June 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 am
    _____

    In theory, you’re right. However, I don’t see government being involved very long. I’m sure that even as we speak they’re actively looking for a way to privatize the policing personal morality. Look for Blackwater’s Bedroom Monitoring division to debut this fall…


  21. Little Freep Goofballs says:

    Republicans are the party of “Ignorance-Only Education.”


  22. scytherius says:

    There’s no dumb like Right Wing dumb. Who would have thought that the Dark Ages would still be going strong in the 21st Century.


  23. bitblt says:

    The following is good advice. At this point – 23 posts – bit thinks only misshusseinmolly has given anything approaching good advice.

    http://www.citizenlink.org/FOSI/abstinence/A000002153.cfm#

    Abstinence Education: Myths and the Truth

    by Linda Klepacki

    Abstinence education advocates believe the healthiest choice for a non-married youth is to remain sexually abstinent. Presenting the highest health standard remains the goal of any public school health education; abstinence education is no exception. Parents, not state or school administrators, have the right to determine if their teen is in need of additional medical information and services.

    Myth: Abstinence education is instruction to “just say ‘no.’”
    Truth:
    * Abstinence education is a primary prevention model designed to assist unmarried youth from becoming sexually active.
    * Abstinence programs teach and equip students on diverse topics. These include relationship skills, STDs, HIV, refusal skills, body image issues, emotional bonding, differences between men and women, condom effectiveness, teen pregnancy, and the benefits of marriage.
    * The benefits of remaining sexually abstinent until marriage are well established. Likewise, the physical, mental and emotional consequences resulting from sexual activity outside of a life-long relationship are not disputed. The education community is aware of these benefits and consequences; presenting them is much more than saying “no.”

    Myth: Condom-based education (also known as comprehensive sex education) plus abstinence education addresses all students’ needs.
    Truth:
    * In other areas of health education as well as abstinence, the highest health standard is communicated (i.e. alcohol, drugs, cigarette use, weapon carrying, etc.) The healthiest choice for school-age youth is to remain sexually abstinent.
    * Children need directive education – education that points them to a specific outcome. If sexuality education is taught in a condom – plus – abstinence format, the message is mixed and nondirective. Students are left confused as to the best health choice.
    * Teaching students how to reduce inherent risks of sexual activity by emphasizing condom usage fails to integrate the highest health education standard. Eliminating inherent sexual activity risks by teaching abstinence from such activity is teaching according to the highest standard. All youth deserve the best.

    Myth: Condom-based sex education programs teach about abstinence education in addition to teaching about condoms and contraceptives.
    Truth: A 2004 Heritage Foundation study determined that:
    * Abstinence education programs devote 54% of page content to abstinence-related material – whereas “comprehensive” sex education programs devote 5%.
    * Abstinence education programs devote 17% of page content to healthy relationships and the benefits of marriage – whereas so-called “comprehensive” sex education programs devote 0%.1

    Myth: Abstinence education is all about shame and guilt.
    Truth:
    * The emotional consequences of sexual activity outside a marital relationship are a reality. All high-risk behaviors, such as illegal drug use, involve emotional consequences. When an individual reconsiders his/her dangerous habits during a drug education class, the curriculum is not blamed for teaching shame and guilt. This indeed may be a student’s emotional response. However, lesson content of any health education curricula, including abstinence education, avoid the intent of eliciting shame and guilt.
    * Most sexually active teens wish they had waited longer to have sex.2 Youth may have varied feelings during instructional class periods. When it comes to communicating health standards, educators do not adjust to the lowest common denominators according to potential feelings that may be engendered within select youth. The focus is what is in his/her best health interest.
    * Sexually active youth may have uncomfortable feelings. Those feelings can be strong motivating factors to explore healthier mindsets and ensuing behavioral changes.

    Myth: Abstinence education is not medically accurate.
    Truth:
    * Medically accurate teaching imparts knowledge based upon current scientific research. Abstinence curricula use the latest data from peer-reviewed journals and government agencies and adhere to the same scientific standard and accuracy common to all educational fields.
    * As is applicable with all textbooks, all sexuality curricula, including abstinence and condom-based, should be updated when new advances in information emerge.
    * All sexuality curricula, including abstinence and condom-based, should be scrutinized for inaccuracies and receive rigorous oversight for medical accuracy.

    1S. Martin, R. Rector, M. Pardue, “Comprehensive Sex Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of Competing Curricula,” The Heritage Foundation (2004).
    2Bill Albert, “With One Voice 2004: American’s Adults and Teens Sound off about Teen Pregnancy, an Annual National Survey,” The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (December 2004).


  24. dbadass says:

  25. Tawdry says:

    What next, the chastity belt?


  26. RantingTommy says:

    We love our delusions in this country.

    We encourage people to believe in religious superstitions, often to their detriment and ours.

    We encourage people to eat unhealthy food.

    We encourage people to drive irresponsible vehicles.

    We encourage people to fear the most innocuous things.

    What a silly country we are sometimes.


  27. shoeless says:

    bitebutt is on an abstinence only program enforced by the opposite sex.


  28. ninique says:

    RantingTommy Says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Gay people
    Sex of any kind
    Cave-dwelling criminals
    Black people
    Brown people
    Poor people
    Hollywood
    Education

    anyone care to add to the list?

    intelligent life forms
    people who admit they are wrong
    people suffering from PTSD
    women who want equal pay
    soldiers who deserve more than .5% increase because they risk they lives for my life and liberty
    people who do not twist and distort truth
    people who do not sell their souls to Cheney


  29. ninique says:

    people who don’t want their kids dying of AIDS.
    people who are not in the dark of what normal 17 year olds


  30. RantingTommy says:

    Encouraging teens to abstain from sex is like encouraging rain to avoid gravity.


  31. ninique says:

    my God, especially an 18 boy!


  32. ninique says:

    that’s like telling a 35 year old woman to wait… ha!


  33. shoeless says:

    Tawdry Says:

    What next, the chastity belt?

    Chasitiy belts are a last resort. First, clitoral circumcision. If that doesn’t work, we’ll lock the girls away in tall towers and cut off their hair, so the boys can’t climb their golden locks.


  34. ninique says:

  35. A Patriot Acting says:

    “Republicans are men of narrow vision, who are afraid of the future.”
    Jimmy Carter

    “The two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change.”
    Seth MacFarlane, The Family Guy


  36. shoeless says:

    RantingTommy Says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    The closet door.


  37. GeeDubs says:

    The only values that are threatened by this campaign are the values of truth. This has NOTHING to do with keeping young girls from getting pregnant…it has EVERYTHING to do with power and control.


  38. Max-1 says:

    .

    Bring on the K-Mart Fancy pants…

    .


  39. GeeDubs says:

    Oh, Max…didn’t you know they have tied the fancy pants and this campaign together in a synergy of marketing?


  40. Leftside Annie says:

    Good grief. I want all these g*dd*mned moralizing sanctimonious Repuke barstids the HELL out of my bedroom!!!

    Geesh, ya buncha wingnut perverts – get yourselves a hobby or something. :o/


  41. dbadass says:

    “Oh, Max…didn’t you know they have tied the fancy pants and this campaign together in a synergy of marketing?”

    Maybe they can get Miley Cyrus to prance about in them since the younger spears kid or whoever that was is already knocked up


  42. ninique says:

    but, but… the fancy pants message is smack dab right across the ass! they are only gonna confuse people. I guess what they really want is for girls to play hard to get teases.


  43. hanshiro says:

    Bit, Jimmy and Bob Dole like to refer to themselves in the third person. This indicates a psychological quirk that doesn’t instill confidence in the speaker….trust Hanshiro on this..(oops)

    But, I’m reminded of Al Franken’s prank and response to 27 letters he sent urging the bush officials pushing these abstinence programs to share their abstinence stories for a (fictional) book on Abstinence called “Savin’ It.”. The response?

    *crickets chirrrping*


  44. ninique says:

    I bet it gets these old farts hot!


  45. ninique says:

    Al Franken is the greatest!


  46. shoeless says:

    Annie, they are in your bedroom because nothing interesting ever happens their own bedrooms.


  47. hanshiro says:

    40. shoeless Says: The closet door.

    Ooooh, he got all ‘o that one folks…it’s outta here!


  48. ninique says:

    shoeless Says:

    RantingTommy Says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    The closet door.

    Leftside Annie Says:

    Good grief. I want all these g*dd*mned moralizing sanctimonious Repuke barstids the HELL out of my bedroom!!!

    Geesh, ya buncha wingnut perverts – get yourselves a hobby or something. :o

    ahhhh hahahahahaha!


  49. ralph the wonder llama says:

    The ThinkProgress community at large thanks bitblt for his long-winded sanctimonious rightward bent and would like to acknowledge that, since bitblt said it all in a single post, no further contribution from bitblt will be required.


  50. dbadass says:

    Hi Darryl:
    I knew there was still hope that you might return to your roots. I like it in both its ridiculous zaniness as well as its simplicity. Will you concern flipping out and damning someone to hell? That is always a hoot


  51. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Speaking of sanctimony… The Performance Artist known as Daryll™ is here!

    And correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Daryll just suggest giving Satan a hand-job as a strategy for avoiding sex with another human?


  52. dbadass says:

    “shake the devil off” Pure genius!


  53. Leftside Annie says:

    Daryll Says:

    You can abstain from sex. If you become aroused, read your bible and shake the devil off.

    Um, Darryll…”shake the devil off” of …where?


  54. dbadass says:

    Shouldn’t an aroused teen be better off looking at those old National Geos while “shaking the devil off”?


  55. Bobwurst says:

    Shake the devil off!!!!!!

    That’s great drywall. That’s what your kind calls masturbation now.
    What’s your term for bestiality? Riding the republican?


  56. shoeless says:

    Daryll Says:

    You can abstain from sex. If you become aroused, read your bible and shake the devil off.

    That’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone refer to his penis as “the Devil”.


  57. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Daryll, just curious — how long does it usually take you to “shake the devil off”? Do you use magazines, the internet, video?


  58. shoeless says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Rosie and Roseanne

    Ellen and Helen


  59. Zimzone says:

    I’ve heard of spanking the monkey, Daryll, but ’shaking the devil off’ sounds a little perverted, even for you. Screw much?


  60. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Seriously, though, Daryll does have a point; masturbation is a valuable strategy for avoiding risky sex.

    It’s good to see Daryll come around, as I’m fairly certain he’d have criticized Joycelyn Elders when, as Clinton’s Surgeon General, she suggested schools should consider teaching masturbation as part of a broader sex education curriculum.


  61. shoeless says:

    Daryll Says:

    You can abstain from sex. If you become aroused, read your bible and shake the devil off.

    That’s the first time I’ve ever heard anyone refer to Hustler as the bible.


  62. ninique says:

    uh,.. i don’t think masturbation should be taught to kids by anyone. do you? ill, weird!


  63. ralph the wonder llama says:

    ninique Says:
    uh,.. i don’t think masturbation should be taught to kids by anyone. do you? ill, weird!

    You’re right… it’s just not that complicated.


  64. ninique says:

    isn’t that sacriligious?


  65. ninique says:

    I mean the bible thing


  66. bitblt says:

    All youth deserve the best.


    ralph the wonder llama Says:

    The ThinkProgress community at large thanks bitblt for his long-winded sanctimonious rightward bent and would like to acknowledge that, since bitblt said it all in a single post, no further contribution from bitblt will be required.
    June 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am

    RTWL, you just don’t know what you’re talking about here: “…sanctimonious…” It would have been sanctimonious if it had mentioned religion, Christianity, God, or something about morality.

    The previous bit post simply says, “All youth deserve the best.” in regard to abstinence education. Does RTWL disagree with this?

    RTWL should feel free to offer better advice if he has it.

    Wanting teens to understand the consequences of their decisions and actions is not sanctimonious, but what follows is sanctimonious. Read it so you understand the difference.


    dbadass Says:

    Whose truth?
    June 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am

    Believe the information from citizenlink.com – a Focus on the Family web site – is the truth for people who believe that honoring God’s view of sexuality – sex is a gift and a responsibility – is important. It just happens to be the view of sex that, when followed, doesn’t destroy the lives of the participants.

    It seems reasonable to bit that the Creator would know what the best view of sex would be. After all, He created it.


  67. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    Thanks for the heads up. Since I’m closely involved in local politics, I’ll be sure to keep a closer watch on what is happening at school board meetings.


  68. dbadass says:

    Ah but now I would have to ask whose creater and all those Gods know that surely will go nowhere. When I used to teach health I look into this. Seems the age of first sexual contact has changed suprisingly little through the years with or without all of this


  69. misshusseinmolly says:

    bitblt Says
    June 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
    _____________________________________

    Myth: Abstinence-only programs result in fewer teen pregnancies, fewer teens getting STDs, and more teens delaying their first sexual experience until marriage.

    Truth: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN23459576


  70. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    shoeless Says:

    I think we should have an amendment to the Constitution which says Republicans are required to practice abstinence only for their entire lives.

    Well, that would certainly help with a great deal of problems that we and the rest of the world face… no more Republican propagation. I like that. :)


  71. misshusseinmolly says:

    ninique Says
    June 3rd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
    uh,.. i don’t think masturbation should be taught to kids by anyone. do you? ill, weird!
    ___________________________________________

    You’re right — I can’t imagine there are that many kids who haven’t figured out the mechanics of the act on their own. However, it wouldn’t hurt to tell them that they won’t go blind, or that they could get seriously hurt if they want to do it with their neck in a noose and a plastic bag over their head.


  72. shoeless says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Gore and Moore

    Obama and the Dalai Lama


  73. ralph the wonder llama says:

    ralph is sorry that bitblt is so limited in his understanding of written communication that he restricts the use of the term “sanctimonious” to references of religiosity. The term is defined by MIriam-Webster as ” hypocritically pious or devout” and one need not be religious to be devout. One can be devout to a cause, a philosophy or an ethos, and ralph judges bitblt to be so devout, yet hypocritically so at times.

    bitblt pulls a single, inarguable statement out of his wordy diatribe and asks ralph to disagree with it. Well, no, ralph doesn’t disagree with the statement that “All youth deserve the best”.

    The thing ralph disagrees with is what “the best” entails.

    bitblt defends a failed strategy, “abstinence-only education” by picking at the definitions offered by TP posters, instead of recognizing that DRxJ offered a sound option:

    Why not sex education that includes abstinence in it’s subject matter?
    Maybe it’s just me, but my hope (belief) is that our teenagers, who are maturing into free thinking adults, would like to hear both sides of a subject before making THEIR decision.

    ralph agrees that abstinence is the best way for an individual to avoid the complications of casual sexual relations: pregnancy, disease, emotional anguish. But abstinence is unworkable as a strategy for a society as a whole to reduce those problems among its youth.

    Progressives have no problem with teaching abstinence. We just have a problem with teaching NOTHING BUT abstinence.

    As often is the case, conservatives tend to fall down on the “less information is better” side of the divide and progressives on the other.


  74. Squeaky Wheels says:

    How conservatives can say they’re for freedom is beyond me.


  75. TeleMan says:

    TeleMan agrees with ralph and DRxJ:
    Teach both sides of the controversy!

    TeleMan would also like to see more nuggets of comedy from the PAKAD but apparently he’s gone to “shake off the devil”.


  76. shoeless says:

    DRxJ Says:

    …our teenagers, who are maturing into free thinking adults, would like to hear both sides of a subject before making THEIR decision.

    But then they wouldn’t become Republicans.


  77. Saint Augustine says:

    bitblt said sex is a gift. Oh goody, my birthday is cumming soon, maybe I’ll get a birthday box that will make me happy or Mr. Happy happy.


  78. ninique says:

    I thought you are supposed to be a saint!


  79. shoeless says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Teletubbies


  80. dbadass says:

    and soy products…


  81. dbadass says:

    Saint Augustine Says:
    ————————————————————–

    bitblt said sex is a gift

    —–
    All the more reason to be giving it away


  82. TeleMan says:

    shoeless Says:
    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:
    Teletubbies

    Don’t forget Spongebob Squarepants.

    Gotta protect our innocent children from the gay agenda!


  83. ralph the wonder llama says:

    Boy oh boy, Daryll sure does take a long time to “shake the devil off”.

    Maybe there was a line at the airport rest room.


  84. TeleMan says:

    I think Daryll is going to have those four words following him around on every single thread.

    Ahhh, the gift that keeps on giving.


  85. shoeless says:

    Republicans are a fearful bunch. They are scared to death of:

    Recounts


  86. DRxJ says:

    Useless information alert:
    My wife is having a girls night out, and seeing Sex in the City with her friends.
    2 things could possibly happen tonight.
    The movie will make my wife frisky, and abstaining will be the last thought on my mind, if ya know what I mean!
    Or
    She will be extremely tired, and I’ll have to resort to “shaking the devil off!”

    Seriously, I’ll be using that catch phrase for posts to come.
    Fair warning!


  87. Saint Augustine says:

    DRxJ Says I’ll have to resort to “shaking the devil off!”

    Seriously, I’ll be using that catch phrase for posts to come.
    Fair warning!

    Careful, that ole devil can be a hard nut to crack, don’t hurt yourself.


  88. dporter says:

    Do the “Parents for Truth” know that, in truth, the results of abstinence-only education have been dismal:
    –In Erie County, Pennsylvania, researchers found that 42 percent of the female participants were sexually active by the second year of the program.
    –In Clinton County, Pennsylvania, data collected from program participants in the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades showed a dramatic increase in the proportion of program females who experienced first sexual intercourse over time (six, nine, and 30 percent, respectively, by grade).
    –In Minnesota, 12 percent of the eighth grade program participants were sexually active at posttest.
    –In Arizona, 19 percent of program participants were sexually active at follow-up. Concurrently, Arizona’s evaluators found that youth’s intent to pursue abstinence declined significantly at follow-up, regardless of whether the student took another abstinence-only class. Eighty percent of teens reported that they were likely to become sexually active by the time they were 20 years old.
    —In Clinton County, Pennsylvania, researchers noted that, of those participants that reported experiencing first sexual intercourse during ninth grade, only about half used any form of contraception.
    —Arizona’s evaluation team found that program participants’ attitudes about birth control became less favorable from pre- to posttest. They noted that this was probably a result of the “program’s focus on the failure rates of contraceptives as opposed to their availability, use and access.”

    The truth not only hurts, it makes babies too.

    http://thelieshavenotimproved.blogspot.com/


  89. bitblt says:


    dbadass Says:

    Ah but now I would have to ask whose creater and all those Gods know that surely will go nowhere. When I used to teach health I look into this. Seems the age of first sexual contact has changed suprisingly little through the years with or without all of this
    June 3rd, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    Then bit guesses that in your case you can’t offer the best advice, can you? Since you really can’t say that one creator is better that any other creator or that any god is better than any other god, you just can’t say what the best advice is, can you?

    If you don’t believe Christ Jesus is the son of God then you can’t quote Matthew 19 to make your point. Matthew 19 is the chapter where Christ says that the Creator made a man and a woman to be one flesh in a marriage. Thus marriage is the best arrangement for human sexual expression, and an institution created by God and endorsed by Christ. This seems to bit to be exceptionally good advice, but yes, it does have Christian overtones.

    When you taught health, did you feel responsible for teaching your students the “best” advice?

    bit’s impression is that the number of single mothers is astronomical compared to a generation or two ago. Hope bit is wrong. bit’s impression could be simply because of the changing demographics – more people more single mothers. Let’s hope that’s all it is.


  90. bitblt says:


    ralph the wonder llama Says:
    .
    .
    .
    June 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    All youth deserve the best.

    Believe this was the point of the quoted material in bit’s first post.

    Unbelievable, RTWL writes a post that actually acknowledges that someone needs to be responsible. bit would note this post as one of RTWL’s more useful and more appreciated posts.


    But abstinence is unworkable as a strategy for a society as a whole to reduce those problems among its youth.

    bit agrees. See the bit’s last post to dbadass on a man and a woman being one flesh in a marriage.

    Apparently society is now at a point where it doesn’t have any “best advice” to give. There is apparently no “collective wisdom” in today’s society like there is in the “one flesh” quote above.

    Passing another signpost on the way to being a society not worth preserving.



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