Hey Andy!

I'm a big fan of all the studies coming out lately finally giving hard proof that abstinence-only ed sucks. The Washington Post article in December was great, too, saying that the program basically doesn't work at all.

I just wanted to tell you that you have a kickin' blog and encourage you to keep posting because I check back daily and always enjoy what I see. :)

--Josh H.

(By the way, we've met. I'm Erik Stav's "little bro." Small world, huh?)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=518674

Let's be honest....one of the best ways to combat STDs is to be abstinent. Enjoy the link above.

Yes, Anonymous, abstinence does prevent STDs. So does death. Oh and cutting off genitalia frequently prevents transmission of STDs, too. Just be glad I'm not running for President...yet.

And one of the best ways to not get in a car accident is not to get in a car.

What's your point, Anonymous?

And Uganda is hardly the United States. But if we need to have a cultural studies lesson, maybe that'll be the next post.

Uganda is not the United States? What does that have to do with anything? Is their AIDS virus "different" somehow? Why are you so closed-minded? I believe the "point" speaks for itself. A rampant AIDS rate has been lowered by teaching abstinence along with condom use and monogamy. It must be difficult for you all to see this happen. What a tragedy! That so many have learned to control their behavior and live!

So...why don't we teach condom use in high schools then?

I'm all for condom use and monogamy, but let's not try to pretend like kids aren't having sex by assuming that if we preach abstinence they'll listen.

What I meant was, Uganda and the United States have very different cultures. What works there is not necessarily applicable here. And, I do believe I cited two studies that showed that it didn't work here. So, actually argue with what I wrote or quit trolling my blog.

Oh, and just for a little background on the lovely culture of Uganda:

http://www.amfar.org/cgi-bin/iowa/td/feature/record.html?record=119

"While Bush promotes Uganda as a prevention paradigm, HIV disproportionately affects women there. Of the estimated 1 million Ugandans living with HIV, 56% are female. This disparity is expected to increase because of gender inequality and, in particular, because of Uganda’s exceptionally high rate of domestic violence against women.

The World Health Organization estimates that one in three Ugandan females suffers from abuse, one of the highest incidence rates in the world. The Rakai Project, a renowned Ugandan research center, surveyed 5,109 women, and 90% of them viewed beating a wife as justifiable in certain situations. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has condemned the Ugandan government for failing to criminalize or prosecute violence against women in the home. Its 2003 report, "Just Die Quietly," states: "The Ugandan government has ignored the role of violence, and, in particular, unwanted sexual relations in marriage, in exposing women to HIV infection."

And I would counter by saying that as Uganda has welcomed abstinence education and all that comes with it, that the gender inequality issue has also been addressed. You seem upset that the AIDS rate has been lowered there. Why can't you just admit that it worked? As for condoms in school, this IS done in many schools. Why not try to change hearts about sex and waiting until marriage in addition to this? What is so wrong with this? Is promiscuity now a desirable virtue? Why not warn against its downside?
As far as what you wrote, one of the sources you cited as investigating the "long-term effect" of abstinence education did their survey "one year after the program began." Is this long-term? One year? Is this the only chance you're willing to give after these kids have been bombarded with years of the "if it feels good do it" mantra? Give it a chance and stop worrying about agendas....geez!

anonymous, abstinence-only education doesn't work. Admit it. This is just the first study in a long line to prove us right.

I'm glad that the Ugandan AIDS problem has been decreased, but it's still a problem, and as Andy shows, the situation is much different in this country.

Given the fact that gay people can't get married in this country, I can't exactly wait until I'm married to have sex, nor can the millions of gay teens...but I don't want to get off on a rant here.

So...answer the question. Why not teach condom use, too, like they did in Uganda? Why not use a joint approach? It's done now in many schools, but if the president has his way, it won't be. That's what we're worried about.

Why not use both? I agree....Why not? Normally it is the people who want to distribute condoms in school that think trying to encourage teenagers to wait (abstinence) is a ridiculous concept. You know what is ridiculous? To live a gay lifestyle...try and pass it off as normal and assume that no one will get hurt. The odds are heavy in your favor to get a disease and die early in "practicing" your "chosen" lifestyle. We've had decades of your way of thinking in our public schools and look where it has gotten us! How about we try something else?

Please, for the sake of all that is good and holy in your world, take this conversation somewhere else, anonymous. I'm gonna hold my tongue here.

Excellent! "Dunner," is this all it takes to get you all to "hold your tongue?" I'll alert America!

Sadly, no. Until I have the pleasure of putting a face, name, and/or email address to put to your postings, I'll hold my tongue. Fighting faceless hatred is useless.

Grow a pair and find a name, or tut-tut back home to the ranch. Until then, you have no standing to say much of anything.

Oh, I don't hate you. I don't hate homosexuality. You are simply wrong. Were you ever punished as a child? Your parents disagreed with something you did and you faced consequences. Did this mean that they hated you? Nope....label me if you like, but just like your lifestyle...you're wrong again....

It's important to note that the Ugandan government's response to its AIDS crisis is not just to promote abstinence. The approach is called the ABC approach...Abstinence, Be faithful, or use Condoms. This is quoted from www.thebody.com:

"U.S. Congressional Representative Dave Weldon (R-Florida), a physician, traveled to the East African nation of Uganda in 2003 to "gain a better understanding" of their successful efforts to prevent HIV. Uganda's approach, dubbed "ABC," encourages Ugandans to Abstain from sex, Be faithful to one partner, or use a Condom. The nationwide program has dramatically reduced HIV infection. Weldon, an uptight conservative, sure looks swell holding those Ugandan AIDS orphans in pics posted on his official government Web site. It almost, almost makes you forget that he spent most of 2004 distorting and mangling the ABC message here in the United States. For him, it's all about A (abstain from sex if unmarried) or B (be faithful -- and married -- to your partner). Weldon pretends the C component, using condoms, is mentioned only "as a last resort," claiming A and B supercede C in Uganda. Don't believe it. Condom use rose steeply among unmarried sexually active men and women there. Weldon doesn't want you to know that a range of complementary messages and services delivered by the government and a wide diversity of nongovernmental organizations since the late 1980s are working. Rep. Weldon, shame on you for misrepresenting Uganda's extraordinary accomplishments!"

What misrepresentation? It worked...I'm all for using condoms in conjunction with Abstinence education.....Look at Uganda in direct contrast with other African nations that haven't welcomed Abstinence Based education.....You guys are ridiculous and not even remotely honest!

Sigh. The Ugandan approach has been to encourage people to not have casual sex, and to use protection when they do have sex. In other words, very much like what US AIDS educators have tried to do, but what the abstinence-only crowd objects to. The other distinguishing feature of Uganda's approach was to use community based education rather than messages from "on high" - someone in your village educates, not just some message from the government. Again, this is exactly the kind of education that conservatives in the US have objected to: programs that target at risk populations (gay men, IV drug users, etc.) with messages delivered by members of their own community.

That the abstinence-only folks here use Uganda as an example of the merits of their approach, when in fact they've been utterly opposed to Uganda-style efforts, just speaks to their dishonesty and moral bankruptcy. There's a social agenda there, and they're happy if people who don't follow it die.

Meanwhile, to the guy who is complaining that homosexuality is "wrong": it's a phenomenon that occurs in many mammalian species, including humans. Saying it's wrong is as logical as saying "cat's whiskers are wrong" or "blue skies are wrong." I think what you meant to say is "I don't like homosexuality."

Yeah, I "chose" to have my father break my jaw and two of my ribs just because I'm gay. Riiiiiiight! I'd like to know where 'anonymous' gets his 'gay is wrong' attitude? If he is trying to use the bible, well thats been proven incorrect so many times its not even worth arguing over anymore. . . . moving on to the more intelligent rants.