From: mjln_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Mikeey J. Lin)
Newsgroups: talk.abortion
Subject: Re: What the pro-lifers do not tell you
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:54:53 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <1992Apr7.171707.24069@nwnexus.WA.COM> jbrindle@nwnexus.WA.COM (Jennifer Brindle) writes:

>mjln_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Mikeey J. Lin) writes:

>>By giving
>>teenagers access [to birth control] in Junior High School, we are indirectly 
>>giving them the
>>okay to having "sex".

>I've heard this myth ever since I was a child.  Nothing could be farther
>from the truth.  However, I think a great deal depends on _how_ you go
>about "accessing" the birth control.  I think that if you just hand out
>condoms or such without any explanation, then you _might_ be sending the
>wrong message.  If you do so as part of a good, comprehensive sex education
>class which stresses the importance of lovemaking in a _relationship_ and
>not just to occupy your time, then contraception access can only _help_.

	Even with education, giving out contraceptives in Junior High School
is not a good idea. How many Junior High School students can truly see the
difference between "lovemaking" and "having sex". All we can do is stress
how important it is for them to be protected, and where to get contraceptives.
If they do understand how important it is to have birth control, they will
go to the local drug store and get them. You don't have to have them around
in Vending machines. (at least not in a Junior High School)


>If giving kids access to contraception tells them that it's okay, they
>what is the "okay" they are getting now?  Obviously, they are having
>sex (not all, but a sizeable and unignorable portion of them) without our
>"okay".  Why not give them tools to protect themselves and the knowledge
>of when, how and why to use it?


	Hmmm... I believe one of the major reasons is the fact of a lack of
Sex Education in school. If we give them Education, then we would have provided
them with the tools of knowledge. They would have to be responsible adults
in obtaining it themselves, we should not have to give them out. We should
treat them like responsible adults. They have to learn to get it on their own.
Most teenages can afford getting a $0.99 pack of Trojans, so why spend large
sums of money when you know half the condoms are going to be misused.
(There are other "things" that teenagers use condoms for other than sex) :(

>>Besides, if they [teens] wanted to get birth control, there is
>>always the local drug store.

>I have a question for you Mikeey...did you ever purchase condems in a drug
>store when you were a teen?  Do you know how it feels for a teenager to
>walk up to the birth control aisle, look over the merchandise, select a package
>and then wait in line to pay for it, all the while being totally self-conscious
>about his/her actions and wondering what people are thinking?  Many _adults_
>have problems with doing this, and you are casually advocating that "there
>is always the local drug store"?  As long as we have our crazy attitudes about
>sex in this country, teens will be intimidated by purchasing condems.
	
	I was sixteen when I brought my first package of condoms. I admit I was
"nervous" but I brought it because I knew I had to. Does this mean that we
have to provide condoms in shools for teenagers just because they feel uneasy
about buying them? Would you not buy contraception just because you felt
"self-conscious" about buying it even though you knew you needed it? We have
relaxed a bit in our society, it's not so uncommom to see a teenager walking
into a drugstore purchasing a pack of condoms anymore. 
(I know this because I used to work in a drugstore)
 
>>We definitely should give Sex Education in school.
>>However, by giving out condoms, we will (indirectly) give them the impression
>>that sex is okay when you're 12 years old DESPITE our intentions.

>I agree about sex ed, but I totally disagree with your conclusions, nor do
>I believe that there are any studies which back up your assertions.  In
>countries where contraceptives are freely available to teens, not only is
>there less teen sexual activity, but obviously fewer teen pregnancies, too.
>(not that you can make a correlation between other countries and the US, we're
>too damned puritanical...)

	We do have contraceptives freely available to teenagers, we just don't
have the education about sex available to all teenagers. You're right, it
would help but like I said before, every teenager can get contraceptives if
he/she so desires. Don't you agree?

						Mikeey
				    mjln_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu

PS Never race a car by foot! You tend to run into things. (eg mailbox)
   (I'm in soooo mucchhhhh paaaiiinnnnn!!! Urrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!)

>Jennifer