From: mason@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov (Jim Mason)
Subject: Re: Libertairians/Republicans
Organization: NASA/MSFC
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 16:46:04 GMT

Leah.Wesolowski@p0.f2.n373.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Leah Wesolowski) writes:

>Libertairianism is my basic philosophy however YOU are not going to 
>sit there and place the War on Drugs squarely on the shoulders of 
>the Party (which I am a member) THe GOP.

> [...]
>Without the silly liberals we would not have such things as the 
>"Brady Bill" Cuts in defense, Femi-Naziism, pro-gay movements, ....
                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^
                               ^^^^^^^^^^^^
                       (Exactly what is this, anyway?)

These are hardly partisan issues.  The Republican administration have
cut defence plenty, and I doubt they would characterize themselves as
"liberals", let alone silly ones. (Sure, the Democrats have favoured
*larger* defence cuts, but the Republicans' cuts are still *cuts*
nonetheless.)  It seems unusual that someone who considers herself
fiscally conservative would attack the opposition for *cutting*
spending.  Do not fiscal conservatives call for *less* government?

And consider Barry Goldwater and Gov. William Weld, for example: both
are Republicans; both have condemned the vitriolic gay-bashing at the
RNC.  And Gov. Weld has advanced some really gay-positive legislation.

There are even (*gasp*) gay Republicans.  In fact, there is a
Gay/Lesbian Caucus in the Republican Party.  Yes, Virginia, there be
GAY PEOPLE IN AMERICA even without the Democratic Party.


>Liberals want to give our grade school children condoms and teach 
>them how to use them---BEFORE it is too late and they catch aids...
> 
>Can't they see that teaching children that sex is something that 
>should be shared AFTER marraige is the most benefitial way to go? 
>Have you heard about the California School where Condoms as a part 
>of the sex ed. program now has the highest teenage pregnancy rate 
>in AMERICA?
>                While the condom is being waved as a barrier against 
>the AIDS virus (which is now being questioned as to its actual casue 
>of AIDS) hasn't anyone got the guts to stand up and say hey the virus 
>is one millionth of a centemeter and a condom has tiny pores ten to 
>twenty times larger than that...doesn't it make sence that a condom 
>is really no protection at all? Doesn't it make sence that the ONLY 
>way to prevent AIDS is to refrain from having sex untill marraige?

I see no problem with teaching abstinence; however, teaching *ONLY*
abstinence is IRRESPONSIBLE.  It is analogous to arguing that teaching
driver's education is a bad thing because it's only going to encourage
youth to drive.  And don't we all know that the best way to avoid auto
accidents/deaths is to STAY OUT OF CARS!!!  Yet we teach youth about
*responsible* *driving*.  Driver's education courses do not *guarantee*
that the students will not have accidents, but they do decrease the
likelihood of the students' being in fatal auto accidents.  Likewise,
condoms are no *guarantee* against contracting AIDS, but they are
demonstrably safer than unprotected sex.

Equally important in sex education is that students be taught about
the relative risks involved in various sexual activities.  We must
teach that some activities, such as anal intercourse, for example, are
*very unsafe* and should not be attempted at all (condom or not!).
"Just Say No" doesn't teach this.  And youth are dying.  It didn't work
for drugs and it isn't working for sex education.

(Sidebar: You suggest that youth be taught that one should "refrain
from having sex until marraige."  How about "refrain from having sex
until becoming an adult, when one becomes *responsible* for one's
*own* decisions?  Or do you believe that adults should not be able to
make decisions regarding their own sexuality?)

-Jim

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