From: edm@halcyon.com (Ed Morin)
Subject: Re: Condoms in Public Schools
Organization: Northwest Nexus Inc. (206) 455-3505
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 19:25:22 GMT

donn@brat.wa.com (Donn Pedro) writes:

>It has moral aspects.  Do we let religious beliefs drive our 
>ability to make sound judgements on behalf of our children?

You bet I do.  For me providing free condoms is not a good thing
and I don't approve of my tax dollars being used to buy them for
children.  But again, that is _my_ judgement.

>Which is more immoral, a child having safer sex, or denying access
>to protection from STD's?  Because some cannot *afford* condoms.
>Some cannot afford lunch, we help them don't we?

You make it sound like sex is something that somebody needs to
survive.  It isn't!  Food is needed to enable a child to learn
more effectively.  It is medically shown (I think!) that starvation
hinders mental processes.  Providing a condom doesn't enhance a
childs ability to perform at school.  This may sound callous, but
I think people need to suffer the consequences of bad decisions.
This is how we learn to be responsible - even morality aside.

>:>We have to educate,we can still preach abstinence as the best way
>:>to go,but we have to give those who are not going to listen an
>:>option that can save their lives as well...Once again America has
>:
>:Yes, that option is spending a buck on a condom.  If they can't
>:be responsible enough to buy their own condoms, is America ready
>:for such an irresponsible generation to run our country?  

>Are the poor to die because someone will not spend thier tax 
>dollars on delinquency?

The poor need to realize that they can't engage in activities they
can't afford.  Nobody said "sex" is free.  It comes with responsibilities
whether you like it or not.  You either pay for birth control, pay
for the results of getting diseases or pay for the children that are
born (or all three!).  This is true no matter what the situation - moral
or not.

>:I say
>:not.  People will not learn responsibility if there are not any
>:consequences.

>Suffering and death are consequences, are they not?  

>Too bad that, unlike a video game, you don't get three lives.

Yup, that's true.  This is real life and children as well as adults need
to learn to be responsible.  They need to learn that life is _not_ like
a video game.

>:>fallen asleep as we slowly watch a generation die...
>:
>:There are many areas in which irresponsibility will cost you your
>:life.  Driving a car comes to mind...

>We provide drivers training, seatbelts, and airbags to drivers
>to reduce risk.

All of this costs money.  You pay for drivers education classes,
you pay more for cars now that seat belts need to be in them and
last time I looked, airbags cost quite a bit too.

>Then again, no organization that I am aware of, deems driving
>an immoral act.

I think this can be discussed without bringing moral values into
it (which is why I have tried to keep mine pretty much out so far).
Sex is _not_ free.  It never has been and never will be.  I think
our children need to learn that and should not grow up with the
false impression that it is something we have a _right_ to without
the associated responsibility.  There is no such thing.


>         Donn Pedro ....................a.k.a. donn@brat.wa.com
>	
>	       "You talk the talk.  Do you walk the walk?"

I try!

-- 
Ed Morin
Northwest Nexus Inc. (206) 455-3505 (voice)
"Serving the Usenet community since 1987."
edm@nwnexus.WA.COM