From: dfpedro@nv2.uswnvg.com (Donn F. Pedro)
Newsgroups: seattle.general
Subject: Re: Condoms in Public Schools
Date: 12 Dec 92 10:04:29 GMT
Organization: I don't speak for them anyway.

In article <1992Dec11.192522.6174@nwnexus.WA.COM> edm@halcyon.com (Ed Morin) writes:
: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.

The problem comes when _your_ judgements, based on your beliefs,
are effect the lives of those who do not follow the same beliefs.
I'm not saying you are doing that, but many do.

:>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.  

AIDS Related Dementia hinders mental processes.

Syphillis maddness 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.

Can we not teach them so the are prepared to make those decisions,
and provide them with the tools to carry out activities safely,
if they chose to participate?

:This is how we learn to be responsible - even morality aside.

Jumping out of an airplane, sans parachute, will teach one of 
concequences to be sure, but I think it better to have the person
attend Jump School and have a good chute.  

: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.  

Hey, Ed.  Take it easy.  I don't think I am preaching irresponsible
behavior at all.  

: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.

So a basic part of being human is to be denied to some because they
cannot afford it?

:>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.

And I willingly pay to provide all with the education and tools
to help them participate in that activity safely as possible.

:>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).

You have done a pretty admirible job, but you have brought it in
a little (delinquency and such).  I really don't want to drag
this into a morality argument either.  I don't think it would progress
very 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.

I think we have a fundamental difference in philosiphy here.
You see sex as something that has a hard cost and  it seems much 
higher that I feel it has to have.  I know we differ on issues
pertaining to sexuality, but I believe sex is just like every other
part of our lives.  Just like eating, breathing, walking and playing.
All of it has risks of some sort, so why should we make one activity
more risky than it has to be.  We need not lose respect for ourselves
and what sex is, to do that.

I am not preaching irresponsible emulation of rabbits, Ed.
I believe that no one should enter into a sexual relationship
lightly.

I'm talking about providing equal education and access to 
resources for all.

:I try!

And I admire you for it.  Let's not let this get too personal, ok?
It has a lot of potential to do so.




     Donn Pedro ....................................dfpedro@uswnvg.com

		     There are no ordinary moments.