Letters to the Editor
CeliaInSF
Published Letters: 932 Editor's Choice: 5
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Condom education issues
[Read the article: Teen pregnancy: It's baaaack]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Obviously there are are a whole bunch of factors at work here- much as I would love to blame the abstinence only folks- and they clearly deserve some of the blame. But is probably as much a matter of social (cultural, economic) circumstances as it is the sex-ed young people are receiving.
One thing I thought about reading this article was all of the evidence now in - from the UN reports, etc- that overall education access to young girls reduces family size and improves all over reproductive health. Perhaps the rising tide of teen pregnancies has to do with the decreasing access to *quality* education overall. If your education is poor your overall chances for success are clearly diminished. Life choices are more circumscribed.
Now of course the UN studies and such are concerned with developing countries. But we can see our public infrastructure melting down -across the board- think of the debacle that is Katrina and the aftermath for only one example.
Anyway, is our children learning? No, a many are not. And I think it is beyond sex-ed which is important, but overall education for kids, boys and girls, is key.
Another factor, I think, is sex-ed itself. Perhaps the an unintended consequence of the focus on STD transmission, particularly, HIV/AIDS has led to the overshadowing of the pregnancy prevention message. As important as STD/STI prevention is- I think in the real world application, hetero people look around and see little evidence of HIV risk. Because there really isn't much risk. There is plenty of risk when it comes to others STIs like herpes or HPV - which are very unpleasant and in some cases dangerous- but except for the possibility of cervical cancer, non-life threatening.
I think the risk of HIV/AIDS has been hyped to less at risk groups. Obviously it should be discussed and I think the importance of safer sex should be hammered home. The conversation should be at once more inclusive and targeted. We need to be more honest and open about what the actual risks and problems are and help people of all ages address them practically.
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Another Shatner note
[Read the article: Live large and prosper]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Love the article!
Just wanted to note that William Shatner also narrates the excellent program "Mars Rising" on the Science Channel.
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Exactly Christopher1988!
[Read the article: Welcome to the "menaissance"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]How is any sort of chauvinism justifiable? Especially here?
Isn't the point of feminism to free all from rigid gender roles? Those roles that ignore indiviuality, limit potential and prohibit people from realizing themselves?
Having torn away those constrcting roles lots of people are confused and uncomfortable. The bitter cultures wars at least in part because of that.
The sneering attitude of the post is just completely abhorant and inappropriate.
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Dear Carol Lloyd
[Read the article: Randi Rhodes calls Hillary Clinton a whore]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I don't post often. I used to really like Broadsheet. And I tend to get really annoyed by those 'I used to really like this column' posts but I have to say it.
Do you really want to go down this road? Do you want to be the "obscenity" police? Really?
I think that's why the spectrum of articles on Broadsheet is so confusing these days...You go from actual feminist issues of equality then to attacking obscenity then attacking women who don't uphold your rules. And of course hypocrisy ensues. Obviously there is precedent for this but I we had gone past that with the second wave.
I am a feminist. I believe this means equality, human rights and dignity for all. (I think we need a new, better word- not out of shame or embarassment but for better descriptive power.) I also would love a more civil discourse. But I think one of things that Obama best demonstrates is that you have to do it. Don't be a scold; don't hector those who disagree with you. Don't sink to that level - that is how you change it. When you site a single instance of someone saying something bad as movement then relate it to the cultural breakdown ...well you are contributing to the problems. That pseudo logic train from Randi Rhodes to the billboards that offend you to the Obama supporter- is an example of what is polluting the discourse.
And no, I’m not scolding or hectoring here- pointing out something- not claiming you’re a bad person for what you have written or done. Just saying what I disagree with and why and hoping to talk about it.
Finally, I've seen a lot of statements on Salon alone from Clinton supporters like Hattie- and who at least say they would prefer to cut off their nose to spite their face and will vote for McCain- I hope they don't do that. Conversely, I don't happen to see a lot of people who purport to support Obama behaving in the same way. But I won't generalize from my experience with either group to suggest that all, or even most of those people would behave that way.