ARTICLEURL function fbs_click() {u=location.href;t=document.title;window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&t='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=626,height=436');return false;} Delicious

The Wanderboy is back and talking about teen sex.  Listen up!

(click here to read the Yahoo! article)

Teen pregnancy is on the rise ladies and gentleman!  Is it a coincidence that those same teens are the ones that have been in grade and high school while GW Bush’s abstinence only programs have been instated?  I think not.  The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate per capita in the Western world and it is a direct result of the failure on the part of parents and the educational system to discuss safe sex practices with teens.

Make no mistake about it, puritanical roots still run deep in this country.  We’d rather ignore the fact that teenagers have sex, thus denying them knowledge of how to practice sex in a safe manner, than broach what is seen as an embarrassing subject with our sons and daughters and come to the realization that it is happening and they need to be educated.  Instead we ignore the sex talk, but allow our children to watch horribly violent films and television and play violent video games.  But if little Jimmy gets caught looking at porn on the Internet he’s off to the therapist.  Why?  Because clearly nobody has sex, but everyone kills people.

At some point teens are going to have sex.  I’m sure ex-president and warmonger Bush was fucking like a jack-rabbit back in the day, but since he put down the coke straw and bottle and “found god” he joined the elite class of “morally responsible” men that see themselves fit to pass judgment on things like the importance of abstinence and the right for a woman to have an abortion.

The worst are those MTV teen pregnancy shows, which despite perhaps decent intentions, glorify teen pregnancy as a means through which to gain attention.  That is not the way to educate young people or bring the topic to the table.

While we’re on the subject I have to express that I cannot stand the nouveau term “they’re pregnant” used as if the husband/boyfriend has to deal with even a sliver of the emotional, psychological and physical effects of pregnancy.  The worst he might have to do is make a late night run for pickles and ice cream and while he should be there for support, let’s give the ladies some credit.  Guys: you’re not pregnant, and if you tell people “we’re pregnant” you are a douche.  Just listen to yourself…douche.

In a final thought I will say this: denial of education on a topic has never led to a positive outcome.  Education is perhaps the greatest gift of living in a modern/developed society because it imparts knowledge, which in turn imparts on the educated a decision to choose. 

Eventually two people lusting after one another in the hormone enraged teen years are going to want to have sex.  You did, I did, we all have been there.  They may choose not to have sex, but if they decide to do it, which let’s be honest they usually do, don’t you want them to know their options for protection?  I learned how to put a condom on a banana in high school, and while proportionally that banana seemed unrealistically large and might have made me feel a bit inadequate, I gained the knowledge of what to do if the situation arose so to speak.  For instance, you can put a condom on inside out – don’t want to do that.

 Fornicate safely people.

 -The Wanderboy