NO (con)DOM SENSE......

Recently (yesterday, in fact), there was YET AGAIN another column in our local newspaper filled with misinformation about how condoms will save the world. Well, okay, maybe not "save the world", exactly, but basically, how people really need to start using condoms to avoid STD's. Oh excuse me.... STI's. Apparently the sexually transmitted viruses are no longer considered "diseases". Now they're just infections. How very nice.

But, I digress.

So, back to the column, written (surprise, surprise) by uber-liberal Mindelle Jacobs of the Sun Media. Ms. Jacobs proposes that we need to make the condom "sexy", to encourage more regular usage, thus ridding the world of all the evil sexually transmitted diseases (sorry, that's what they are!). Of course, no mention was made whatsoever about the failure rate of condoms; the fact that they are basically USELESS when trying to prevent the spread of AIDS, and all the other fun little tidbits of information that the mainstream media chooses to ignore. I in my indignance fired off a letter to the editor trying to clarify a few things, and perhaps provide a more balanced overview of exactly how effective (or rather, INeffective) condoms actually are.

Since the paper did not publish my letter in today's issue (and considering I sent it to them at 10:00 in the morning, they had plenty of time to fit it in), and most likely they won't be publishing it any time soon, I am posting it on my blog. At least then I can feel like maybe it was worthwhile writing!

Dear Winnipeg Sun,

Mindelle Jacobs once again has successfully mixed a small amount of truth with blatant lies and misinformation to write her column. While it is very true that the rates of sexually transmitted diseases are skyrocketing, particularly among youth, it is simplistic and naïve to promote the idea that condoms are going to solve this problem. Condoms are not effective in stopping the spread of STDs, because many of the STDs are spread through skin-to-skin contact, not just through bodily fluids. Condoms DO NOT offer complete protection because the viruses are not confined to the area the condom is designed to cover. The AIDS virus HIV, is approximately 450 times smaller than sperm, and can easily pass through the pores of the condom. Even when condoms are used 100% perfectly (which they rarely are), the failure rate is STILL 15%. Condoms have a documented failure rate of 1 in 6 among couples using condoms to prevent the spread of the AIDS virus. A British study showed that the Human Papilloma Virus infects 46% of teenage girls after their FIRST sexual encounter. Is this what we want for our youth? There is absolutely no need whatsoever for teens to be engaging in intimate physical relationships, period. We need to step up as parents and teach our children they have self-worth and value without having to take off their clothes. It shows far more strength of character and maturity for someone to remain sexually pure than to be sexually active. If we are serious about our concern for our youth, we as a caring society will demand that abstinence programmes be implemented and emphasized in our schools. Sorry, Mindelle, but condoms are not the answer, and it is high time the media started printing the truth.

So THERE.

Thank you for letting me rant.