The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
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The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
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Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#2Abstinence education has never been effective anywhere to prevent anything, be it teen pregnancy or the spread of STDs. It's also worth noting that in the States, the states with the highest emphasis on Abstinence only education have the highest rates of teen pregnancies.
As it turns out, hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless of how much they are told not to. I know, I used to be one. Apparently this lesson still needs teaching in huge parts of the world.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#3Abstinence education has never been effective anywhere to prevent anything, be it teen pregnancy or the spread of STDs. It's also worth noting that in the States, the states with the highest emphasis on Abstinence only education have the highest rates of teen pregnancies. As it turns out, hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless of how much they are told not to. I know, I used to be one. Apparently…
It's a lesson which contradicts traditional religion and as such is willfully ignored as a matter of religious pride.
They're not stupid. They can read the same reports and data as you.
But they're religious. When faced with choosing data based policy and religious based policy, their reelection chances and their personal convictions lead them to religious based policy.
It's like the saying "you can't logic someone out of an idea that they didn't logic themselves into"
If you think you can 'teach' a religious politician why data refutes their beliefs, you're in for a very bad time.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#4It's only wasted money if you believe the aim was actually to help anyone in Africa. The real aim was purely political.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#5Thanks, Bush, and the religious fundies who hijacked the Republican party!
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#6Abstinence education has never been effective anywhere to prevent anything, be it teen pregnancy or the spread of STDs. It's also worth noting that in the States, the states with the highest emphasis on Abstinence only education have the highest rates of teen pregnancies. As it turns out, hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless of how much they are told not to. I know, I used to be one. Apparently…
It's a lesson which contradicts traditional religion and as such is willfully ignored as a matter of religious pride. They're not stupid. They can read the same reports and data as you. But they're religious. When faced with choosing data based policy and religious based policy, their reelection chances and their personal convictions lead them to religious based policy. It's like the saying "you can't logic someone o…
I would counter that ignoring hard data with such a loud consensus that's relatively easy to read in favor of emotional appeal or personal belief is the very definition of stupid.
Edit: That was poorly worded. Bad Zeus.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#7It's only wasted money if you believe the aim was actually to help anyone in Africa. The real aim was purely political.
What political gains were made though? Or do you mean the goal was to make it look good to the folks at home?
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's a lesson which contradicts traditional religion and as such is willfully ignored as a matter of religious pride. They're not stupid. They can read the same reports and data as you. But they're religious. When faced with choosing data based policy and religious based policy, their reelection chances and their personal convictions lead them to religious based policy. It's like the saying "you can't logic someone o…
I would counter that ignoring hard data with such a loud consensus that's relatively easy to read in favor of emotional appeal or personal belief is the very definition of stupid. Edit: That was poorly worded. Bad Zeus.
:( I think you just called yourself stupid.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#9Abstinence education has never been effective anywhere to prevent anything, be it teen pregnancy or the spread of STDs. It's also worth noting that in the States, the states with the highest emphasis on Abstinence only education have the highest rates of teen pregnancies. As it turns out, hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless of how much they are told not to. I know, I used to be one. Apparently…
>hormonal teenagers when left alone will have sex regardless
Because you have no faith doesn't mean no one else does, what you're saying is false. There are people who obey God, even though you clearly can't imagine it.
Re: The U.S. Blew $1.4B on Abstinence Education in Africa
#10Thanks, Bush, and the religious fundies who hijacked the Republican party!
Bush is widely considered to have been the best president for African aid by Africans. See for instance http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/04/george-w-bushs-...
and http://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2015/07/28/ob...
Seriously. Bush is well loved in Sub-saharan africa, speaking very broadly of course.