Trey Smith
Now, before you go thinking that Herbert must be some kind of raving left-wing Democrat, you should know that he is both Republican AND Mormon. Those factors are why his veto comes as something of a shock to many.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert on Friday vetoed a controversial bill banning public schools from teaching contraception as a way of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
The bill, which also sought to bar instruction on homosexuality or other aspects of human sexuality other than the teaching of abstinence, would have been the first of its kind in the nation if it had become law.
It had previously cleared Utah's Republican-controlled House and Senate, and Herbert was widely expected to sign it.
In vetoing the measure, dubbed HB 363, Herbert said that as a parent and grandparent he considered proper sex education in public schools an important component to the moral education youngsters receive at home.
~ from Utah Governor Vetoes Bill to Curb Sex Education in Schools by Bob Bernick ~
While I salute the man for using a bit of commonsense, that's not the part of this legislation that puzzles me. It is later stated in the article that "supporters of the bill argued that sex education was best left up to parents."
I know I'm painting with a broad brush, but, in my experience, the vast majority of social conservatives have a great deal of trouble talking about s-e-x, even in the company of adults. Make some offhanded remark about human sexuality and a good deal of them get the heebie-jeebies!
If you can't carry on a substantive conversation on the topic with adults, what are the chances you'll be able to handle the topic with your own children?
From my perspective, these people should be overjoyed that a public employee will do the dastardly deed for them. That way they won't have to hem and haw over uncomfortable words (and "nasty" mental images) like penis, vagina, masturbation, condoms and -- dare I write it? -- iNTeRcoUrsE.
My Oh My Oh My! Since I typed THAT word, now I have to go and wash my naughty, naughty fingers!! ;-)
Sometimes I think the more one talks about sex, the less interesting and intriguing it becomes. He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know. He who makes love does not speak; he who speaks does not make love. That's why pornography in the end is so deadening.
ReplyDeleteSo, are you suggesting that children not be provided with sex education?
ReplyDeleteNo not at all, but I am suggesting that our culture/media is overdrenched with sex. Lots of porn, soft and hard, and no "nutritional guidance."
ReplyDeleteI asked because you wrote, "He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know." This would seem to suggest that you think that the people tasked with teaching children about sex aren't really qualified to talk about it.
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