Back to condoms

First to my regular readers let me apologize for my absence. For the last two weeks I have been battling bronchitis. My wonderful husband helped pick up my slack around the house, but as for blogging about abstinence he drew the line. So thanks to my perfect husband and thanks to you for your patience.
While there are a bevy of topics I would like to address, I got sidetracked just now while reading a news report online. It appears all of the work President Bush did supporting my abstinence cause will be abandoned by the new administration. It seems President elect Obama thinks the nation needs to focus on a more scientific approach to the spreading of STDs by using condoms than the ideological approach of the Bush administration on abstinence.
I am a little confounded that one approach is MORE scientific than the other. As far as I know, that when abstinence is used it is 100% effective, however condoms are only 97% effective. Math not being my strong suit even I know that 100 is better than 97; I'm just saying. So where does the science come in? Apparently in human error. You see President elect Obama does not feel that we are responsible enough to say NO to sex. So he thinks we should take away that sticky subject of personal accountability and just make it easier for everyone. If you have the urge to have sex, go ahead and don't worry about the consequences, just be sure to have a condom!
I found this information on the Center for Disease Control Website and thought it would help prove my point.

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to
abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous
relationship with a partner who has been tested and you know is uninfected.
For persons whose sexual behaviors place them at risk for STDs, correct and
consistent use of the male latex condom can reduce the risk of STD transmission.
However, no protective method is 100 percent effective, and condom use cannot
guarantee absolute protection against any STD. Furthermore, condoms lubricated
with spermicides are no more effective than other lubricated condoms in
protecting against the transmission of HIV and other STDs. In order to achieve the
protective effect of condoms, they must be used correctly and consistently.

Yes, it appears that condoms do greatly reduce the risk of HIV, but haven't we already discussed that there are more consequences to sex outside of marriage than just the physical? The emotional damage created by someone choosing to have sex when they are not mentally mature enough can be life altering. You don't have to believe me when I say this, but I have seen this damage with my own eyes. It was one of the reasons I waited until I was married. I never wanted to give anyone control over my life that would change its direction forever...for the worse.
I will agree with President elect Obama, abstinence is hard and fails when we are not held responsible for our actions. But handing condoms out in Africa without educating the people on the truths about sex ,the disease and deaths will continue to climb. They will only use condoms if they are available and if they do not have condoms they will continue to have unsafe sex. Do you know that it is believed in parts of Africa that if you have sex with a virgin then you will be cured of Aids? Do you know how many infants have been raped for the cure? Obama's solution is more condoms. The Bush administration has spent more money than any other administration in Africa on educating and treating the people infected with HIV and AIDS. Explaining to these individuals that "no, sex with a virgin will not cure you".
As for here in the United States, I guess we will have to wait for the lessons on accountability. The lesson we hear now is, "if it feels good do it, and worry about the consequences later". And lucky for you President Obama with the FOCA will help make abortions more readily available to you. After all he said himself, "He doesn't want his girls to have to be punished if they make a mistake". I wonder who will pay the bills for the emotional distress derived from the abortion? Forgive me if I am not inspired. I will continue to teach my daughters about personal accountability and consequences for their actions, and I am pretty sure I will have two remarkable, self-reliant, beautiful girls who will help to save the next generation.