Ok, this has been bugging me for a long time but I drove by it again and you guys are now going to hear about it. The billboard on Riverdale Road that says "Teens who abstain are more likely to reach their full potential" has got to go. There are two reasons this bugs me:
1. I live in the heart of Weber County, which just happens to have an astronomical teen pregnancy rate. So what do the all-knowing white guys in charge do? They spend a million bucks on abstinence only billboards and junk. Great idea. I'll bet that's going to work like a charm because the past 10 years of abstinence only education has sure been successful!
2. Maybe I've been spending too much time talking with academics and discussing the proper way to conduct research and present your findings, but can you answer this: How in the world would anyone know if a teen has reached their "full potential"?! This is a concept that is not definable and therefore, not measurable. And I can't help but wonder about those millions of kids out there who have already had sex and now are just never going to reach their "full potential." May as well have a baby, get a job at the Common Cents and move in to a trailer park, because once you do it your potential is gone forever, just like your virginity and any chance you had at heaven.
Seriously, is it just me?
4 comments:
Oh my dad. I've seen that and thought the same thing. Seriously.
I'm anxiously awaiting Athena's comments before I take a stab at this.
Okay, I'm not waiting for Athena.
What does abstinence have to do with reaching your "full potential"? I'm 29 years old, okay 39, and I don't plan on reaching my "full potential" until the day I die! The learning process is endless. Is reaching your full potential ever attainable, or even desirable?
Admittedly, teen pregnancies can be devastating in some cases. However, in our family we have proof that overcoming the odds and achieving success in life is possible.
Eris, you are absolutely right. A banana, a condom and hands-on demonstrations will be far more effective than a billboard that makes no sense.
(Athena, I'm proud of you.)
Not everyone's first time was a great experience, sometimes it's not wanted. This billboard doesn't address that aspect of the ugly equation.
This billboard says to me that if I'm not a virgin, I'm pond scum. Instead they should be teaching full on sex education, as many parents don't even know how to approach the subject with their children. Some of these "full potential" unobtainers have low self esteem and physicallity is the only way to help them feel wanted, that someone may stay if they "put out".
I'm glad I speak very openly with my kids about this subject. Case in point, I thanked Bubba for making me a mom. He said that it wasn't his fault I got laid! Glad to know that he put two and two together.
I could go on and on about this. I feel like I have reached more of my "full potential" than some of the "never worked out of the house, waited til I got married, Leave it to Beaver moms". I stepped up and took the challenge and won. I wouldn't change it for the world.
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