An interesting take
The Washington Post posted an article recently that describes a debate forming over the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine that has been developed recently. This particular virus is strongly associated with certain forms of cervical cancer, so the vaccine is seen as a way to prevent future cancers.
Apparently the key debate started when officials started talking about when to vaccinate people. Ideally it needs to happen before puberty kicks in and kids start doing what kids do when puberty hits. The problem here is that, apparently, vaccinating against a STD sends a message that such pre-marital behavior is OK. Therefore, the HPV vaccine is lumped into the same category as birth-control and abortions.
The desire here seems to be to make sure that pre-marital you-know-what has consequences. Possibly dire consequences. God gave you those urges to test you, or something, and through resisting until marriage you will rise in the eyes of Him and live a better life along the way.
Which only brings up the question of what'll happen if the science wonks ever figure out an effective HIV vaccine. Such a thing is nearly impossible due to the nature of the virus, but it does pose an interesting thought experiment. Even today HIV is seen in some sections as God's punishment to the promiscuous queers. Such a vaccine would have an undeniable public health benefit, as anyone who has read about the crisis in Africa can attest.
But here in America, where forcible or incest rape is a teeny percentage of HIV transmission, you can bet the 'clear health benefit' will be lost in a moral storm. Especially if talks are to vaccinate children before their marriage-night. Pre-marital you-know-what needs to have consequences, and God delivered this one to us just for that.
I don't know the stats, but I suspect that the majority of STDs are contracted by people in the 'young idiot' demographic (puberty to about age 25). I do know that in the Gay community, the younguns who don't remember the AIDS scares of the 80's and 90's are the ones most likely to participate in very unsafe behavior. Anything that can protect this age-group needs to be done.
The argument that "pre-marital you know what must have consequences" is a key part of the version of "reproductive health" that has survived in our public schools. Gone are the days when they taught how to use birth-control, and now the focus is on birth-control failure rates (which will inevitably go up since we're not teaching how to use the stuff), infectious diseases you can catch that'll kill you, and the chances and consequences of pregnancy before marriage. The overwhelming argument being that you-know-what can kill you, so you'd best only do it with one and only one person in your whole life.
So in the end, seeing that certain parties see the HPV vaccine as a threat doesn't come as a surprise.
Apparently the key debate started when officials started talking about when to vaccinate people. Ideally it needs to happen before puberty kicks in and kids start doing what kids do when puberty hits. The problem here is that, apparently, vaccinating against a STD sends a message that such pre-marital behavior is OK. Therefore, the HPV vaccine is lumped into the same category as birth-control and abortions.
The desire here seems to be to make sure that pre-marital you-know-what has consequences. Possibly dire consequences. God gave you those urges to test you, or something, and through resisting until marriage you will rise in the eyes of Him and live a better life along the way.
Which only brings up the question of what'll happen if the science wonks ever figure out an effective HIV vaccine. Such a thing is nearly impossible due to the nature of the virus, but it does pose an interesting thought experiment. Even today HIV is seen in some sections as God's punishment to the promiscuous queers. Such a vaccine would have an undeniable public health benefit, as anyone who has read about the crisis in Africa can attest.
But here in America, where forcible or incest rape is a teeny percentage of HIV transmission, you can bet the 'clear health benefit' will be lost in a moral storm. Especially if talks are to vaccinate children before their marriage-night. Pre-marital you-know-what needs to have consequences, and God delivered this one to us just for that.
I don't know the stats, but I suspect that the majority of STDs are contracted by people in the 'young idiot' demographic (puberty to about age 25). I do know that in the Gay community, the younguns who don't remember the AIDS scares of the 80's and 90's are the ones most likely to participate in very unsafe behavior. Anything that can protect this age-group needs to be done.
The argument that "pre-marital you know what must have consequences" is a key part of the version of "reproductive health" that has survived in our public schools. Gone are the days when they taught how to use birth-control, and now the focus is on birth-control failure rates (which will inevitably go up since we're not teaching how to use the stuff), infectious diseases you can catch that'll kill you, and the chances and consequences of pregnancy before marriage. The overwhelming argument being that you-know-what can kill you, so you'd best only do it with one and only one person in your whole life.
So in the end, seeing that certain parties see the HPV vaccine as a threat doesn't come as a surprise.
posted by Corwin at 10:31 AM
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