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Tuesday, 20 March 2007 16:43 |
| | Janese Johnson |
The pro-life/pro-choice debate has been going on now for decades. Each side feels that its position is right and both sides feel that they have good arguments to prove it. It seems that it would be more important to take a look at the deeper problem here and work together on creating a healthier nation.
Statistics show that the U.S. has a teen-pregnancy rate nine times higher than the Netherlands and five times higher than Germany. Abortion rates in the U.S. are eight times higher than in Germany and three times higher than in France; and sexually transmitted diseases in the U.S. vary from six to 20 times higher than some European countries, depending on the STD.
The
differences are startling and make one wonder why we are not looking
into the real issue and working diligently to remedy it. This epidemic
affects not only our teens, but all of us in the long run.
It makes sense
to look to the countries that are having success and use their model
with our teens in order to decrease pregnancy/abortion/STD rates. There
is at least one organization that is very active in this research ó
Advocates for Youth, which is actively working along with three
European countries to help this American problem. The group is
sponsored through the University of North Carolina and participates in
a yearly event in Europe that discusses teen sexuality and the
differences between our countries.
One of the main
differences is how we, as a country give confusing and mixed messages
about sexuality to our children. By contrast with the U.S., notes AFY,
ìEach of these nations (the Netherlands, Germany and France) has an
unwritten social contract with young people: ëWeíll respect your right
to act responsibly, giving you the tools you need to avoid unintended
pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.íî They
basically accept that their teens will experiment and therefore
problems will likely exist.
These countries
do not promote teen sex.What they do promote is the attitude that ìIf
you are going to have sex as a teen, then use protection.î
Teens there have
fewer partners than teens here, and feel more comfortable taking the
necessary precautions to avoid pregnancy and STDs. Teens here, on the
other hand, have been found to be so ambivalent about sex that they
often have sex without thinking about it, which then leads to greater
risk.
Advocates for
Youth feels that its message is pro-life because ìto most supporters of
the pro-life movement, human life becomes a human person at conception.
Thus,one fewer abortion means one fewer murder of a human being.î This
focus also supports those who are pro-choice, because it still allows
choice ó but the focus is now on achieving a healthier solution.
This seems an
important direction for us to go in. Advocates for Youth is doing a
fantastic job with educating others, but it is only one group.
If all who are
caught up in the pro-life/pro-choice debate turned their attention to
what is in the best interest for our teens and worked in that
direction, then we would have fewer teens making poor choices.
Yes, I believe
that unwanted teen pregnancies can be a thing of the past ó if we are
willing to get beyond our own selves to do what is best for our teens,
and follow the successes of other countries.
ï
Janese Johnson
has been doing intuitive counseling nationally for more than 20 years.
She may be contacted at janesej-at-buncombe.main.nc.us.
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