I had a bit of a discussion regarding the Montgomery county school board decision to provide condoms, free of charge, to middle and high school students. The logic is straightforward. They feel it is a safety and health issue. To avoid any financial, or personal embarrassment, the school will provide them free of charge and without having to ask anyone.Their parents, or any other adults not having knowledge protects their privacy. Additionally it is to protect the students from disease or unwanted pregnancies. I understand all those reasons and the thinking behind them. I do however take exception to that line of thought.
I believe it is the responsibilty of the parents to educate their children in moral and ethical behaviors. The decision to engage in sexual activity and the consequences of that choice must be taught by the parents. I also believe it is the responsibilty of the school to reinforce and place further emphasis on the serious consequences of such choices/behaviors. And it is that, that arouses my objection to the policy adopted by that school system. I question just what lesson is being taught here? Is it a lesson in responsibilty and accountability? I think not. I view it in quite a different manner. What I see being promoted is this: If I can avoid the consequences, the action becomes acceptable. To put it another way, it's alright as long as I don't get caught. That's the lesson I see.There is no wrongdoing unless we are caught?
What I am really talking about of course is morality. Should we be encouraging teenagers to engage in premarital sex? Is that an acceptable action? Encouraging you say isn't the purpose of giving out those condoms, it's prevention. Well what other assumption is being made here, what are we saying exactly? We are telling these children, and that's what they are, school children, that we believe they will have sex no matter what. We are reaffirming a belief that they just can't control themselves, its' impossible. We agree you should just surrender to biology.That is why we are going to hand out those condoms for free to all. We have abandoned the idea of teaching responsibilty and accountability for your choices, they don't exist, if we can avoid the consequences. In fact, everything is alright if you can avoid the consequence.
It's an old idea, this removal of consequence as justification for wrong actions. We buy " radar detectors "so we can speed in our cars. It's okay as long as you don't get caught, right? We have " apps " on our phone to direct us around weigh stations and police check points. It's alright to drive trucks overweight or in disrepair as long as we avoid those checkpoints. It's fine to drink and drive as long as you avoid the police. All the " little " things we accept, as long as we don't get caught or have to publicly admit to doing. It's the reason so many behaviors are now promoted as " acceptable " and " normal " that were traditionally known to be improper. It's why we label those behaviors as progressive, tolerant and empathetic. In that way we remove the consequences of those actions. We are no longer concerned with curbing those behaviors, the concern is the removal of consequence.
All of this stems back to one thing, consequence. That's what people fear the most isn't it, consequence. And don't we think of consequences as a negative thing? That is what is generally conjured up, a picture of I'm going to have to " pay up " in some fashion. Strange isn't it how we so seldom think of consequence as a good thing. We all understand the importance of consequence, the very word itself implies that. Take the condom issue for instance. What are the possible consequences for not using them? Unwanted pregnancies and disease, right? Yes, we would all agree upon that. How could those consequences be avoided? By not engaging in sexual activities is the most certain way, in fact, it is 100% effective in preventing those unwanted consequences. But, at least n this case, that isn't the lesson being taught. What is being taught is how to avoid that consequence and brushing the action aside. It is a moral issue. And this school system has decided that it is easier to just avoid the consequences than to teach the lesson. We will just show you how to avoid them and no one need know, not even your parents. It's alright as long as you don't get caught.
Now I understand that this is all a matter of religion. Morals are taught to us by religion. Why is that? Because our God(s) provide us with ultimate consequence. We will be held to account in whatever afterlife there is. Of course if we can remove that premise then there are no consequences beyond the ones here on earth. And those consequences only matter if we get caught, so, it's game on! We are now left with two choices, either dismiss the notion of God and consequence altogether, replacing that with science and verifiable proven facts, or just change what our God deems acceptable behavior. We can rewrite the book to suit our current wants avoiding any consequence whatsoever.
So what does this have to do with the school? Morals and ethics should be taught at home. That is my firm belief. I also believe any publicly funded schools should, at a minimum, not undermine those morals. Providing condoms to students is sending a message. Having premarital sex is alright as long as you can avoid any consequence from that choice. The moral choice is secondary to the physical choice. It also sends the message, we know you can't resist those urges and there is no use in trying! We are here to provide you with a method to circumvent any consequences from your failure! You will fail! It's a message the kids are hearing every day. They hear at school, they hear it in ads on the television, they read it on social media. Planned Parenthood is preached and supported. Planned Parenthood says, use a condom but if that fails, kill the baby! No consequence to that action, it's legal. If you contract a disease Planned Parenthood may treat that disease, but that doesn't remove the consequences does it? No, only the requirement you pay for that treatment. Same thing in some people's thinking though.
It is this removal of ultimate consequence that troubles me. I fail to understand how we can expect to live in a moral society without morality being the first lesson. We need to teach that there is the final consequence. If we teach the next generation, and each succeeding generation, that the only consequence to be had is here and now what will restrain them? How can that not develop into altruism? I believe we are seeing the beginnings of that today. There is a growing trend of no interest in the well being of others when that interest interferes with wants. I want to do this and I will do this regardless of how it effects you. I can do so because, it's my right! All that matters is the legal standard.
Morality and mortality. Are they connected? Our mortality is certain, no avoiding that consequence. What lives on beyond our mortal body. I would say it is our character, that is what others remember. All the great figures in history are remembered for what? Their character. It doesn't matter all that much whether that character was good or bad, the character is remembered. So it comes down to, what do you want remembered? Does it matter? That's the consequence I'm talking about. Handing out free condoms to school children, a little thing you say. The " right " thing to do. There are consequences you know. Consequence far beyond this moment, this immediate want. A lifetime of consequence.
What I am really talking about of course is morality. Should we be encouraging teenagers to engage in premarital sex? Is that an acceptable action? Encouraging you say isn't the purpose of giving out those condoms, it's prevention. Well what other assumption is being made here, what are we saying exactly? We are telling these children, and that's what they are, school children, that we believe they will have sex no matter what. We are reaffirming a belief that they just can't control themselves, its' impossible. We agree you should just surrender to biology.That is why we are going to hand out those condoms for free to all. We have abandoned the idea of teaching responsibilty and accountability for your choices, they don't exist, if we can avoid the consequences. In fact, everything is alright if you can avoid the consequence.
It's an old idea, this removal of consequence as justification for wrong actions. We buy " radar detectors "so we can speed in our cars. It's okay as long as you don't get caught, right? We have " apps " on our phone to direct us around weigh stations and police check points. It's alright to drive trucks overweight or in disrepair as long as we avoid those checkpoints. It's fine to drink and drive as long as you avoid the police. All the " little " things we accept, as long as we don't get caught or have to publicly admit to doing. It's the reason so many behaviors are now promoted as " acceptable " and " normal " that were traditionally known to be improper. It's why we label those behaviors as progressive, tolerant and empathetic. In that way we remove the consequences of those actions. We are no longer concerned with curbing those behaviors, the concern is the removal of consequence.
All of this stems back to one thing, consequence. That's what people fear the most isn't it, consequence. And don't we think of consequences as a negative thing? That is what is generally conjured up, a picture of I'm going to have to " pay up " in some fashion. Strange isn't it how we so seldom think of consequence as a good thing. We all understand the importance of consequence, the very word itself implies that. Take the condom issue for instance. What are the possible consequences for not using them? Unwanted pregnancies and disease, right? Yes, we would all agree upon that. How could those consequences be avoided? By not engaging in sexual activities is the most certain way, in fact, it is 100% effective in preventing those unwanted consequences. But, at least n this case, that isn't the lesson being taught. What is being taught is how to avoid that consequence and brushing the action aside. It is a moral issue. And this school system has decided that it is easier to just avoid the consequences than to teach the lesson. We will just show you how to avoid them and no one need know, not even your parents. It's alright as long as you don't get caught.
Now I understand that this is all a matter of religion. Morals are taught to us by religion. Why is that? Because our God(s) provide us with ultimate consequence. We will be held to account in whatever afterlife there is. Of course if we can remove that premise then there are no consequences beyond the ones here on earth. And those consequences only matter if we get caught, so, it's game on! We are now left with two choices, either dismiss the notion of God and consequence altogether, replacing that with science and verifiable proven facts, or just change what our God deems acceptable behavior. We can rewrite the book to suit our current wants avoiding any consequence whatsoever.
So what does this have to do with the school? Morals and ethics should be taught at home. That is my firm belief. I also believe any publicly funded schools should, at a minimum, not undermine those morals. Providing condoms to students is sending a message. Having premarital sex is alright as long as you can avoid any consequence from that choice. The moral choice is secondary to the physical choice. It also sends the message, we know you can't resist those urges and there is no use in trying! We are here to provide you with a method to circumvent any consequences from your failure! You will fail! It's a message the kids are hearing every day. They hear at school, they hear it in ads on the television, they read it on social media. Planned Parenthood is preached and supported. Planned Parenthood says, use a condom but if that fails, kill the baby! No consequence to that action, it's legal. If you contract a disease Planned Parenthood may treat that disease, but that doesn't remove the consequences does it? No, only the requirement you pay for that treatment. Same thing in some people's thinking though.
It is this removal of ultimate consequence that troubles me. I fail to understand how we can expect to live in a moral society without morality being the first lesson. We need to teach that there is the final consequence. If we teach the next generation, and each succeeding generation, that the only consequence to be had is here and now what will restrain them? How can that not develop into altruism? I believe we are seeing the beginnings of that today. There is a growing trend of no interest in the well being of others when that interest interferes with wants. I want to do this and I will do this regardless of how it effects you. I can do so because, it's my right! All that matters is the legal standard.
Morality and mortality. Are they connected? Our mortality is certain, no avoiding that consequence. What lives on beyond our mortal body. I would say it is our character, that is what others remember. All the great figures in history are remembered for what? Their character. It doesn't matter all that much whether that character was good or bad, the character is remembered. So it comes down to, what do you want remembered? Does it matter? That's the consequence I'm talking about. Handing out free condoms to school children, a little thing you say. The " right " thing to do. There are consequences you know. Consequence far beyond this moment, this immediate want. A lifetime of consequence.
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