Comments on: Sex and politics: Where the candidates stand http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/ Course blog in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Florida Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:20:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nora http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/comment-page-1/#comment-1224 Nora Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:34:57 +0000 http://gravlee.org/sexuality/?p=88#comment-1224 1) Making abortion illegal would be infringement on a woman's rights to make decisions about her body. When a woman decides to get an abortion it is a choice made due to the lack of ability to raise a child. It may be do to inability to financially support a child, it may be due to immaturity, or maybe it was a mistake. Point being is that if abortion is made illegal women will either find alternative ways for aborting the fetus or the child will be born into an environment that is not suited for their healthy development. Alternative abortions can be very dangerous and life threatening and raising a child in an environment not suited for them is cruel and unfair to them as beings. Abortion is not going to stop so the resources for safe, legal abortions should be advocated and remain in practice. 2) The teaching of abstinence only sex education in school is a very dangerous development. To simply tell a child they should not do something is not as effective as explaining to them why they shouldn't do it. By teaching kids at early ages how sex works they will be able to understand what it means, the importance of safe sex and how to avoid dangerous situations, including the contraction of STDs and molestation/rape. Young people are going to experiment with their sexuality no matter if someone tells them not to, why not give them the tools to do so safely instead of end up infected with a serious and possible life threatening disease or pregnant? 4) Religion should play absolutely no role on who Americans elect as president. We live in a country that is meant to be tolerant of all races, cultures, and religions. This country may be primarily made up of christians, but that doesn't mean that majority should rule. We need to develop a country that is fair and just not based on the religious teachings of various people, but the rights that we have as citizens of the United States of America. As for judging a person's morality based on their religious practices, I don't think that is a very accurate judgement. I myself am not a religious person in the least and my morals and values are of good nature. I don't think that a person should be judged by their religion but more so by their ideas and beliefs that develop from their religious (or non religious) standings. 1) Making abortion illegal would be infringement on a woman’s rights to make decisions about her body. When a woman decides to get an abortion it is a choice made due to the lack of ability to raise a child. It may be do to inability to financially support a child, it may be due to immaturity, or maybe it was a mistake. Point being is that if abortion is made illegal women will either find alternative ways for aborting the fetus or the child will be born into an environment that is not suited for their healthy development. Alternative abortions can be very dangerous and life threatening and raising a child in an environment not suited for them is cruel and unfair to them as beings. Abortion is not going to stop so the resources for safe, legal abortions should be advocated and remain in practice.

2) The teaching of abstinence only sex education in school is a very dangerous development. To simply tell a child they should not do something is not as effective as explaining to them why they shouldn’t do it. By teaching kids at early ages how sex works they will be able to understand what it means, the importance of safe sex and how to avoid dangerous situations, including the contraction of STDs and molestation/rape. Young people are going to experiment with their sexuality no matter if someone tells them not to, why not give them the tools to do so safely instead of end up infected with a serious and possible life threatening disease or pregnant?

4) Religion should play absolutely no role on who Americans elect as president. We live in a country that is meant to be tolerant of all races, cultures, and religions. This country may be primarily made up of christians, but that doesn’t mean that majority should rule. We need to develop a country that is fair and just not based on the religious teachings of various people, but the rights that we have as citizens of the United States of America. As for judging a person’s morality based on their religious practices, I don’t think that is a very accurate judgement. I myself am not a religious person in the least and my morals and values are of good nature. I don’t think that a person should be judged by their religion but more so by their ideas and beliefs that develop from their religious (or non religious) standings.

]]> By: Candace http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/comment-page-1/#comment-1038 Candace Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:50:29 +0000 http://gravlee.org/sexuality/?p=88#comment-1038 I took Contemporary Moral Issues during summer B, and we discussed aboortion as well as many other controversial issues. I would definitely recommend taking the class if you would like to voice your opinion while backing it up. I have always been pro-life. I believe that abortion is murder, and I never really understood how people could think otherwise. The morals class opened my eyes to new ways of thought, but even after listening to everyone's insight, I remain anti-abortion. It is a fact that the embryonic heart begins to beat about 22 days (or 5 weeks) after conception. As far as I am concerned, a human's offspring is considered human when the heart begins to beat. It has life, and who has the right to take someone else's life away without their consent? Abortion is the best option. I always try to put myself in the pregnant woman's shoes to better understand what I would do in the particular situation. I hope to become a doctor, and even if I became pregnant before reaching that dream, I would not have an abortion even though it would change my life forever. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and everyone comes into this world with a purpose. That unborn baby has a purpose, and it deserves a chance. The government has the right to make abortion illegal if it is believed that it is murder. Making abortion illegal would make people control their sexuality more. Why have safe sex if you can just go to an abortion clinic and solve the problem? I took Contemporary Moral Issues during summer B, and we discussed aboortion as well as many other controversial issues. I would definitely recommend taking the class if you would like to voice your opinion while backing it up. I have always been pro-life. I believe that abortion is murder, and I never really understood how people could think otherwise. The morals class opened my eyes to new ways of thought, but even after listening to everyone’s insight, I remain anti-abortion. It is a fact that the embryonic heart begins to beat about 22 days (or 5 weeks) after conception. As far as I am concerned, a human’s offspring is considered human when the heart begins to beat. It has life, and who has the right to take someone else’s life away without their consent? Abortion is the best option.

I always try to put myself in the pregnant woman’s shoes to better understand what I would do in the particular situation. I hope to become a doctor, and even if I became pregnant before reaching that dream, I would not have an abortion even though it would change my life forever. I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason and everyone comes into this world with a purpose. That unborn baby has a purpose, and it deserves a chance.

The government has the right to make abortion illegal if it is believed that it is murder. Making abortion illegal would make people control their sexuality more. Why have safe sex if you can just go to an abortion clinic and solve the problem?

]]> By: Lawrence http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Lawrence Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:16:12 +0000 http://gravlee.org/sexuality/?p=88#comment-971 What would be the consequences of making abortion illegal? Do you think the number of abortions would increase, decrease, or stay the same? If you think they would continue, how and by whom? They would decrease not for lack of trying by women who want them, but because doctors would be less inclined to give them if abortion was illegal. I am personally infavor of abortion being illegal in all but life threatening cases, even rape. What are the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence-only sex education? The only advantage is for people who have chosen to wait till marriage so they don't feel alone. I think we should teach safe sex, not no sex, because we would help the greatest amount of kids. What is the appropriate role for the government to play in a woman???s decision about abortion? How about in marriages and unions between same-sex couples? As for abortion, the government should protect the life of the baby. No qualms about it. As for the marriage and gay unions, the government should stay out of it. They have no right to tell adults whether or not they can live together and receive the benefits of said union. What role should religion play a role in who Americans elect president? Do you feel these candidates represent the religious diversity of this country? I think relgion's only role should be to make sure the President is a moral and just man. Anything beyond that is not seperating church and state. What would be the consequences of making abortion illegal? Do you think the number of abortions would increase, decrease, or stay the same? If you think they would continue, how and by whom?
They would decrease not for lack of trying by women who want them, but because doctors would be less inclined to give them if abortion was illegal. I am personally infavor of abortion being illegal in all but life threatening cases, even rape.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of abstinence-only sex education?
The only advantage is for people who have chosen to wait till marriage so they don’t feel alone. I think we should teach safe sex, not no sex, because we would help the greatest amount of kids.

What is the appropriate role for the government to play in a woman???s decision about abortion? How about in marriages and unions between same-sex couples?
As for abortion, the government should protect the life of the baby. No qualms about it. As for the marriage and gay unions, the government should stay out of it. They have no right to tell adults whether or not they can live together and receive the benefits of said union.

What role should religion play a role in who Americans elect president? Do you feel these candidates represent the religious diversity of this country?
I think relgion’s only role should be to make sure the President is a moral and just man. Anything beyond that is not seperating church and state.

]]> By: Lance Gravlee http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/comment-page-1/#comment-970 Lance Gravlee Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:18:53 +0000 http://gravlee.org/sexuality/?p=88#comment-970 You raise some important questions about abortion, Sigrun. The short answer is that studies have been done on the social patterning of abortion and how women explain their choice. You're right that economic inequalities appear to be a major factor. There are also data on abortion rates under varying legal systems to inform our thinking about how the legal status of abortion affects its frequency. I'll discuss these issues in Week 11 of the semester. You raise some important questions about abortion, Sigrun. The short answer is that studies have been done on the social patterning of abortion and how women explain their choice. You’re right that economic inequalities appear to be a major factor. There are also data on abortion rates under varying legal systems to inform our thinking about how the legal status of abortion affects its frequency. I’ll discuss these issues in Week 11 of the semester.

]]> By: Sigrun Ahlquist http://gravlee.org/sexuality/2008/09/30/sex-culture-politics-and-our-next-president-on-the-eve-of-an-election-where-the-presidential-and-vice-presidential-candida/comment-page-1/#comment-965 Sigrun Ahlquist Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:49:50 +0000 http://gravlee.org/sexuality/?p=88#comment-965 I find it interesting that people who want to return to "old-fashioned" morals completely ignore the fact that during the Victorian era of prim-and-proper, it was rather easy to buy patent medicine to treat "female complaints," otherwise known as an unwanted pregnancy...and they usually did have ingredients, such as pennyroyal, that would force miscarriage (though there were enough other harmful chemicals that could kill in those so-called medicines). The sad thing about abortion is that there will ALWAYS be women who get pregnant when they don't want to, and some of these women will go to great lengths to make sure they don't stay pregnant. Making abortion illegal may sway some women into keeping their children, but some will still try everything to get rid of the baby they do not want, usually because they can't afford to keep it. I wonder if there has been a study done about abortion and why women have it done. I expect we would find that the most common reason is inability to financially support a child, but the results might be surprising. I also wonder whether there's a significant socioeconomic difference in addition to the obvious religious splits in pro-health and pro-life. I find it interesting that people who want to return to “old-fashioned” morals completely ignore the fact that during the Victorian era of prim-and-proper, it was rather easy to buy patent medicine to treat “female complaints,” otherwise known as an unwanted pregnancy…and they usually did have ingredients, such as pennyroyal, that would force miscarriage (though there were enough other harmful chemicals that could kill in those so-called medicines).

The sad thing about abortion is that there will ALWAYS be women who get pregnant when they don’t want to, and some of these women will go to great lengths to make sure they don’t stay pregnant. Making abortion illegal may sway some women into keeping their children, but some will still try everything to get rid of the baby they do not want, usually because they can’t afford to keep it.

I wonder if there has been a study done about abortion and why women have it done. I expect we would find that the most common reason is inability to financially support a child, but the results might be surprising. I also wonder whether there’s a significant socioeconomic difference in addition to the obvious religious splits in pro-health and pro-life.

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