Sponsoring an AIDS orphan - be an informed donor

[jenfer47]

World Vision is running a TV ad campaign urging people to sponsor an AIDS orphan today. A fine idea, but please do it through Foster Parents Plan or Save the Children instead. World Vision is part of the rightwing Christian evangelical movement that is trying to stop the AIDS epidemic through abstinence (i.e., wishful thinking), as opposed to

Comments

[jenfer47]

Yes, but people are far, far from 100% effective at being abstinent! In judging the effectiveness of any kind of protection, you also have to consider how likely people are to actually use it. Though abstinence pledges often persuade young people to postpone becoming sexually active for a couple of years, when they finally do succumb to temptation, they are less likely to use a condom or any other form of birth control. Because so little useful information is conveyed in many abstinence courses, some people who have taken abstinence pledges even manage to talk themselves into believing that anal sex - the most risky activity of all for HIV - counts as "abstinence."

Seat belts are not 100% effective at protecting people during auto accidents, either, and some people argue that since they don't expect to have an accident, they shouldn't have to wear their belts. People would certainly be much safer if they would not insist on driving and would use public transportation, or just stay home. But since they aren't going to do this, we urge them to wear seat belts.

I am abstinent myself, but then, I am in my 50s and my sex hormones have packed it in. Abstinence would have seemed like a ridiculous idea even a decade ago.

For someone who wants to be abstinent - fine! Nevertheless, I feel that everyone should always carry a condom, in the same spirit as they wear their seat belts even though they aren't planning or expecting to have an accident. Preserving life is more important than ideology. Nobody is going to *make* you use the thing - but if you ever meet a mad rapist, you'll be prepared!