| Every year over 15 million Americans are | | | | that has become an epidemic. |
| diagnosed with an STD (sexually | | | | The fact is that concerned parents are |
| transmitted disease). The STD problem | | | | in a war to save their children's lives |
| has reached epidemic proportions in the | | | | and self-respect. Part of the problem |
| United States and around the world - and | | | | parents face today is that as a society |
| teens top the list. | | | | we have not yet confronted the reality |
| Ever wonder why? Is it because public | | | | of what's going on. The school system is |
| school sex education has failed to | | | | often an active agent in selling a |
| protect our younger generations and | | | | sexually promiscuous lifestyle to |
| because television makes sex acceptable | | | | teenagers due to the liberal slant of |
| to teens. The answer is clearly yes. | | | | the public education system. |
| Popular television programs and even | | | | Statistics show beyond a shadow of a |
| commercials teaches teens that any | | | | doubt that sex education has failed to |
| lifestyle is acceptable as long as it | | | | reduce teen pregnancies and STDs. Our |
| feels good, and or that everyone else is | | | | response to the failure of sex education |
| doing it. | | | | has been to do more of the same. |
| What television doesn't tell teens is | | | | The reality is that there is only one |
| how quickly it can go bad for them. The | | | | real way to prevent sexually transmitted |
| success and appeal of television is | | | | diseases (STDs) in teens and that is |
| based on its promise of instant | | | | abstinence from premarital sex. |
| gratification: You deserve whatever you | | | | We need to address this epidemic as a |
| want-now! Television doesn't teach teens | | | | nation, but parents can't wait for |
| that you always have to pay the piper; | | | | politicians to carry the ball; your |
| every action has a consequence. | | | | teens are at risk today. As a parent, |
| Sady, many teens are left to learn the | | | | you have a duty and a right to protect |
| hard lessons on their own, one | | | | your child: |
| consequence at a time. Today's | | | | Â- You have a right to demand that your |
| television networks send the message | | | | child be taught the importance of |
| that premarital sex leads to happiness, | | | | abstinence in his or her sex education |
| fulfillment, and joy. Popular | | | | class. |
| programming portrays premarital sex as | | | | Â- You have a right to take your teen |
| an important part of a teen's | | | | out of sex education class and provide |
| preparation for adulthood. And because | | | | home schooling in this area if you |
| no one in questions this, it's accecpted | | | | object to what your teen is being taught |
| as fact. | | | | in school. |
| Recent research shows that a majority of | | | | The best way for parents to protect |
| young people will have had a sexual | | | | their children from STDs-and from the |
| encounter before marriage. In fact, 1-5 | | | | influence of television-is by modeling a |
| five girls will have first sexual | | | | socially and ethically responsible |
| intercourse for the first time by they | | | | lifestyle. |
| time they are 15. | | | | Research shows that positive parental |
| Television continues to make sex | | | | guidance is the No. 1 factor in a |
| acceptable to teens; teens continue to | | | | teenager's decision to abstain from |
| get pregnant and contract STDs; and the | | | | premarital sex. |
| nation continues to ignore a problem | | | | |