Sex ed resembles Russian roulette

In reference to the "One in four teen girls infected with STD" article (March 13), I was a little perplexed when I read the proposed cause: "Blame is most often placed on inadequate sex education, from parents and from schools focusing too much on abstinence-only programs." At least they mentioned, "blame is most often placed" without citing erroneous data. The reason they didn't cite any is because there is none to back that statement up.

Many studies have been conducted by Planned Parenthood and other proponents of sex ed to try to show how beneficial their curriculum is in preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Yet many times the evidence has been shown to the contrary. Teens do use condoms more when they go through these programs, but sexual activity also increases. And when sexual activity increases, you have more teens who are irresponsible.

Thus, you have more unwanted pregnancies and STDs. Also, every thinking adult knows that using a condom is not a definite way to keep from becoming pregnant or from getting an STD. So, in essence, in most of these sex-ed programs, we are teaching our children how to play Russian roulette. This is like saying that the cause for the rise in drug abuse among teens is the "Just Say No" campaign against drug and alcohol abuse.

I understand the thinking: "Teens are going to be sexually active anyway, so we need to teach them how to do it in a responsible way." Well, I hate to say it, but teens are going to use drugs and alcohol, and I think we would all agree that the answer is not to teach them to do it in a responsible way. If we did that, we all know that the rate for abuse among teens would rise, just as it does with the curriculum that teaches it's OK to be sexually active.

In 1950, genital herpes was a rare disease, and we all know it was because we had a much better sex-ed program back then (I hope you notice my sarcasm). Please don't take me for a Mr. Goody Two Shoes or that I am against sex. One, I love to be intimate on a regular basis with my wife of 28 years. It's awesome! Two, I did not follow the advice of this article when I was in my teens, and I regret it very much. In fact, I remember when I was a teen wondering why we should hold back at all in sex. Let's just "live and let live" and "if it feels good, do it." You might say that is a pretty stupid way to think. I now agree.

The fact is there are many teens who think the same way I did. And much of the sex-ed material encourages that way of thinking. Sex is portrayed as a nonrelational, recreational activity that needs the protective equipment of a condom — just like you need a helmet for football.