It seems like every few years, you see some news coverage in some random town USA where folks are 'all riled up' at the thought of public school systems talking to kids about sex. It never fails, I don't care how drastic teen pregnancy or STD transmittal stats are among teens, there still seems to be a segment of the human population that feels that this has nothing to do with young people's lack of education about sex in order to make well-informed and hopefully better decisions for themselves. I was watching Dr. Phil a few weeks ago and he was discussing this with the 'usual suspects' debating the extremes of the issue: the right-winged Pastor who only believes in abstinence-only education and the parent that has allowed their child to do everything under their roof except tape it and sell it on ebay....because 'they'd rather know and provide a safe environment vs. have their kids sneak around and do it anyway." Yea, yea, yea.....I get that, but there has to be some middle of this spectrum to come to a happy compromise for the sake of today's youth. In my opinion, folks who are hardcore abstinence-only education are living in a fantasy. The fantasy that totally disregard's human nature to question, to want to experience, to be curious....just because you wretch at the thought of someone sticking a chic-o-stick up your ass doesn't mean that 15 year old Johnny does and he actually might try that shit if no one has the balls to say "hey Johnny, I see how that may be interesting to you, but you probably wanna re-think that move...and here's why!" That's all sex ed is! Giving young people information that acknowledges all of their feelings and urges, yet helps give them a frame of reference for outcomes if they don't choose wisely. It's not encouraging them to do anything but make better decisions. I don't know about you, but once I saw those pics of STD ridden genitalia, a sis wanted to lock it down for life! Not to mention what would happen to my body during a pregnancy and then how I'd have to push dat bitch out!?! No MF ma'am! And there you have it....a successful informative intervention! Silence has never remedied any problem people...WAKE UP! Deal with the real and quit being punk ass parents, mentors, and community leaders. You had these babies that you knew would grow up and be adults one day now equip them with the tools and knowledge to give a shit, accomplish some shit, and not take any shit! #MESSAGE
The other side of the coin when it comes to young people is this notion of invincibility. "I can do whatever the hell I want and still escape getting caught and going to jail....and hell, if I do, that ain't no big deal!" Lemme repeat, when it's time to intervene and really address young people who are headed down the wrong path, it's not time to be punk ass parents, mentors, or community leaders! Even when I was a teenager and I'd see news coverage of some minor who had committed a crime on the news or a write up in the newspaper...it always pissed me off that they wouldn't say their names or show their faces! WHY!?! Why does this criminal get the luxury of anonymity just because he/she's under 18! Hold these little MF's to the fulleset extent of the law and then maybe...just maybe, you'll think twice the next time you wanna rob a Family Dollar, rape the cashier, and then set the store on fire! And since when is it 'okay' to be in jail! When did this memo go out, because I wasn't on that distribution list! Youth of today don't seem to be phased by the general notion of doing jail or prison time and I'm trying to figure out where that disconnect originated!?!
So what's the solution you may be wondering? Well, it came to me like an epiphany (*cue Chrisette Michele.....sang dat shit girl!?!) 6 words: "Sixteen and Pregnant" & "Beyond Scared Straight." What if viewing of just these two programs, currently airing on MTV and A&E channels, was required of all American students ages 11-16? Clearly, you can't wait to show the Sixteen & Preggers episodes until high school...cuz HELLOOOOO they might be candidates to be on that MF by that time! Again, let's deal with the real. At the very least, these TV programs raise some relevant topics that force viewers to get a real and uncensored (for the most part) look at the consequences of certain actions (i.e. participating in criminal activity, unprotected sex, disobedience in one's family) and the emotions that will be intertwined that you definitely don't foresee until you run into them like a brick wall (i.e. self esteem, abandonment, isolation, etc.). Now, don't even get me started with the levels of raw intimidation and harassment that the Beyond Scared Straight kids endure. I must say, I enjoy watching every bit of the interaction between the inmates and the 'troubled teens' because it can't get any 'realer.' If you've got a 6'5'' man towering over you and telling you how he's gonna put you in a dress when you arrive to be his 'cellie'.....well, shit, you got some decisions to make! And not only do you have some decisions to make, but you now know the exact consequences to both sides of your decisions. So if you don't mind the thought of being 'Razor Blade's' cellie in a dress...then keep pushin your luck in the streets. It's as simple as that! While initially my 'train of thought' was a comical one when thinking about these shows, it then became a serious question to me. There's a place for pop culture in education and I think this would be a match like Teena Marie and Rick James! #SQUAREBIZ
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