Thanks to another Toronto Catholic blogger, Vox Cantoris I read an interesting critique about the Earth Hour. It’s in the National Post. I guess I am partial to this point of view as I don’t really get the purpose… besides symbolic. However the social pressure to comply is great. It irks me. In a similar way I found myself, several times today, defending the Pope’s comments on condoms. The Pope’s comments on the plane, perhaps not savvy from a PR point of view… are in fact true. If women in some part of Africa are being abused and forced into dangerous sex… well of course a condom would help stop the transmission of HIV. The Pope certainly understands that. But what the Pope is asking… correctly... is why are women being put into that situation in the first place? Condoms are not the real issue. But when you say that condoms are not the solution… people look at you funny like you’re from another planet. I get the same look from people when I ask why we are turning our lights off for Earth Hour? They look at me as if I hate the planet and want to kill baby seals. But honestly, I don’t get the Earth Hour thing… besides being about PR. I really believe in good PR.. but I also believe in substance. Where’s the beef? Oops sorry… “Where’s the tofu!”
Monday, March 30, 2009
Where's the Tofu?
Friar Rick from Canada has an interesting take on this past Saturday night's "Earth Hour" and B16's recent comments on condoms:
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2 comments:
I like Friar Rick. My kind of Friar . . .
The Pope’s comments in Africa were touching, thoughtful, and compassionate.
He called on people to speak up in the face of violence, poverty, hunger and corruption. He spoke of Africa’s "painful wounds, its enormous potential and hopes".
It is a shame that this historic visit to Africa was overshadowed by his comments on condoms.
I clearly understand that he was reiterating the church's long-standing position.
The suggestion that condom distribution "increases the problem" of the HIV epidemic is wrong.
The pope is right: Distribution of condoms alone won't solve the problem.
The use of condoms does not promote promiscuity and HIV. This kind of a statement risks undoing many years of promoting the prevention of STD’s.
There is considerable resistance from certain sections of African society - typically men - to using condoms. They see it as emasculating and unnecessary.
Years of educational work have gone into trying to reduce the stigma attached to condom use in Africa.
People aren't going to stop having sex. Access to condoms won't make them have more sex. And denying people access to condoms, or to accurate sexual information, won't make them have less sex.
Condoms are not the solution but I’m sure are part of the solution.
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