Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 May 2002 — Page 11

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2002

THE INDIANA ROUS RECORDER

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Preventing teen pregnancies

By KATHLEEN BALDWIN May is Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month, a time for sexuality educators to alert families about how much depends on parent communication. Some children get one embarrassed discussion with a parent and a few hours of “sex ed” at school; others get matter-of-fact answers at home whenever they ask a question. This second type of parent tends to raise children who delay intercourse and make healthy decisions when they become sexually active. As Congress considers authorizing a 33 percent increase in funding for abstinence-until marriage sex education in schools, people of all ages are concerned about mixed messages. If fact-based sexuality education works best, why don’t more schools and families subscribe to it? If we can’t prove that abstinence-until marriage education works, why continue to throw money at it? The contradiction appears rooted in a historic attitude that pre-marital sex is immoral. This attitude persists despite the facts that puberty no longer occurs at age 16-17, as it did SO years ago, and teen-agers no longer marry as soon as they graduate from high school. As former U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders recently said, “The mean age of marriage is 26 years, while the mean age of puberty is 11.4 years. The fact is that 93 percent of men and 80 percent of women are not virgins on their wedding night.” Because unintended pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted infections

Kathleen Baldwin

are serious U.S. health threats. Elders supports fact-based sexu-

ality education. So does David

Satcher, the most recent U.S. Surgeon General, who advocates sexuality education that begins early, continues throughout the lifespan, and is pro-

vided in homes, schools, churches, and other community settings. No.doubt, abstinence is the safest policy, but teens are famous for taking risks that contradict their upbringing. Secretary of State Colin Powell knows this, which is why he spoke out in February about condom use: “Forget the taboos, forget about conservative ideas with respect to what you shouldn't tell young people. It's the lives of young people who are put at risk by

unsafe sex.”

Although many sexuality messages are mixed, the statistics are clear: 3 million American women get pregnant unintentionally each year, and many of them are teenagers. Only three of 10 women who have children before age 18 earn a high school diploma by age 30. Children of adolescent mothers are SO percent more likely to repeat a grade in school and tend to receive only half the level of medical care received by children of

older mothers.

Daughters of mothers under age 18 are more likely to become mothers before 18 themselves. Teen sons of adolescent mothers are 2.7 times more likely to go to prison than sons of older women. If your child’s school is considering an abstinence-until marriage

Readers Respond

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effort, speak out in favor of fact-based sexuality education. If your son or daughter asks questions about sex that you’re uncomfortable with, remind yourself of the options: Either you inform your children in words that emphasize your family values, or your si-

lence will suggest that they had

better “learn on the street.”

Unfortunately, 57 percent of teens say adults tell them about sex and birth control “when it is too

late.”

‘Too late” often translates to unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Indeed, U.S. rates of teen pregnancy are nearly double the rates in Western Europe. Planned Parenthood’s efforts follow the successful European model of offering free or affordable contraception along with fact-based, ageappropriate sexuality education that emphasizes abstinence. When the children in your life ask questions about sexuality, consider looking up the answers with them. When a TV show or song on the radio contradicts your values about sexuality, say so and explain why to your children. Remember, sexual learning is inevitable, and teens who delay intercourse and make healthy sexual choices tend to be raised by “askable parents.” Kathleen Baldwin is vice president of education and training for Planned Parenthood of Greater Indianapolis.

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Crisis of Blade political succession

By RON WALTERS While many of us are focused on the problem of Black and Hispanic unity as a result of the growth of Hispanics in this country, a more seriouscrisis is brewing right within the Black community: our inability to handle the change of leadership from one generation to the next. The civil rights movement was designed to foster progress in all of the possible areas of American life, which included the hope for a new generation of qualified individuals that would take us the rest of the way and over the goal line. What we did not envision was that the generations after the civil rights movement might be more moderate in their politics than their predecessors, even though conditions in the Black community have not improved that dramatically. A great question is whether the arrival of a new generation of young, moderate Black politicians is premature, whether it has happened in advance of the need to continue a “progressive militant spirit” in our leadership, given that true equality is not yet in sight. What started me thinking about this lately is the contest for the Democratic nomination for mayor in Newark, N.J., which pits Cory Booker, 32, a one-term member of the City Council, against the fourterm incumbent Mayor Sharpe James, 66, who also is a state senator. The race has turned particularly nasty, with James referring to Booker as a carpetbagger because he grew up in suburban Bergen County and inferring that Booker is not Black enough, saying, “we don’t have time to teach you (Booker) how to be Black.”

Booker fired back at James saying that his political support also comes from outside of Newark, from heavy hitters such as Jesse Jackson Sr., the New Jersey Democratic political establishment and from the national Democratic Party. Beneath this conflict is the perceptible hand of the media producers and editors, attempting to shape the landscape of Black politics by choosing who is credible and who is not, whose time has come and whose has gone. The drift to Booker and other such young politicians appears to have occurred because his background contains a Rhodes Scholarship, a Yale Law School degree and sports a more conservative brand of politics. In other words, he is someone with the kind of credentials that the majority media believes fits its standard for political viability. Therefore, he has drawn national attention, including articles in the New York Times and other major outlets. But wait a minute. Isn’t this what we wanted? Didn’t we fight for Black kids to have the best of educational opportunities so that they could take over and carry us over the goal line? Yes, but what happens when they are not just youthful, but also appear to hold values that are perceived by the older leadership to be detrimental to the continued forward progress of the Black community? The issue then is not only how do you achieve amicable political succession, but how to do it in a manner consistent with the consensus values within the Black community around what will bring progress. Culturally, this Booker-James contest should be offensive to Af-

rican-American values because it divides the community using namecalling and intimidation. It also fosters disrespect for our elders and opens the door to decisionmaking by those outside of the Black community, such as Barbra Streisand, Bill Bradley, Jack Kemp and others who have provided Booker with the means to launch a credible challenge to James. The struggle between Booker and James is about what constitutes progress in Newark and as such, is a potent and important debate that should occur in every Black community, whether the issue is succession or any other concern. In fact, I would suggest that if the only reason James is viewed as viable for re-election is the strength of the “machine” that is poised to re-elect him, he should not be reelected. , However, James claims to have made progress in Newark: multiplex theaters, performing arts center, minor league stadium, new office buildings, Starbucks cafes, etc. But community developers claim that the much-touted renaissance has not reached beyond downtown. Although this tough challenge to James will be about the perception of progress that he has made in his 16 years in office, there should be a better way — other than pure conflict — to decide whether either man should lead. Ronald Walters is Distinguished Leadership Scholar, director of the African American Leadership Institute, professor of government at the University of Maryland and co-author of African American Leadership.

There's sexual predator in ear schools Indianapolis we have a problem. According to the Indiana Department of Family and Social Services, in 2001 there were 4,763 cases of physical and sexual abuse against children in our city. Last year almost 5,000 of our children were robbed of their innocence and for them life will never be the same. Indianapolis, I have a question to ask you. How many of you have the faith and courage to defend one of these children, even if it puts you in harm’s way? This month I had to look in the mirror and ask myself this very question. This article is my answer. Right now several families need our help and support as they deal with the physical and psychological carnage left by a sexual predator and his political pit bulls. Yes, here in Indianapolis we have a resident evil that stalked the halls of our schools, repeatedly preying on troubled girls, with reassignment as the only response from the powers that be. Although I’m tempted to unleash my full rage at him and his minions, my first obligations are to the victims left in his

wake.

Little sisters: First and foremost this isn’t your fault. It doesn’t matter if you have a troubled past. At the tender ages of 12 to 15; you still are precious with a lot of potential. We know that you did all you could do. When he touched you, you complained. When you resisted him, he yelled at you and threw you out of class. When you started a petition against him, it was thrown away. Now he and his cronies have made you feel that no one will believe and support you. Well it didn’t work. I believe you and after today the whole city will believe you. Mothers: I have the utmost respect for each of you. As single parents the last thing you need to worry about is your children’s safety in school. You were right to question gifts given

to them. You had every right to be angry at phone calls being made to them despite your

objections.

And what mother would stand for a teacher taking revealing photos of their child? I know that right now you feel hopeless as you face mounting pressure from this pedophile’s elected lackeys. Well today help is on the way. First please call 327-6875, the Indianapolis Police Department’s Child Abuse Unit. They are waiting and will not fail you. Do it for your daughter. Do it for my daughter. Do it for the daughters whose mothers may not have your courage. Next call 466-1713 and get counseling for you and your daughter. With prayer and support both of you can get through this. The law will protect your front, and you can depend on us to have your back. To the menace: You disgust me. In the space of a few months you’ve turned our schools into unholy temples where virgins are periodically sacrificed in return for your political blessings. Today your reign of terror is over. You see there’s a big difference between a real man and someone posing as one. A real man doesn’t prey on troubled and defenseless children who look to him for guidance. A real man doesn’t offer trinkets and cash to little girls in exchange for favors. A real man doesn’t need restraining orders to control his behavior. A real man doesn’t bribe mothers to look the other way. What a real man does is bring vermin like you to justice, and right now you have gotten the attention of a real

intimidate staffers or protect pedophiles. Today the pagan politics of trading votes for virgins is over and so are your careers. May God have mercy on your souls because the prosecutor is getting the rest of you. Yes, people we have a problem, but standing together we can make sure that these brave mothers and their young daughters can finally get their justice and have their peace. Indianapolis, are with me? Isaac Randolph Jr. Protart circus

elephants

man. To the minions: Every day you stand in public and say you’re for our children yet in private you conspire to feed them to your false god. Well, today I’m here to stop the slaughter and destroy your altar. There’s nothing you can say or do to silence me. I cannot be bribed, coerced or bullied and I won’t give up. I don’t fear your political power and I’m immune to the race card. No longer will any of you be able to threaten mothers.

Your Voice

I am saddened to see that the circus has come to our town and am particularly distraught about the elephants. For elephants, the constant travel the circus demands, translates into abysmal living conditions far removed from their native habitat such as fetid, windowless railroad cars, and constant chaining. Behind the scenes life worsens for the elephants as trainers commonly use implements called bullhooks to beat elephants into submission to make them perform unnatural acts such as standing on their heads or dancing. A bullhook is a device with a very sharp hook on the end. By hooking an elephant in the mouth, around the eyes or behind the ears and causing extreme pain and even drawing blood, a trainer can successfully intimidate elephants into per-

forming.

In fact, even USDA inspectors have found ample evidence of abuse of circus elephants. The ASPCA found this evidence provided compelling grounds to sue the circus for violation of the Endangered Species Act. The act dictates that endangered animals (in this case Asian elephants) shall not be harmed in any way. Every ticket sold to the circus perpetuates the abuse of animals. Let’s teach our children that elephants are magnificent beings that belong in the wild, not kept chained and mistreated to entertain people. Dawn Russell

Now that the primary elortion Is over, what issues would you like to see candidates address during the general election?

“Crime in our neighborhoods and more job placement programs are becoming crucial issues. I would like to see the candidates propose more recreational activities for students when they get out of school, to keep them off the streets. My biggest concern, however, is providing a halfway place where juvenile offenders can go and receive direction and counseling. Many of them are in need of a positive role model, and suffer severe self-esteem problems and don’t care about going to jail or dying. These issues must be addressed before those young people are released back into society, or they might simply end up in more trouble.” — Minister James Pruitt “Before we seriously try to tackle any issues, politicians must restore the confidence of voters. Because of the fiasco from the 2000 presidential election, voter turnout has been falling more sharply than it already was. This explains why hardly more than 30 percent of voters turned out for this primary. Political leaders need to prove to us that they are truthful people, and restore faith in the electoral system at all levels of government.” > — Kathryn Watson

Minister James Pruitt Kathryn Watson

“Health care, education and public safety are issues of major importance to me. I would also like to see a resolution to the problems facing our tax structure on the state, city and township levels.” — Melissa Whitehorn “Without a doubt, education and schools should form the cornerstone of many discussions. For instance. Pike Township (the school district my son is in) remains overcrowded and students do not enjoy the “one on one” attention from the faculty. The teachers there are too picky and very strict with their disciplinary actions.” — Fonda Jones “I have a problem with a very underrated issue: When a neighborhood is rehabilitated, its residents can no longer afford to

live there. For instance, in my

neighborhood on the

Old Northside of

Indianapolis, we have

many old, small

houses that are being fixed up and sold for $130,000. I’m also tired of those out-of-

state landlords/

corporations who buy apartment buildings,

housing developments and other housing properties in the city. They don’t care about what’s happening in the local neighborhoods these properties are in.” — An anonymous social

worker

“Where is my lottery money going? Indiana continues to expand its gambling operations. It has opened more casinos and racetracks that have generated tons of cash. So why is the state in debt again? Congress is investigating Enron’s misuse of funds, but someone should investigate this state.” — An anonymous, disgruntled working man