the bush administration, to
the consternation of its critics, has
picked the medical director of an
organization that opposes premarital sex,
contraception and abortion to lead the
office that oversees federally funded teen
pregnancy, family planning and abstinence
programs
the appointment of eric keroack, a
marblehead, massachusetts, obstetrician
and gynecologist, to oversee the federal
office of population affairs and its $283
million annual budget has angered
family-planning advocates.
Keroack currently is medical director of a
woman's concern, a christian nonprofit.
The dorchester, massachusetts-based
organization runs six centers in the state
that offer free pregnancy testing,
ultrasounds and counseling.
It also works to "help women escape the
temptation and violence of abortion,"
according to its statement of faith. And
it opposes contraception, saying its use
increases out-of-wedlock pregnancy and
abortion rates.
"a woman's concern is persuaded that the
crass commercialization and distribution
of birth control is demeaning to women,
degrading of human sexuality and adverse
to human health and happiness," its
contraception policy reads in part.
"the appointment of anti-birth control,
anti-sex education advocate Dr. Eric
keroack to oversee the nation's family
planning program is striking proof that
the bush administration remains
dramatically out of step with the nation's
priorities," cecile richards, president of
the planned parenthood federation of
america, said in a statement.
A message left with a woman's concern was
not immediately returned friday.
Keroack's appointment as deputy assistant
secretary for population affairs does not
require senate confirmation. He is
expected to start work in the next several
weeks, department of health and human
services spokeswoman christina pearson
said.
The department's assistant secretary for
health, Dr. John agwunobi, cited
keroack's experience in working primarily
with "women and girls in crisis" in
lauding his appointment.
"he regularly speaks to youth audiences on
sexual risk behaviors and has been
nationally recognized for his work on
preventing teen pregnancy," agwunobi
said.
ladies, do you think birth control is
demeaning to you?
it's laughable, but a kind of maniacal
laughter-because people like this bloke
have to be taken seriously. This person
has achieved a rather influential
position, unfortunately.
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Tylanas
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Jul 2005 Posts: 12985
Thanks: 3
Thanked:0
Posted: 11-19-06 02:44am
Birth control is absolutely not demeaning;
it is empowering.
|
diamondsz
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 3173 Location: , Candyland-Canada
Thanks: 74
Thanked:104
Posted: 11-19-06 11:11am
He soundlike an fool why should men have a
right to tell woman what to do?
Especially when it comes to her
reproductive system?
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jenn_smithson
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 808 Location: Texas
Posted: 11-20-06 18:45pm
I only shudder to imagine what disastorous
turn our international prevention efforts
are going to take with this man in charge
of them.
You cannot go into a country with a
culture as vastly different from ours as
some african nations and teach them
abstinence. The men laugh in your faces
because they have been taught from the
earliest ages that they have a right to
sex (even against the woman's will and
wishes). The women are powerless in all
ways but are especially powerless to say
"no" to sex because they have no rights
and they are often economically dependent
upon their rapists.
A prevention program to these nations must
address that culture in a way that is
respectful and in a way that furthers
efforts to stem the rise of hiv and other
infections. In short, a prevention
program to africa must address the reality that the
men of that nation will not, for much of
any reason, abstain from sex. and
further that the women have no choice in
whether they are abstinent or not.
This man may agitate the situation and
make it worst (although how our foreign
prevention policies could get any more
worst or draconian is beyond me). Unlike
other policies areas, people will die if
the prevention efforts do not change and
far more people will die if they change
for the worst yet again.
You do not put people who do not like sex
in charge of programs that help people
have safe sex. This was an extremely
short sighted decision on the bush
administration's part or is just another
prime example of the level of cronyism
that has been running rampant through that
camp for the past 6 years.
|
diamondsz
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 3173 Location: , Candyland-Canada
Thanks: 74
Thanked:104
Posted: 11-21-06 12:18pm
jenn_smithson
wrote:
you do not put people who do not like sex
in charge of programs that help people
have safe sex. This was an extremely
short sighted decision on the bush
administration's part or is just another
prime example of the level of cronyism
that has been running rampant through that
camp for the past 6
years.
you hit the nail dead on jenn~!
Why let a religious leader or anyone who
cites religion into a position where
people may not follow that specfic
religion? I dont understand why they are
not allowing a woman into this position,
im sure some of you may agree that its
easier to talk about sex with woman(and
very few men(besides your partner.)
it goes to show how the govenrment really
doesnt care about its people, they dont
even at least try to make themselves look
good!!
I just feel that this man believe woman
anre inferior to him and believe that a
womans reproductive system belong to
men/government!
