2006

As Columbo Says, “Oh . . . And One Last Thing”

The Mark June 22, 2006 No Comments

Archpundit should be back today, but I hope he’ll indulge me in one last post, especially on an issue that really burns me up.

For those of us who have progressive or liberal views on social issues, it’s no secret that the cultural right lies. It doesn’t matter whether the discussion is about evolution, homosexuality, women’s rights: the Right simply refuses to accept the world as it is, relying instead on their version of reality.

Here’s yet another example:

In a groundbreaking study that could influence the debate over sex education, researchers have found that consistent use of condoms significantly reduces the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer.

University of Washington researchers will report Thursday that female college students were 70 percent less likely to become infected with human papillomavirus, or HPV, if their partners always wore a condom during sex than those whose partners used condoms less than 5 percent of the time.

For many years now, pro-life-anti-sex fanatics have attacked comprehensive sex ed programs by arguing that condoms are ineffective against sexually transmitted infections. Their only basis for this argument was that HPV — Human Papilloma Virus — is transmitted skin-to-skin, and thus condoms do not prevent transmission. In fact, some conservative congressmen pressured the FDA to require warning labels on condoms.

Well, they were wrong.

In the meantime, how much damage did their scare campaign do? How many kids were taught that condoms were ineffective? How many kids believe this and stop using condoms, when they clearly prevent the transmission of disease, including HPV?

There’s a cost to the war on truth waged by the Right. And I think that young people are paying the highest price.

More Fun With Conservatives

The Mark June 21, 2006 1 Comment

Since Arch is out of town and can’t make light of Petey’s investigations into the homosexual lifestyle, I thought we can examine another right-wing darling: pro-life nurse Jill Stanek.

A couple of weeks ago, Jill posted the following observation:

“Abortion proponents attempting to answer that question should run into a problem. By trying to protect one flank, they’ve exposed another.

“To be consistent, the abortion industry’s definition of when a pregnancy begins should agree with its definition of when it ends. But the two don’t jibe.”

She then argues that the pro-choice stand on abortion procedure bans (what the pro-lifers call “partial-birth-abortion”) is hypocritical.

Well, since when is the end of something the exact converse of its beginning? Following that logic, pro-lifers believe that life begins at conception — the moment when an organism has a full set of chromosones. So, does life end when the chromosones are finally separated? Does that mean that life ends when the last cell containing chromosones has finally decomposed?

There are plenty of other fun logical fallacies in both her post and the original article. Today’s challenge: who can list the most obscure logical fallacy made by Jill.

On a side note: I will give Stanek credit for her willingness to engage in debate with those who disagree. Her exchanges with Eric Zorn are a particularly good example. So, I fully expect Jill to stop by here. Hi, Jill — welcome. Don’t blame Arch for this post; I’m just a lowly guest poster having a bit o’ fun.

UPDATE: I lied about leaving Petey alone today. I found a new technique in reparative therapy that he can investigate:

Christian psychotherapist Richard Cohen, board president of the ex-homosexual education and outreach organization known as Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays (PFOX), is addressing criticism leveled against certain therapy techniques he uses on clients with homosexual desires.
. . .
Cohen’s methods have raised some questions, however; and he has lately taken sharp criticism over a May 23 appearance on Cable News Network (CNN), in which he demonstrated a technique that involves cuddling a male client in his lap.