I have read with interest what Ms Valerie Borg had to say about the “useless” campaign against sexual diseases (TMID, 6 December). This subject touches a raw part in the life of society, particularly in what concerns the young, and as an educator, an educated member of society and a tax-payer, this interests me.
Indeed, on the contrary to what Ms Borg says, this campaign is far from useless. It is, on the contrary, extremely important, to the extent that I would call it long overdue!
She wonders at the number of single mothers in our country. Indeed, a good portion of these young women would have never become mothers had it been for a timely campaign on safer sex through condoms (which are not 100 per cent safe, it is true, but their correct use would certainly be of help to avoid becoming pregnant!).
Unfortunately, however, owing to the Catholic Church’s weight and influence it has on the national health policies of this country, such campaigns were stalled. Apparently, we prefer to see a large number of unprepared, often-uneducated girls becoming mums at a disgustingly young age than having the health authorities “advertise” the proper use of a contraceptive such as a condom!
For another portion of these young women, however, campaigns will not be the answer and certainly will not affect them. This is because bearing a child, or indeed, children, at a young age without being seriously and solidly committed with a proper partner, appears to be a hereditary thing, in the blood, as it were, because her mother and her grandmother before her did that, too.
Ms Borg writes well, as do the moralists; she is an idealist, but ideals will get us nowhere in such matters. We have to be practical. Sex is here to stay, and the only way of controlling this number of young, unmarried mothers is to educate them when they are young; to ensure that they have good examples and to be ever-watchful as to what they hear from adults around them; but in the meantime, by also teaching them how to protect themselves “while they are at it”!
In the meantime, the state would do well to consider not being so overly-generous with honest people’s hard-earned cash: the state says that there’s not enough dosh for certain age-brackets’ pensions – at the same time, we offer these careless and irresponsible people money, allowances, benefits, freebies including free and privileged accommodation. All too often, a good portion of these young, uncommitted mums find it extremely expedient to declare “father unknown” in order to receive benefits and privileges.
I admit that at the end of the day, only staying off sex will be the best solution to this ever-increasing problem. However, this is for the birds.
At least, that is the way I see things from over here... terra ferma!
Franco Farrugia
Pieta