Here is a collection of thoughts I had over Winter Break relating to issues of health and sexuality.
Let's face the facts
Why does President Bush think the United States exporting "abstinence only" money and conservative family values to Africa will control or even stop the AIDS epidemic? Abstinence-only policy does not sufficiently stop children from having sex in the United States. Attaching "abstinence stipulation" to the aid sent to Africa will defeat any effort to fight the epidemic. Abstinence should be a goal but curing infected patients and preventing further infections is the main objective. As a result, condoms are more practical considering the "reality" of the situation. And before dealing with the "abstinence" question, will the United States actually send the money? Hmmm...
Texas load 'em
Detroit is the fattest city in the United States, according to Men's Fitness Magazine. Four out of the next five fattest cities are located in Texas. I know everything is bigger in Texas. But is a large waist size something of which to be proud?
The unreality of reality TV
Where is reality television going? The Fox show "The Swan," according to its Web site, "takes women stuck in a rut and revitalizes them by restoring their beauty and confidence." In reality, women submit themselves to plastic surgery and unhealthy dieting practices to look like what? If you cannot appreciate the mind and body God afforded you, your self-confidence will not be saved by a needle and silicon (or whatever material you may choose). I can understand plastic surgery after a serious injury, but I cannot fathom the dim-witted and foolish ideas this show promotes.
Oh, do not let me forget NBC's reality show "The Biggest Loser." The name is very appropriate for the show's quality. Go lose pounds in the gym, not in front of millions of flummoxed persons staring at the television.
Pot calling the kettle black
In related news, the U.S. government urges most Americans to cut calories. Americans need to eat less and exercise 30 to 90 minutes a day.
"It is not too hard," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson insisted this month in "issuing new federal dietary guidelines that also urge people to eat more whole grains, fruits and vegetables and stick to fat-free or lowfat milk," according to the Associated Press.
"Not too hard," eh? I enjoy hearing fat (oops did I write that) men telling the entire country to lose weight. On a serious note, I'm obviously a health nut if you know me and do think a little exercise for most Americans cannot hurt.
Hoo has the resolve to maintain their resolutions?
I triple dare anyone to maintain their New Year's weight loss, GPA augmentation or more active participation resolution.
PDA: A barometer of romance
After watching a young, uninformed woman repeatedly attempt to kiss and hug her boyfriend in public to no avail, I am required to write this last piece: If your significant other will not hold your hand at any time in public and/or cannot display any form of a public display of affection (PDA), he/she may just not be into you. If your significant other shows more affection to his/her friends instead of you, you rightly can assume the relationship is not going anywhere. PDA is a good barometer for evaluating your significant other's interest in you. I must say it: Men and women repeatedly avoid kissing, hugging, holding hands and so on in public with their supposed significant other only when that one actually is not truly that "significant."
Kurt Davis is a Cavalier Daily Health & Sexuality columnist. He can be reached at kurt@cavalierdaily.com
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