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The GOP sex obsession…does it ever end? No. But?Rep.?Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) claims to?not like “this sexuality stuff.” ?We think they doth protest too much.?

Regarding sex-education in schools, Rep.?Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said?in an interview on “WallBuilders Live” radio program:

“Let the kids be innocent. Let them dream. Let them, you know, play. Let them enjoy their life. You don’t have to force this sexuality stuff into their life at such a point. It was never intended to be that way. They’ll find out soon enough.”?(Right Wing Watch)

He went on to say:

“Mankind has existed for a pretty long time without anyone ever having to give a sex-ed lesson to anybody. And now we feel like, oh gosh, people are too stupid unless we force them to sit and listen to instructions. It’s just incredible.”

What baffles me is that Gohmert (a shining star in the GOP sex obsession) is suggesting doing things as they have always been done is what is best for our society. If that is the case then all of the progress made in the last couple of centuries was just wasted energy. Mankind has existed for quite some time; we would probably disagree on how long, so I’ll not trek back too far.

There is a play called “Spring Awakening” by Frank Wedekind that was written, mind you, in 1890. The main basis of this play shows the deep rooted problems with keeping sexual knowledge from children. The play goes on to show how children are lured, by nature, into sex regardless of them having been taught it or not. It is about what children do with the natural yearning for sexuality without direction, without knowledge. It is a tragic story — *spoiler alert* — of how ignorance can lead to identity issues, rape, unwanted pregnancies, and suicides.

My point is that sexual education isn’t a new idea or concern. The fact that the GOP sex obsession includes people like Gohmert thinking that not giving sex-ed lessons has somehow been a raving success is beyond me. ?No, Gohmert, people aren’t too stupid to figure sex out – ?nature takes care of that. But, unfortunately, ignorance (completely different from stupidity) of what happens beyond the mere sexual act can be lead to, at best, shock and, at worst, death.

As far as allowing children to be innocent, I agree. However, I believe that by the time children reach an age of sexual understanding, being innocent is no longer safe. In short, the GOP sex obsession is not healthy for our children. Look around and turn on the T.V. once in awhile. The American culture is so incredibly over-sexualized that without introducing some kind of platform for young people to discuss questions regarding sex and sexuality, we are allowing media to hold the chalk. We mustn’t allow “Teen Mom” and other such shows to be the substitute teacher in our children’s lives. Yes, you can censor your television and set up parental-controls, but the GOP sex obsession can not dictate that you parentally control the world around you. You could bag your kid’s head to and from all of the “age-appropriate” events you’ve scheduled, but CPS might get a little curious.

A good way for Republicans to pass the torch of responsibility (and the GOP sex obsession) is to blame parents for not taking matters into their own hands. Hello! American’s have been deprived of sex education for hundreds of years because of politicians such as Gohmert. If you are arguing that all parents are suddenly the best outlet for education then please inform me: why do we have schools at all? If parents can handle sex-ed and health, then why can’t they explain trigonometry and the cultural impact of the Civil War in today’s society? Is it perhaps that a degree in math, history, or teaching might come in handy and they didn’t pick one up on the way back from work? Why does the GOP sex obsession not extend to science? The same goes for sex-ed.

Pretending that the issues of sex education and health are ones to pass off or sweep under the rug is foolish.??I’m not looking to scare young adults with grotesque pictures of infected genitalia, (though one or two might not hurt). What I am suggesting, in a very ardent tone, is that we not be so naive. We can’t continue to believe we are immune to mass media and that nothing exists in the minds of our children without it being planted there by parents. The time for well-rounded health and sex-ed was yesterday. We can’t allow the GOP sex obsession to harm our children. What did your child learn today?

Edited: TW

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