Two points:

1) The people in the whitehouse now have appointed some to positions of power who do want to promote an abstinence only sex education. No matter the research that shows it doesn't work, they still plod along, making our children stupider:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/03/abstinence-only-education-failing-teens-think-bleach-prevents-hiv/

This topic just showed up in the news again last week during bush's trip. Crimes committed by American soldiers against local citizens while stationed at foreign bases. Another rape, in Romenia, I think. These crimes get whitewashed and ignored. Another story that causes foreigners to hate Americans.


>>I'm rather sick of comments of people who never left the US or only visited europe as a tourist. Also keep in mind that europe has change significantly the last decade or two.
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>Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? I too have spent a LOT of time in other countries, not just as a tourist.
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>Walter, I don't doubt your sincerity or your conviction that you know all about America and Americans. I doubt the veracity of it. Your description is typical of only a very small portion of the populace, not the majority, good and bad.
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>As to sex, regardless of what you hear in person or on the news, we are not a closed-minded right-wing society. Sex education does exist. We do not rely solely on abstinence for protection nor is that all we teach our children. If that were true, then the majority of Americans would have babies as teens, not the percentage we have now (although it is too high). Because as we all know, whether every parent wants to admit it or not, the majority of teens are having sex.
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>I have mentioned here on this forum many times the faults of my country. Believe me Walter, I know them better than most. I have witnessed firsthand the damage this country has done overseas and been an unwilling participant or observer at times. I have also witnessed firsthand the greatness this country has done (and never publicized on the news here or overseas) and its people.
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>That is why, I believe strongly in pulling American troops and American involvement OUT from everywhere. Other than previous commitments and agreements (we must abide by those). Other than that, no more. Get our money and our soldiers and our politics out of everywhere. PERIOD. Unless we are completely sure of an imminent threat, stay out. Unless the threat is within our borders, stay out. That includes Canada and Mexico. They can handle their own security. No military participation ANY PLACE unless it is part of a multi-national PEACE KEEPING force. No MONEY period outside of this country unless it is for a national disaster and NOT politics and not business. Then everyone can hate us for not doing enough rather than for doing the wrong thing and our tax dollars can be used here at home.