HIV Muppet?
Moms View Message Board: The Kitchen Table (Debating Board): HIV Muppet?
I think this is so abstract, it can't really be a topic of discussion for a preschool program. Especially Sesame Street, which should be a "happy and safe haven" for little kids.
I agree HIV is a severe tragedy in the states, but I also think that this topic, in an open forum for toddlers will create more confusion and questions than will be answered to kids affected by this disease.
Afterall, I wouldn't want a tv show for toddlers to bring up rape, Hep. C, narcotics, abortion. I would rather see the people behind this idea to organize and sponsor groups for young children which are dealing with this crisis.
Children should be aware of stranger danger, people of different skin colors, manners, tolerance...a child's program can do this. I always thought PBS was neutral in its programming so I could relax when my child wanted to watch the shows there. But I draw the line when they start bringing politics into the nursery.
Annie, as I understand it the HIV character for the time being is not going to be introduced in the United States but in other countries - I believe South Africa ( I could be wrong about that but I think that is what I heard) is the first country that the character will be introduced though there will be others and they eventually plan to introduce it here as well.
Personally, I am glad to see it. HIV is a disease that is treated differently than others - people who have it are fearful and sometimes treated poorly - anything that would make people less fearful of people who have this hideous disease is pretty much alright by me.
People need to learn compassion for those with this illness - you say that children should be aware of tolerance and that a child's program can do this - that my dear is exactly what they had in mind 
I feel I should also add that I believe that HIV/AIDS is an international *health crisis*, not a "gay" disease and that children should learn from an early age how to prevent this disease and have compassion for those who have it.
There you go - my two cents
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=573&e=3&cid=573&u=/nm/20020712/od_nm/sesamestreet_dc_1
For now it is just in South Africa. I wouldn't mind it being here, Sesame Street usually does things well. Lexi at 4.5 knows about Universal precautions, basically we treat everyone's blood and body fluids the same b/c we can't tell who's is o.k. and who's might make us sick. I supose I am more open than a lot of moms with Lexi probably b/c of a combination of my job, and her
level of reasoning/understanding of things.
We have discussed the impact of self esteem in decision making how when you have good self esteem you are less likely to chose to smoke, have a baby before you are ready, drink or use drugs.
She knows what the word gay means. I'd have no problem with explaining HIV if she asked or it was brought up. You have to talk to the child's level, but I think we don't always give kids enough credit. I agree with Claire HIV is a Health crisis, not a Gay disease.
I also agree with Claire, HIV is an international health crisis, not a *gay* disease. And IMO, who is better qualified than Sesame Street, other than parents themselves, and in many cases, the kids would be better off watching Sesame Street. Sesame Street has an excellent track record and I don't see any reason why they won't handle this as tastefully as they handle any other topics.
I also believe that children need to be taught about HIV at very young ages. It's a part of life, unfortunately, and they need to be aware and informed. Perhaps one day, awareness and knowledge will pay off and help stop the spread of the disease. But until then, people live with it every day and ignorance does absolutely nothing to help those with the disease NOR those who don't have it.
My kids were taught about HIV when they were very young. My X's best friend died of AIDS before my kids started school. I have to say, I think I would have appreciated Sesame Street doing this at that time.
PBS and Sesame Street neutral in their broadcasting? Annie, I don't know what you've been watching. When my kids started watching Sesame Street, it had a mixed cast. Aside from the monsters, there were Caucasian, African American and Hispanic kids - which, believe me, was a political statement in the 60s. They've since added disabled children, which is also a political statement. And I recall a whole lot of episodes dealing with a kid (or monster) who was shunned for reasons having to do more with perceptions and prejudice than who (or what) the child (or monster) actually was - also political.
I guess one's perceptions of what is political depends to some extent on whether what is being presented agrees with one's own perceptions of what the world is or should be (a normal reaction - I always agree with the columnists who agree with me). But it is the presentations of a world different from my world that make me think and question whether my view of the world comports with my own religious and moral values - and all too often I am forced by these presentations of differences to change my own perceptions. Which, I have come to believe, is good for me.
As for the HIV child - yes, there is an HIV epidemic, which is truly horrific in South Africa. And there have only recently been changes in the South African government to allow and mandate giving medication during childbirth to HIV mothers and their newborns that will, in (sadly) only half the cases reduce the risk of the child being HIV infected from birth. I would guess that the producers of Sesame Street believe it is particularly important in South African (and, eventually, in the rest of the television receivign world) to learn that children who are infected with HIV are victims, not villains, and should be treated with kindness and sensitivity. Just as Sesame Street has worked to teach our children that those of different colors, nationalities, speaking different languages, disabled, should be treated with kindness and sensitivity. If that's political, by all means give me political, even if it shakes up my comfortable view of the world.
By the way, who remembers the children who were HIV infected through transfusions given them to treat them during active episodes of hemophilia, who were shunned, barred from attending school, and generally treated like pariahs, to the point of anonymous death threats to them and their mother? I do, which is one of the reasons I say hooray for Sesame Street.
I remember.......ditto that, Ginny.
I still stand behind my opinion. I think using the Sesame Street forum in South Africa can be a good idea; I have absolutely no problem with it being aired there. But it's only a matter of time before it is in the states.
I agree that HIV is a horrible disease. I have had two friends die a horrible slow death in the late 80's from this disease. They too were shunned at the time. By the way, one was gay; had unprotected sex and the other had a blood transfusion due to hemorraging during labor.
HIV in the states, these days IS a primarily transmitted via unprotected sex or by illegal drug use. We know the dangers of tainted blood and using dirty needles.
As I said before I am all for education for the children dealing with this horrible disease, however I don't think the majority of preschoolers watching this show in the states is at risk of having this disease, unless their mom is having unprotected sex or sharing dirty needles prior to or during pregnancy. Which are certainly practices which should be eradicated through education and information.
However,there are some issues which should stay out of toddler programming. I think this is one of them. Educate the HIGH SCHOOLERS! So we can end the cycle.
Oh, for Pete's sake, Annie. What Sesame Street is trying to educate children about, I would guess, is that if a child is HIV positive s/he should not be shunned, should not be treated badly, and at the same time there are things one should not do - such as kissing a cut or scratch to make it well. Which is exactly what Sesame Street has done in their shows about other children who are "different".
If a child is HIV positive (as so many, many are - in South Africa and in this country)yes it is because the mother had unprotected sex or was an HIV drug user, not the child. Yet these very innocent children are often treated as pariahs in this country, other parents won't let their children play with them, and there are a whole lot of myths and misconceptions passed around. And that has to be taught about and taught against.
In my old neighborhood there was a gay couple who were foster parents to babies whose mothers were HIV positive and drug users (usually crack) and who were abandoned at the hospital after birth. Usually the children stayed with them until they were 18 to 24 months old and had tested negative twice for HIV. I often wondered what happened to the ones who didn't test negative.
As for educating high schoolers about AIDS and HIV and the rest, all the studies and professionals I know of agree that this kind of teaching has to start much, much earlier. What with the average age of beginning menstruation down around 9-1/2, and reports every month or so of 7, 8 or 9 year old boys trying to rape their female playmates, and given the all too prevalent theme of sexuality hitting us from almost every TV show, advertisement, and the music and videos which are aimed at pre-pubescent children, I think waiting until kids are teens to teach about sex is much, much too late. For heaven's sake, they sell bikinis and midriff baring outfits for 3 and 4 year olds, which I find absolutely appalling.
I repeat - hooray for Sesame Street.
I'm glad we are having a civil debate about this, GinnyK. Afterall, this is a debate board, for Pete's sake.
I am not against teaching children about HIV. I am for it. I am not against homosexual persons adopting a child. I think a loving, nurturing, protecting home is what a child needs to thrive and survive while down playing sexual preferences.
I am not against teaching children about sexuality and how babies are born when they become curious as toddlers and teaching
good touch /bad touch, what feels good, love shouldn't hurt...on and on and on... I just feel a Sesame Street program or Teletubbies show isn't a place to hear about a disease (IN THE STATES)which is mainly transmitted through unprotected sex and illegal drug use.
I think parents and educators should keep talking to young children about tolerance of people who are different. Talk about shutting out friends, excluding people out of a group is hurtful. "The kid next to me had head lice or pin worms three days ago. Can I still be her friend for a sleepover on the weekend?"
Also, in my opinion, "They" sell bikinis /midriffs/ leather jackets to toddlers because their "Parents" by it for them. I have yet to meet a 3 year old with her own vehicle, going to Target and buying her OWN sexy bikini with her OWN money.
Okay, someone else's turn!
What do you think Sesame Street will say about HIV and AIDS, Annie? I personally doubt very much they will talk about the non-innocent methods of contracting HIV - any more than they talk about, for example, the KKK when they have units on tolerance and the ill effects of prejudice. I do think that in the States it is appropriate for a show directed to children to talk about not behaving unkindly or in an un-Christian manner (since I am a Christian, that is my religious frame of reference) to children who have a really scary disease. And maybe to teach about how a child with this really scary disease should be treated by other children and adults.
Unhappily, all too many parents don't talk to their children about tolerance toward children who are different. All too many parents, in fact, teach just the opposite of tolerance by their words and behavior. (Remember the song in South Pacific - "You've got to be taught" - talk about a political message in entertainment!) And while most schools have programs on tolerance, more or less, they are school programs and have, I am sorry to say, probably much less effect than entertainment programs.
As for how and what schools teach, when my kids were in high school the schools were supposed to be teaching about the Holocaust and, in fact, had specific "units" about the Holocaust. To my great dismay, my youngest son learned next to nothing from that unit - except that the Holocaust was a historical fact and Hitler killed Jews. It took a diatribe from me in reaction when he said something really stupid, and many many conversations over the years, before the essence and meaning of the Holocaust began to sink into his head. So for that, as well as many other experiences, I don't look to schools to teach humane and tolerante behavior.
One of the reasons Sesame Street is, as you describe it, a "safe and happy haven" is that one of the constant messages in Sesame Street is about making the world around you a safe and happy haven for the people in your neighborhood, including those who are different in any way. And one of the ways Sesame Street teaches this is by showing some people treating another person in a not nice way and then discovering that (a) they are being not nice, and (b) that being not nice for the reasons they thought they had is not what they really want to be or do. And they do it in such a nice, safe and happy ending kind of way. Would that the real world worked so nicely, safely, and happy endingly.
Ginny, I think you are starting to sit on the fence a bit, so to speak.
You are saying my exact point. Any person which is different by a physical problem, mental problem, lice, pinworms, socioeconomic class, etc....should be tolerated. Why name the disease?
I call Sesame Street or any child's program with non-violence and happy thoughts with songs, cookies, rhymes..."a safe and happy haven."
Do you think the toddlers in the "states", living with HIV or a parent with HIV or AIDS, for example, wants to hear the acronym HIV, when they are watching the cookie monster devour cookies...while their mom is sick in bed with HIV?
Is Sesame Street, or any toddler programming with hard facts helping this poor toddler while she is trying to have a release from her intolerable world?
Next they are going to have Kermit swinging up to the bar asking for a drink. Will a Kermit the Frog "character" teach your grandbabies about alcoholics? Would a Barney skit portraying a single mom with four kids, pregnant again, no income , living on welfare, with her deadbeat boyfriend on the couch teach my child anything? The latter scenerio is more of a tragedy in this country than HIV. And I don't want that on a toddler program either.
My opinion again.
for many years I researched HIV and then AIDS, I went to conferences and listened to many people with the disease and also many scientists and doctors. I went into schools to teach High school children about it and unprotected sex and drug use.
Most high school kids,for one have already had unprotected sex and have tried drugs.
What I learned through all of this, you must start teaching these things to our children at a VERY early age. I'm not sure about Seasame street but I firmly believe by the time they start school.
Early Education and Awareness is the key to stop this disease. Not just on this topic but many.
I also think by them trying it in South Africa is a wonderful thing. And if it works , why shouldn't it come to the states.
By saying it can stay in SA, are you saying there children should be experimental and maybe even harm many children. And In the US our children shouldn't have to know reality and face the facts. Yes it may harm children, but in the long run, it will help them more than the harm. Our children in the US are no better than the children in SA. WE NEED TO EDUCATE ALL CHILDREN.
JMHO
Also I thought thought this topic would be on a debae board, as this is a moms board,and I think we all agree we want what is best for not only our children but every child.
Terri
No, I do not think children in South Africa should be a test for this educational approach to HIV. Nor do I think it would harm children watching the show. No one said the kids in the states are better than children in South Africa. Please do not put words in my mouth or anyone elses, please.
I am simply saying HIV is a huge epidemic in South Africa, but not in the states. It would bring up conversations most little kids don't need to worry about here in the USA. Let kids be kids.
I agree, we need to educate all children. Let's start with our own neighborhoods.
Annie, President Bush says AIDS is a major epidemic in this country, and the number of infected people is growing by the thousands every year.
I'd love to let kids be kids, but if we want our kids to grow up, we have to warn them about a whole lot of things we don't really like having to think about, and start before they are at risk, if at all possible, so it has time to sink in and be a part of their thinking.
Annie, I'm curious as to why you don't feel AIDS is an epidemic in the States? True, it is not to the degree it is in South Africa, but then, at one time in South Africa, it wasn't out of control either.
This is a different world from the one I grew up in. There are many, many ugly and unpleasant things that children have to be aware of and be knowledgeable about while growing up that we never would have dreamed of when I was a child. I think AIDS is one of those things that truly does need to be part of their thinking from very early on.
And I have to say, I wouldn't mind if Sesame Street DID deal with alcoholism. This disease (and it IS a disease) is raging through this country and countless children are being raised by alcoholic parents and many will bear the emotional (and in some cases, physical) scars of that for their entire lives.
My opinion is this: I personally wish that shows like Sesame Street would not include issues like this in their show. I have nothing against them including characters of different races or with disabilities or with a generic illness very matter-of-factly in their show without placing any emphasis on them. However, I don't think preschoolers are even old enough to understand about HIV, how it's spread, & so on, & I certainly don't want to start a conversation with my four-year-old about the sexual habits of some, blood transfusions, and intravenous needle exchanges between drug addicts. I think it could stir up fears in them that they can't possibly deal with at this age, because they aren't mature enough to put it in perspective. I think the concept of toddlers avoiding other toddlers with HIV is ridiculous. At that age, if they are allowed to live a short while with their innocence, toddlers are willing to play with ANYONE, any race, any religion, any illness. They just want to play.
I do think around the age of 6 or whenever a parent who is the one who knows his/her child best determines they are ready, that it may be a good time for PARENTS to start talking to their children about these issues. I want my children to get their information about drugs, diseases, sex, racial discrimination, & more from ME, not a group of people who produce a television show that reflects their concept of these issues.
Sadly, I don't think it's the children that need to be educated, it's the PARENTS of the children who let them run free doing whatever they want without giving them any information about functioning safely in society that need to be educated.
ANNIE2, coming to your rescue!!!!! I am going with the umpopular opinion here ladies! I DON'T think this has any business being discussed on Sesame Street. The show is for preschool age children. I believe it is up to ME to decide when my child is ready to learn tolerance, and preschool is usually for learning to potty train, share, get along. I don't think concepts like this or same sex parents can be even GRASPED by kids who aren't school age yet! I am all for tolerance of different peoples, some of you who know me well KNOW that. But not at that age. I am tired of people wanting to shove more and more responsibility on my kids when they are at an age when they should just be KIDS! UGH! Hope I am being clear!
What happened to Sesame Street being about counting and abcs?
Also, in such a country as South Africa, how many people do you think there have tvs? How many children do you think are privileged enough to even be able to see tv theere? Just a thought!
Pam, you make a good point about the PARENTS needing to be educated.
I have to wonder too, how many parents are out there who are truly informed about issues (whatever they may be) but have no clue (or in some cases, inclination) how to talk to their kids about the issues and educate them?
I just have one question?
We and the TV, and schools teach our children right from wrong, good touch and bad touch and when a white child sees a black children that its OK.
So why not this?
Why not let our children learn that early prevention is the best key to not getting the disease. Also from what I read on this, its not supposed to go into great detail on HIV, its supposed to go into that children are children, some are sick with no cures yet, but they are still children that should not be shunned because they are sick.
Then I think it will be up to the parents of the children who watch the show, to let them know not to touch their blood, then the parents even still don't have to go into the sex issues nor the drug issues. Just to be careful.
I never meant to imply that SA children are better than ours, but why not put the show cross country and try it. If enough parents thinks its too much for their child to watch it, then turn it off.
And like I said before, when I went into high schools it was sometimes to late to teach children. So I think early education is the key.
Well stated Pam. I 100 % agree with everything you said.
I remind my dd when playing with other kids that if someone gets hurt don't touch their "boo boo", but to come and tell me or their parent. She asked why and I just told her is wasn't safe. I explained that it is much better for mommy's to help their kids when they get hurt just like I help you. She's just 3 and doesn't need to have anymore details than that regarding this issue. As she gets older the conversations will become more and more detailed. We will not shy away from the seriousness of this disease or any other kind of subject with her. Knowledge is power, but for us it must be age appropriate.
Terri, I agree early education is the key, but as a parent I want to be the one to determine that age, & I want to be the one to teach them my views on these delicate & controversial issues. This touches a nerve with me, because I have always deeply resented anyone trying to step into my shoes & do things like this for me "for my children's own good." As I said before, I know what's good for my own children. I would never be presumptuous enough to say what's good for anyone else's children, especially on a national level.
Perhaps, Sesame Street looks at this as a way for parents to discuss this with their children if they want to.. for the parents that are not sure how to start the conversation.
I have to wonder if we aren't entirely missing the point of this character addition. Perhaps Sesame Street is NOT adding this character for the benefit of non HIV positive children (or their parents for that matter) BUT for the HIV positive children who as Ginny stated several times have been "shunned, barred from attending school, and generally treated like pariahs". Maybe this character is someone that these unfortuante kids (who I am sure did NOT contract HIV through drug use or unprotected sex heterosexual or homosexual)can identify with so that THEY don't feel like they are the only one.
And maybe just maybe it ISN'T about us parents or our healthy children but it is about fostering positive self esteem in children who are afflicted with a horrible disease that was no cause of their own.
Bubbles,
I saw a post here from you in response to mine and when I came back to respond it was gone???
Why bring up this disease on a show that targets young children? Because there are young children that are affected by this disease and if I understand one of Sesame Street's purpose correctly it is about teaching children about the value of others and about how we should treat each other. People who are afflicted with ashma, cystic fibrosis and leukemia are not treated in the same manner by our society as those who are HIV positive. Society doesn't treat a leukemia or asthma patient as a leper.
You're right, Tammie. Society doesn't treat children with CF, asthma, & such the way they do HIV children. I realized that right after I posted, so I decided I didn't really have anything further to contribute on the issue.
I also don't like anyone telling me when things should be told to my children, especially the TV, but with this isssue, many parents are igrorant and don't teach their children anything. Heck some parents arn't educated enough to even try to explain what they don't know nor care to.
I think everybody if it comes to the states, explain to the children that this child is very sick and her blood is what makes her or him sick. Please tell mommmy if you see a child bleeding and mommy will help, but you don't have to. End of discussion, they don't need to know all the facts, because at that age they won't understand them anyways. Another thought would be to put it on NIck at night so the older children could watch it and maybe learn the facts and then be able to ask their parents other questions. I hope Seamase Street will only portray that this person is sick and its not good to touch ANY blood without gloves on and leave it at that.
Tammie, well said.
Pam, didn't even see your reply until just now! LOL!
The schools are not allowed to disclose the names of children who have hiv. No one in a class would know if a child has hiv except the teacher and assistant teacher(maybe).
A child should be told to treat all blood and spit and bodily wastes as if they were dangerous.
mommyof4~ good point
I think that alot of women against the HIV muppet have made very good points, things I never even thought about. My first instinct was the same as Tammie's, this was created for children with HIV to let them see that they are not alone.
I think the main thing we come to here is that we as parents have to make decisions that are good for our children, based on what we believe. And that has to be done on a case by case basis. What I want for my child most certainly won't be what you want for yours. To many times we as parents use our TV sets as a babysitter for our children. I am guilty of this myself. Especially with PBS, because I think of it as "safe". I have begun to screen what my kids watch, and read, and listen too. And I decide what is appropriate based on my beliefs.
I guess what I am trying to say here is just this, we have to decide whether or not we want to expose our children to such things. And if we do, fine, if not, fine as well. But we always have the option of turning it off.
The only thing I have to add to all this is I think people don't give kids enough credit. Someone here said they didn't think preschoolers were old enough to understand about HIV how it is spread. Lexi knows. Up to a point, she doesn't know what anal sex is, but that really isn't what HIV is all about. She knows other people's blood and body fluids can make you sick. She knows that there are different kinds of germs that can make you sick and some of them are viruses that once you catch them you always have them. I think of all these conversations as stepping stones each one builds on the last. ( I will say Lexi is very advanced and I do tell her that these topics are for us to discuss and her friends parents want to tell their kids things like this when they want to tell them.)
I'm the one sitting on the other side of the desk from the 16 year old girl who is crying b/c she just found out she has herpes or is pregnant and a lot of that could be avoided if there were more education not only for kids but for parents to learn to talk to their kids early and often!! Knowledge is power!!!
I am in the opinion that sesame street should leave this too. If htey want to have a sick child on there and leave it at that, that is fine, but why label everything? This is my reason, first whose kids are watching sesame street, those of us who are involved parents and make them watch PBS, or parents who let their kids watch anything? I know that there is a mix, but PBS has a stigma of not being cool, so it loses its impact when kids can be most affected by what it has to say. Second, I teach my child my beliefs, I teach them right and wrong, I really don't want to answer questions about HIV and AIDS. We teach our children abstinance, period, that is the only acceptable form of birth control. As for other bodily fluids, we teach our kids that all diseases are transmitted through things like this, when our friends have a fever we don't play with them, when they are bleeding we don't touch it, things are contagious and our goal is to not catch these things if we can help it. Here is my other unrelated beef The schools make it a point to teach kids how they are all different so we can teach them to be nice to one another...WHY?? That nick show was on about the gay families and my daughter age 8 said hey that is about gay people. I was suprised she knew the word, we talked about it, how she felt, how we felt etc. And then we talked about why they are having the show, her answers "because we should be nice to everyone who is different, just like black people" I was floored, our family is multi cultured and to hear such a racist statement stunned me. I said what..she said well like in the slave days, people weren't nice to people who were black, now they are. I know there is history to be taught, but my child would have been fine not pointing out those differences. We are nice to everyone, or at least try to be, we are all different in our own ways. But when we start using labels and lots of examples we also set up our society to always be predjudice. Kids really don't notice those things, they are taught that. Off my box now!
Kaye, I think it's wonderful that you are teaching your children that abstinence is the only sure birth control, but *what if* one of your kids, as a teen, decides to have sex, against your beliefs? You say you teach them your beliefs, but you don't want to answer questions about AIDS and HIV. Who will teach them about those things? If you don't want them learning about AIDS and HIV on TV, wouldn't it be better for you and them if they learn about it from you? JMHO. :-)
Karen, I will talk with them about these things when they are older. Right now they are 8,6 and 4. There are lots of things about sex and HIV that I just think can wait a few years. If my children decide to go off on there own beliefs and have premarital sex, I do hope that I will have armed them with some information and at least where to get infomation. But no, I don't want to know and I don't really want to help out in that department. I was raised in a very very strict home, I was (and am) very naive. But for me the naivitae helped me respect sex. I honestly hope I can do half the job my parents did by raising me with a healthy self esteem and the ability to respect my body. In my opinion there really is no purpose for sex outside of marriage. Teenagers shouldn't be having sex (i know they are). I hope that I can raise my children to realize that sex is a very adult very private encounter. But at this age we don't talk about it. My daughter has no interest in boys and is very immature for her age, but I do take opportunities to discus with her things that I think she is ready for. We have such a wide variety in our family that I know she will see and ask questions and we will gradually talk about those things.
Kaye, I agree that there are some things about sex and HIV that can wait a few years, considering the ages of your children, but it won't be long before your 8 y/o needs to know some facts. And I agree that sex is an adult, private encounter, it is part of an emotional commitment to another person, and I don't believe that teenagers are emotionally equipped or mature enough to be having sexual relationships, but it happens every day, everywhere, that's why I think they need to be aware and armed with knowledge.
You state If my children decide to go off on there own beliefs and have premarital sex, I do hope that I will have armed them with some information and at least where to get infomation. But no, I don't want to know and I don't really want to help out in that department
Speaking from unfortunate experience here, I hope you would reconsider your last statement. If your teenager finds him/herself in a situation (sexually) and needs help or advice or information, wouldn't you want to be the one they turn to?
The turns that this discussion have taken make me think of something I was told, and it is so true: "Children need love the most when they are the most unloveable". The same applies to the fact that they need your support and help the most when you least want to give it to them.
I sat and wrote a big answer to you karen and decided not to submit it. That being said, I hope that we aren't in that situation, I will be supportive if we are. But I feel like I am arming my kids with much better info then birth control. We are instilling in them the reasons to make better choices, and trying to level the playing field with equal infomation on understanding our beliefs and goals. Plain and simple I would rather make the decisions on when to expose my kids to things and not leave that up to PBS. There are a lot of shows that we don't watch and alot of things that we do watch that others don't. I hope by me making the decision to stand up and turn off the TV that somehow society will slowly turn around. I hate that we have become a society that settles for shows with bad language, movies with violence, because the whole of it is good. Reminds me of the story of the dad who made the dog poop browies (if you haven't heard this I will try to find it and post it).
Here's a link to an editorial in the Sacramento Bee which briefly describes Sesame Street's plans and discusses some of the reasons for the HIV muppet, with reaction.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/3635397p-4661240c.html
I heard this report on one of the news info reports over the weekend:
HIV/AIDS infected males, in CAPETOWN (South Africa, of course) believe they will be cured of the disease if they RAPE (have intercourse) with a female BABY between the ages of 1 and 4 years old.
They showed a poor 18 month old baby girl in the hospital who had just been RAPED. Now may have HIV. Let's show her the muppet with AIDS. That will cheer her up!!! Make her feel more comfortable with her peers!
I think the attention on this disease is being focused on the wrong group to make any changes.
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