A modest proposal: Live, one-hour reproductive education course on national TV. Would it work?

[Missy Vixen]

I have been thinking about this for several days now, and wondering if it would even be a help.

We have had multiple elected officials (and even a few that aren't, and I'm looking at you, Gingrich and Santorum,) opining about women's health over the past few weeks. It is clear from their comments that not only do they not know what they're talking about, they enjoy displaying their sheer ignorance on the matter. As a result, I'm wondering if the following might work: A one-hour, prime-time, live network broadcast presentation and Q & A on reproductive education.

The one hour could be hosted by someone like Dr. Oz. (The guy's likable, and who can argue with his professional credentials?) He could explain exactly how male and female reproduction works. He would also be qualified to explain exactly what happens when a woman uses contraceptives or the Plan B drug: In other words, an egg is not implanted, there is no "abortion" if she is not already pregnant, and how reliable and readily-available birth control lowers the instance of even more unwanted children. If he has a little extra time, perhaps he could explain that 98% of the population engages in sex, how it is part of a healthy lifestyle (take that, Santorum and Gingrich,) and it is not normal to expect the vast amount of the population to be abstinent.

No religious or political slant. Information. Given by a doctor (or doctors; it might be nice to have some OB/GYN's present, just for the hell of it). Let's get some people in there to ask questions, too. After all, there are people who still believe women who menstruate have an "infection" once a month, for God's sake.

I realize this is a very controversial idea. After all, the entire country almost imploded when Janet Jackson showed less than five seconds of one of her breasts on national TV. At the same time, it is time to stop pussyfooting around with these people.

Let's get some education out there. Let's get it out there as quickly as possible. Let's watch certain political figures squirm when their ignorance and anti-female agenda are laid bare for all to see. After all, how could anyone possibly object to education?

[niyad]

1. well, let's see--the FUNDIES???? the screaming from the fundies here in fundieville got the

reproductive health lectures done by planned parenthood cancelled. they don't want sex education, they want ignorance.

your idea is great, but I guarantee it won't go anywhere. the woman-haters cannot stand the idea of actual, medical information about reproductive health actually being disseminated to the masses.

not that it isn't desperately needed--a woman I knew many years ago told her partner during a very intense moment "of course we're safe, I'm right in the middle of my cycle"

[Missy Vixen]

2. Planned Parenthood just managed to raise $3 million in 72 hours a week ago

If PP bought an hour on national TV to do this, I'm in.

I wonder how something like this might change the national conversation.

[kestrel91316]

3. Why bother? The RW will just say it's all lies.

[Missy Vixen]

5. And why are they credible?

Like it or not, the Democratic Party has allowed them to make their points over and over and over, with little to no pushback. Senator Murray released comments this morning, I believe. Nancy Pelosi has commented as well. At the same time, it's time for some Democratic males to put some skin in the game.

The Republican Party is attempting to rob women of any kind of reproductive freedom. I wonder to myself what the effect might be of a nationally broadcast reproductive education program. At the very least, it might help those whose parents "don't believe" in sex education.

[salvorhardin]

4. I seem to remember this being done in the 1980s

IIRC, Phil Donahue was the host of an educational mini-series on human sexuality. I can't seem to locate any trace of this though.



Most recently, there was this 2009 TV series. A pilot was produced, but the series was never picked up to the best of my knowledge. It looks like a sitcom, but it was supposed to deal with factual material and real issues.

[Missy Vixen]

6. HBO tried something similar as well

Tell Me You Love Me, IIRC. It was on one season. It's the most explicit thing I've ever seen in my life.

I'm thinking Dr. Oz, with those charts we all saw in high school. They're just drawings. They're not explicit. If the RW is so into "education", why would they object to a factual recounting of what reproductive health is, how birth control works, and why it's important to halt or slow the spread of STD's?

I would love to see some enterprising female journalist actually school some of the more idiotic Republican presidential candidates the next time they mouth off about women's health, that's for sure.

[salvorhardin]

8. Makes you wish Linda Ellerbee was still doing reporting

Yeah, I have fantasies about smart, knowledgeable journalists calling pols out on their BS. Then I wake up.

[Missy Vixen]

9. I miss her, too

Linda Ellerbee would be calling those guys out, and in a big way.

[CTyankee]

12. what happened to her, anyway?

[Missy Vixen]

13. I know she had cancer

I think she retired. I can't even imagine how she would do the news today with a straight face.

The late-night news she did with Lloyd Dobbins was appointment TV.

More about Linda Ellerbee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linda_Ellerbee

[salvorhardin]

17. She's been the producer and host of Nick News since the beginning in 1991

She's also written several children's books, and spends a lot of time advocating for breast cancer research and treatment.

http://www.amazon.com/Girl-Reporter-Bytes-Back-Real/dp/006440952X

[Harmony Blue]

7. No it would not work because

most Americans preserve Puritanical beliefs and refuse to let go. This is very common outside of the United States, which why these countries have made more strides in the green movement and sex education.

[CTyankee]

10. Let's try it! It can't hurt and certainly could HELP! I say WHY NOT?

[Missy Vixen]

11. Imagine how stupid certain Republicans would feel

when getting their noses rubbed in it. In other words, "Uh, dude, the Pill is not an abortifacient."

Plus, you know the screaming would be legion re: the fundies, but the entire country would have the broadcast on. After all, there's the outside chance that someone might ask a non-G-rated question.

[CTyankee]

16. The point needs to be made: a human pregnancy starts at implantation, not at some

"magical mystery" of "fertilization." A LOT of fertilized ova don't make it to implantation. I guess that makes Mother Nature a very efficient abortionist!

[lumberjack_jeff]

14. Will John Cleese host the show?

&has_verified=1

[jwirr]

15. Not unless it is mandatory and the police enforce it. Fundies will not watch.

[Missy Vixen]

18. I beg to differ on the "fundies will not watch".

There's a reason "adult entertainment" sells like hotcakes in hotel rooms across the country. IIRC, the biggest consumer is the state of Utah...

Again, here's the question: Does anyone at all (namely, Planned Parenthood, the AMA, etcetera,) TRY to educate, or will we spend the next fifty years locked in ignorance due to fear? Network TV is still free to all. I think a one-time program would get huge ratings. I also think it will force certain parties to either admit their ignorance, or get challenged on it.

[jwirr]

19. I would like to see it happen that way. Just do not have much faith in rw open mindedness.