Did anyone see POV's "The Education of Shelby Knox" last night?

[formerrepuke]

It was nothing short of awesome. A 15-year old girl in Lubbock, TX takes a "purity vow" before her minister and her parents...to 'save it' until marriage. However, she realizes with the abstinence-only program in Lubbock schools that she (and her peers) are subsequently learning NOTHING about sex... resulting in the area having the nation's highest rate of teen pregnancy, as well as the highest rate of teen-STDs. In one scene, her face-to-face showdown with the local head of the Family Values Coalition- a man who appears to be older than her own father- was both chilling and inspiring in equal measure.

This was television at its best.

http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2005/shelbyknox/

[Oreo]

1. This is why PBS must be stopped!

How dare they show the hypocrisy of the extremist right!

[NYCGirl]

2. She was on Al Franken's show on Air America the other day, and she's

an awesomely bright young lady.

I TiVoed the PBS show, haven't watched it yet, though.

[ET Awful]

4. She was on Morning Sedition the other day too.

:)

[warrens]

3. It was incredible

You gotta stand up to these fascists, and she stuffed it right down that turd's throat. That was one fine piece of reporting.

[kliljedahl]

5. Missed it, I'll have to look for a re-airing

Sounds very good.


Keith’s Barbeque Central

[IrateCitizen]

6. She's an amazing young lady...

... and proof that there ARE liberal evangelical Christians out there, even if they are vastly outnumbered by their RW counterparts.

Not only did she take on the establishment with her stance on teaching comprehensive sex ed in the schools, but she AGAIN took it on with fighting on behalf of the gay-straight alliance in her high school.

Perhaps the best line she had was during one of the overvoices while she was marching against Phelps' hatemongers outside the courthouse. She said, "More people need to stop looking at the Bible all the time and actually look at the world around them."

It was powerful, powerful stuff. I was left in awe of her. Seriously.

[kweerwolf]

7. What an amazing documentary!

P.O.V. truly offers some of the best documentary work on television and last night was no exception. I was only by chance that I caught it, but I am very glad I did.

I loved the scenes with Shelby's Republican parents - especially when her mom tells Shelby that she'd have her vote even if she ran for office as a Democrat!

It's good to be reminded that, far from monolithic, Christianity can encompass many beliefs from all over the spectrum.

On a personal level, I loved the follow-up on the different people from the documentary at the end of the show ... especially the superintendent who had blocked and refused to meet with Shelby's group and who ending up leaving in disgrace when an e-mail he sent to a girlfriend on the school's computer offering her $500 to get naked in his office came to light. ... Gotta love those traditional family values!

[housewolf]

8. Shelby Knox will be a force for reckoning with one day

She already is ... but this young woman is a POWERHOUSE! I also saw her on Al Franken Monday night. She is poised, incredibly well-spoken, informed, committed and passionate. She's got brains, passion, beauty and SPINE. If she remains committed, she'll be a national force in the future.

Shelby Knox ROCKS!!!!!