Just A Thought

I genuinely appreciate the many dedicated professionals who speak reasonable caution into my life. Please allow me to thank a few of the professions which, because of their real-world experience, encourage me to abstain from things that would be harmful. Forgive me as I also mention a few tongue-in-cheek observations and then pose a few questions to some who are giving bad advice.

Let me start with you, Dr. Dentist. Thank you for reminding me to brush, floss and chew sugar free gum. I must note, however, that if I chose the lazy way you could just fill my cavities or pull my teeth. You could fix it, couldn't you?

Thank you, Dr. Psychiatrist, for recommending that I avoid caffeine, read good books, and find time to relax in order to calm my nerves. Although, I could just keep doing my own thing and you could give me a barbiturate instead. You could fix my nerves, couldn't you?

Thank you, Dr. Physician, for encouraging me to try salt-less popcorn, say “no” to smoking, and jog a little every day; you tell me to abstain so I can avoid cancer or a heart attack. But, doctor, even if I ignored your advice, you could cut out the cancer or fix my heart. You could probably fix me, couldn't you?

Thank you, Dr. Environmentalist, for insisting that I ban the Freon, burn cleaner fuels, and stop acid rain so as to preserve the health and beauty of our earth. But, honestly, couldn’t we blow it all off for now and worry about fixing it all later? It would be painful, but we could fix it later, couldn't we?

So many specialists seem to be telling me it is a noble thing to curb my appetite and to abstain. They say it is noble to show restraint and self-control so I can be healthy and save the planet. They wisely counsel: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." They so often recommend self-control and abstinence.

Ironically I am hearing very different advice concerning two of America's most destructive behaviors – sex outside of marriage, and alcohol abuse. This brings me to you, Dr. Social Engineer. In the name of courage and individualism you stand up and tell me that responsibility and abstinence are unrealistic, dirty words when it comes to these huge issues? Here’s the logic:

• Why abstain from alcohol, when I can wait until I've cause a terrible car accident or misused a loved one? Then you can put me in jail and enroll me, my family and the families of those I hurt in programs that will assure us all that America is trying to solve this alcohol problem.
• Why curb my sexual appetite when adoption or abortion can “fix” the problems caused by my irresponsible behavior? I know there will be physical and emotional scars. I know that it messes with my psyche and that it could devastate my loved ones, but abstain - preposterous!

Did I hear you right Dr Social Engineer? Are you counseling our kids to be promiscuous (being sure to use “protection” of course) pretending that “safe sex” will protect them against deadly viruses and soul-sickness? Are you looking the other way when major alcohol companies lure our youth to their product and then expecting that powerful drug to not have a negative impact on their lives? Are you thinking that, when they are ravaged by disease and emotional distress, someone may be ingenious enough to come up with a “cure” so we can put the abstinence crowd to silence once and for all? Should we really be making more noise about the ozone, red meat and junk food than we make about promiscuity and alcohol abuse? Dear Dr. Politically Correct Social Engineer, you may think it courageous to take a stand and tell us that responsible decisions and abstinence are too much to ask, but can we really fix it later?