Condom Cartoon

Condom Man to the Rescue

Here is a cool cartoon for Condom Man.

Condom Man Saving the world from high prices on condoms.

Groups Fight Against Condom Ads

 

Groups Fight Against Condom Ads

 

I am always disturbed and concerned when I hear about advocacy groups that try to put an end to condom use or that try to prevent educating people about how to use various forms of birth control. In my opinion, these people are foolish to think that a ban on condoms will help stop people for having sex. Sex is a natural act that everyone enjoys, and to preach abstinence over having safe sex is simply the wrong answer.

 

My feathers got ruffled recently because of this very topic. As I was browsing through the condom news (after all, any CondomMan needs to be educated on the latest birth control and safe sex news), I came across a story about this very topic.

 

It seems that a former official of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is pairing up with a group of pro-life advocates in order to get a ban on birth control advertisement. If this group gets its way, birth control ads will no longer be allowed on radio or on television.

 

I fail to see how banning birth control ads is going to help our society in any way. Rather than deny sexuality, we should be making more effort to teach safe sex practices. Unfortunately, these advocates don’t agree.

 

“I think they have a valid cause,” said Oscar Cruz, former CBCP president. “…advertisement in television is very public and it can be seen by anybody, whether young or old.”

 

Unfortunately, several organizations in the Philippines are in agreement when it comes to banning the birth control ads. Jo Imbong, the executive director of the Family Media Advocacy Foundation, stated “The ads convey a vulgar message and mock the sensibilities of audiences.”

 

Now, I haven’t seen the particular birth control ads in question. So, perhaps they did go too far and maybe they were vulgar. At the same time, it seems to me that the conclusions being drawn by these groups are based out of ignorance. As a result, I hesitate to put much credence in what the group has to say. Cruz, for example, stated “If that thing [the condom] can prevent the spread of AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases, how come AIDS cases are increasing?”

 

While wearing condoms certainly does not guarantee prevention of AIDS, condoms are not to blame for any spread of the disease. In fact, if you ask me, it is the effort to shoo condoms away that is leading to widespread ignorance and problems with the deadly disease. Condoms are not just about birth control – they are also about preventing disease when used properly. And, the fact that Cruz refers to the condom as “that thing” only further demonstrates to me that the attitude of this group about sex and sexuality is a bit jaded.

 

Imbong went on to say, “Advertising has a social, economic, and cultural responsibility to the community and the advertiser’s interest should take account community interest.” I couldn’t agree more. In fact, advertisement should be used to spread the word about safe sex practices and birth control rather than trying to brush sexuality under the carpet.