I agree that the family should be left in peace.. . right up to the second that Governor Palin brings up abstinence-only sex education as a domestic policy goal.

If she opens the door, then it's legitimate, imo, to bring up the fact that, since the policy doesn't work for teens whose parents believe in it and teach it, why should it be inflicted as public policy on those of us who don't believe in it, or won't teach it?

If Governor Palin then wishes to jump to the conclusion that the remark was made about her daughter, fine. She will have opened that door too. But really, young Miss Palin is merely the most high-profile example of what happens when young people who know only about saying no decide to say yes to a basic biological urge.

I can name at least six local families off the top of my head who were all in favor of abstinence-only sex education, and who opted out of an abstinence-based* curriculum for their children. They have unexpected grandchildren born of high school aged children. Teaching abstinence-only guarantees nothing except ignorance about pregnancy prevention.

Perhaps we can move the sex education conversation to a more sensible (as if) footing: teach abstinence as an appropriate, preferred behavior to counteract peer pressure, teach sexuality issues in the classroom to help teens understand mutual respect, and teach prevention and protection in order, at the very least, to prepare teens for their future lives in the adult world.

After all, not everyone gets this information from home and not everyone gets to have this kind of talk with medical professionals before there's a situation or crisis. There's no sex ed requirement for a college diploma or a trade school certificate. In the US, high school is the very last opportunity we have to offer medically important, socially valuable information about human sexuality and reproduction to everyone. To require a gag order instead is irresponsible policy. Governor Palin ought to ruminate on that a while.

Desperate Housewives is shown on daytime cable TV now. One peripheral effect: toddlers, preschoolers, and any child who happens to be home sick can learn about bedroom games with enhancing locations (like hospital beds) and interesting lingerie. "Abstinence-only"? Puleeze.

*Abstinence-based sex education emphasizes postponement of sexual activity until a number of personal goals are met. The curriculum discusses decision-making at length, in one-gender and co-ed classes, so that students can talk about desire, assumptions, pressure and choice someplace not in the backseat of a car. Methods of birth control and ways to prevent disease are frankly discussed, not to encourage their use, but so the students will have that information when they eventually become sexually active, which most will.