THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1999

Intercourse is everywhere

Sex is everywhere these days, from television to billboards and in every magazine on the shelves. Most talk shows revolve around sex. Sex in the 1990s has become a form of entertainment. We want to see how pathetic other people's lives are to make our problems appear minor.

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Tom Linek

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Why is our society so amused by sex?

More than ever, people are attracted to anything sexual. But if you raise the subject of sex in a discussion, it becomes taboo.

What are we so afraid of?

As Americans, we often wonder why there is so much rape and why infectious diseases are a problem. This is because people do not discuss sex. There is no communication.

In Europe, for example, people do not have as many sexual hang-ups. This is because sex is discussed openly, and without a negative connotation.

People are not afraid of engaging in the activity, which is a lot of fun, but few people are able to sit down and discuss sex with their partner.

In the United States, there are more cases of teen and unwanted pregnancies than ever. In addition, the numbers of HIV and AIDS cases are also rising. The problem will not go away, we need to do something about it. What we need to do is talk to our partners before we engage in sex.

Show yourself and your partner a little respect by talking to them about your needs and wants and find out theirs. Do not be afraid to ask the question "How many partners have you had?" Or demand that a condom is used.

One night of pleasure will not make up for a lifetime of pain. If you think dying of AIDS is difficult, try living with it.

You are the only person that is going to watch out for yourself, so take responsibility or live with the consequences.

Tom Linek is a broadcast journalism major.