Defense Department To Phase Out Stop-Loss Program

Defense Department officials said that, rather than requiring troops to stay on after their term of enlistment expires, they will begin offering them cash incentives to voluntarily continue their service. What do you think?

Paul Shannon,
Systems Analyst
“Between closing Guantánamo Bay and ending stop-loss, this could seriously hurt the U.S. military’s ability to scare American kids into college.”

Jennifer Moss,
Police Officer
“And when has anyone ever done anything they didn’t want to do just for money?”

Michael Cruz,
Cartographer
“See, that is just like the Pentagon. Thoughtful, considerate, gracious. Class act.”

Today’s photo of the day shows Michael Jackson, who is reportedly looking to adopt another child. Since y’all are funnier than I could ever be, let’s come up with “Top Ten Reasons Why Michael Jackson Wants To Adopt a Child”

Today’s video of the day is the much-hyped interview skit between Charlie Murphy and Lil’ Wayne. Maybe I’m missing something, but I found this to be remarkably unfunny.

In his inaugural visit to Africa, Pope Benedict XVI caused a media firestorm with his comments about condoms. While speaking about the AIDS crisis, Benedict denounced the use of prophylactics, arguing that they will not solve the problem, and may even “make things worse.” True to form, many people on the Left attacked the pontiff for his remarks, dismissing them as unrealistic, inaccurate, and irresponsible.

Without question, the Pope’s statement does not reflect the harsh realities of the 21st century. In a world that produces more than 7400 new HIV infections per year, condoms are a necessary and effective strategy for stemming the tide. In fact, the only method more foolproof than condoms is abstinence, which is not only difficult to sustain (the flesh is weak!) but not universally excepted as a carnal sin. Also, in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, where the infected rate among adults is as high as 25%, abstinence until marriage doesn’t guarantee safety either. After all, married people, even good Catholics, can still get HIV/AIDS from their partners.

Contrary to what the Pope suggests, there is no evidence that condoms exacerbate the HIV/AIDS crisis. While conservatives will point out the infections are higher in communities that use condoms at high rates, such an observations is both disingenuous and illogical. Even if this is true, we cannot confuse correlation with causality. For example, it is likely that murder rates are higher in neighborhoods where citizens where bulletproof vests. This correlation does not, of course, mean that bulletproof vests cause people to get murdered. Similarly, high condom usage does not cause people to get infected.

Although I disagree strongly with the Pope, I nonetheless find his critics to be equally unrealistic. As the leader of the Catholic community, the Pope has a moral responsibility to articulate his understanding of a divine mandate. Do we really expect God’s intercessor to say “Let’s forget the whole chastity/sanctity of marriage thing and give out some Trojans”? Such a move would offend the fundamental spirit of his vocation. While we may disagree with his interpretation, it’s unfair expect him to violate his religious faith.

Additionally, Pope Benedict didn’t merely offer abstinence as a silver bullet. He also emphasized the need for challenging our conceptions of sex, extolling the virtues of honesty and monogamy, and providing economic relief to the poor as powerful antidotes to the current pandemic. While we may not agree with his entire plan, we’d be well served to listen to what he’s saying.

Catholic Church Must
Pay For Contraceptives

New York’s highest court ruled that insurance coverage for employees of social service agencies run by the Catholic Church must include contraception. What do you think?

Richard Harris,
Administrative Coordinator
“Telling women that I work for the Catholic Church is all the contraception I need.”

Tracy Pierce,
Social Worker
“Catholics using birth control? But then who will supply the world with urchins?”

Paul Ballard,
Cashier
“This is an affront against the Lord, who was always a proponent of pulling out and climaxing all over her tits.”