Damning Data

The data are rolling in, and the results are conclusive: abstinence-focused sex education doesn't work. A recent study shows that teens who pledge abstinence are just as likely as non-pledgers to have sex, and less likely to use contraceptive methods when they do so. The US has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world, and roughly 1 in 3 sexually active girls get pregnant in their teenage years. We simply have not been giving young people the set of tools they need to take care of themselves and ensure that they don't face unwanted pregnancy.

The policies that led to this situation were formulated during the Bush years and were guided by ideology rather than reason. Take a look at the states with the highest pregnancy rates, along with who they supported in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

1	Nevada	Bush	Bush
2	Arizona	Bush	Bush
3	Mississippi	Bush	Bush
4	New Mexico	Gore	Bush
5	Texas	Bush	Bush
6	Florida	Bush	Bush
7	California	Gore	Kerry
8	Georgia	Bush	Bush
9	North Carolina	Bush	Bush
10	Arkansas	Bush	Bush

The correlation between conservatism and teen pregnancy is due to the fact that conservatives are enamored of poor policies rooted in religious dogma rather than sound social science.

The really maddening part of this is the denial conservatives have regarding the source of the problem. We've spent $1.5B over the last 8 years on abstinence education programs, during which time teenage pregnancy rates started to rise, and their response to the data is to argue for more abstinence-focused education. Like many conservative policies, they've hooked a pithy catch-phrase to the push, claiming that abstinence is the only form of birth control that is 100% effective because you can't get pregnant when you abstain. What they don't say is that it is the least effective approach when used improperly.

My favorite definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. Oh, those crazy conservatives!

Again at Starbucks

I've decided it would be fun (and maybe good for me) to find some humor in the refined orders that I mentioned in my last post. I may write a quick post now and then when I notice eccentric orders at various eating and drinking establishments. I think they point to a need for control rather than being about how things taste (can people really taste whether the milk mixture below is correct or whether there are 2 vs. 2 1/2 pumps of hazelnut syrup in a drink?)

Today's order by a slightly disheveled man at the Starbucks at 23rd street and 8th avenue:
Grande decaf extra-hot semi-dry cappuccino with half whole milk and half 2%.
He then asked if this was the first one that the barista had made today. :-)

Choices

A few days ago, I was in line at one of my many local Starbucks stores. There was a young woman ahead of me who was overly put together. Upon reaching the register, she ordered an "extra hot, venti, no foam, skinny, quad shot latte with two pumps of hazelnut syrup." Then she proceeded to argue with the barista regarding how much the concoction costs. It was very "LA Story."

I found the whole episode both amusing and irritating. The amusing part was that the order was like a parody of a Starbucks order from Saturday Night Live. The irritating part was that it wasn't a parody, and she was holding up a long line and blocking me from my simple drink (a tall coffee). There also seemed to be a sense of arrogance and entitlement, as if the staff was there specifically to meet her exact and refined needs.

I've pondered my reaction to this seemingly innocuous incident and the deeper questions it raises. Am I overly impatient? What does it mean for Manhattan to be increasingly populated by affluent yuppies who can seem demanding and self-centered? Does having the ability to order such a drink represent possibility or a problem? Do I need a better drink that I can order at the Starbucks counter? Or will the economy force us all to start drinking black coffee from Dunkin' Donuts?

What do my readers think?

Dispersion, Attention, and Intention

"We will try not to lose ourselves in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or craving, anger, or jealousy in the present. "
-- from the 7th Mindfulness Training in the book Interbeing: Fourteen Guidelines for Engaged Buddhism by Thich Nhat Hanh

I've had twelve days off during the holidays. It was a wonderful chance to get some rest, reconnect with New York City, and spend some quality time with David (my partner) and my friends. It also helped me see how rushed and overbooked I have been. I don't think I would have become aware of being so spent had I traveled during the holidays, because I would have been rushed and overbooked!

As a result of this fresh awareness, I've thought about where and how I spend energy. In pondering my use of energy, the word "dissipated" kept coming up in my mind. I looked it up and found two of its definitions interesting. The first is "wasted or squandered." The second is "irreversibly lost; used of energy." I realized that dissipation is rooted in a dispersion of my attention in the present moment. As a result of this dispersion, I lose time and/or energy. I think there are two modes where this loss occurs. First, there is the "I'm so busy!" mode, where my energy is dispersed by bouncing like a pinball from one thing to the next. This reactive ricocheting happens when I don't have a clear and firm intention regarding what is really important. The second is an "I'm so tired!" mode, where I lose time in mindless, unfocused, and ultimately non-refreshing activity, like channel surfing. This mindless moping is also marked by a lack of intention, as well as a deficiency of attention. One of my aims in 2009 is to practice recognizing dispersed and dissipated states of mind, and trying to replace them with a clear intention and a sustained attention to what really matters in the present moment.

In thinking about dissipation and dispersion, I realized that there are a lot of elements of our culture that seek to hook our attention and dissipate our energy. Consumerism, tabloid entertainment, and the frantic pace of work all contribute to a dispersion of our collective energy. As we move forward into 2009, we face unprecedented environmental, financial, and ethical challenges. Meeting these challenges will require serious focus and energy at a societal level. We need to move from dissipating and dispersing modes of ricocheting and moping to energetic and focused action. Could a renewed collective commitment to paying attention and setting strong intentions be the antidote to what ails us?