The United States media and the increase of AIDS in the Caribbean

Jerome Teelucksingh

University of Trinidad and Tobago.

The United States media is guilty of encouraging this AIDS epidemic. The many soap operas, movies and certain half-hour comedies portray men and women who engage in casual sex without any thought of disease or long-term commitment. Furthermore, the suggestive antics of gyrating musical artistes on music videos on MTV or their perversions exposed in the United States tabloids as the "National Enquirer" provide fuel for an uncontrollable war on sexual diseases.

It is obvious that the traditional sanctity of sex being reserved for marriage is rapidly eroding. It cannot be denied, sex has become a cheap thrill in which partners are easily changed without any fear of the dire consequences on one’s mental or physical health.

The media’s regular portrayal of sex scenes has resulted in an increase of HIV/AIDS among sexually curious teenagers in the West Indies. Should they be educated on the use contraceptives ? In 2003 there was an uproar among certain sections of the society in Trinidad and Tobago when the daily newspapers published a report of a youth group distributing condoms to students of a secondary school. The issue of freedom of choice is critical among this generation of teenagers and young adults. At what age should children be exposed to sex education at schools?