Late-night support
A phone call and $25 can help a child, self
STEVE WILLEY is a
senior news-editorial
major and a Daily
Nebraskan columnist.
During my years as a DN colum
nist, I’ve revealed a lot about myself.
I’ve told about the time I was incar
cerated for a couple of weeks, and
I’ve shared personal things about my
body and how it functions. But here’s
something you may not know about
me: I am a father.
Put down the croquet mallet,
mama. I’m not a father in the sense
that your thinking. I’m not even a
father in the same sense that my
father was a father. By that I mean I
don’t randomly wake my child at
3:37 a.m. by snapping a mousetrap
across her nose.
No, I’m a father in a different
sense. You see, my child lives in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I sponsored
her through Christian Children’s
Fund, a program consistently identi
fied as one of the best nonprofit orga
nizations in the world. Her name is
Meseret Tamaret. You’d love her;
she’s a walking 7-year-old cutie-pie.
If you would indulge me this, I
would like to share the story of how I
came to know little Meseret, and I
assure you, it’s as true as I am fat.
In 1995,1 had what most people
would call a “serious intent to spite
my liver.” In other words, I drank a
lot. On nights I went out, I’d return
home, make myself a drink and start
calling folks on the phone. One night
after hearing the phrase, “Do you
have any idea what time it is?” and I
responded, “Naw, and I don’t particu
larly care,” I decided to watch the
boob tube until I settled down.
Now, I’ve got this problem that
when it’s late at night, and I’ve had a
few too many, I tend to find every
advertisement on television absolute
ly fascinating. I sit in awe wondering
how I could have possibly survived
so long without these products. I’m
kind of weak that way and I’ve got the
trashy merchandise to prove it. I’ve
got more than 75 limited-edition col
lector plates of painted nature scenes.
And I’ve ordered numerous foreign
movies which, oddly, seem to have
the same plot of a Russian man in his
shorts trying to sell a dog a pint of
whiskey.
But on this night, something
crossed my eyes that made me cry. I
mean honestly cry! And let me tell
you something, I don’t cry easily.
(The last time I can remember crying
was in 1993 when doctors informed
me that the two small, marble-sized
lumps on my testicles actually were
my testicles.)
What upset me was the picture I
saw on television of a frail little girl.
Her malnutritioned belly pooched
from her body. Flies swarmed around
her face, and she was so broken
hearted that she didn’t even bother to
shoo them away.
I didn’t hear one word the
announcer was saying; all I could
notice was that fragile, little life. In
my drunken stupor, I fumbled for the
phone and hastily mashed in the
numbers I saw on the screen. After 30
minutes and seven unintentional calls
to the same, very rude man in Peru, I
got through to an operator at CCF.
Here’s how the conversation went:
“Thank you for calling
Christian’s Children’s Fund. This is
Marcy.”
“Ma’am? Yeah, uh ... hello?”
“Hello?”
“Yeah, I wanna help that little girl
I saw on TV. My credit card number is
... (pause) hold on ...”
“Sir, do you want to sponsor a
child?”
“Yes! God, I feel so terrible. Now
you’ll make for sure that the little girl
I saw will get this money, right?”
“What we can do is have you
sponsor your own child, and your
money will be used...”
“I don’t want to sponsor my own
child! I want to help that little girl I
saw on TV. Now, if you ain’t gonna
help me, I’m gonna mail a check
right now to Africa and hope that
somehow she gets it.”
It was then that Marcy told me
what CCF was all about. It isn’t just
some nameless organization that
dumps a bundle of bills on the
doorstep of some underprivileged
hut. It actually encourages personal
bonds between children and spon
sors.
After hearing the details from
Marcy, I pledged $25 a month. It
turned out to be one of the best
investments of my life, ranking well
above the time I bought stock in the
show “Cop Rock.”
Only.^ays after I hung up with
Marcy, I received a
portfolio of my
sponsored child. It
told me all about lit
tle Meseret: where
she was born,
where she was
from, and why her
folks were having a
hard time providing
for their family.
And it told me
where my money
went. It was amaz
ing to see how my
$25 could help an
entire family. When
you think about it -
at least in my case -
$25 is the price of a
medium-sized meal
at McDonald’s.
There’s no question
there.
^-But the best
thing about CCF is
that it does everything
in its power to get you involved in
your sponsor child’s life. I’ll never
forget the day I got my first letter
from Meseret. I had sent little
Meseret a picture of me holding my
pet ferret who, at the time, was trying
to swallow my nose. Meseret, of
course, is a little young to write
lengthy letters. But the workers at
CCF made sure her parents received
my communication. Her parents
wrote me back and said Meseret
laughed at my photo.
Who’d have thought I’d be mak
ing a little girl laugh thousands of
miles away. *
There are no losers when you
sponsor a child. The child wins. The
Meseret
family wins. Even the corporation
wins. But perhaps the sponsor is the
one who wins the most. For me any
way, there’s something very gratify
ing about rolling out of bed in the
morning knowing I’ve done some
thing right.
It took some disturbing pictures
before I made the decision to sponsor
a child. But it doesn’t and shouldn’t
have to for others. So give CCF a call.
The number is 1-800-776-6767, but
don’t ask for Marcy. I made her name
up.
Just tell them you want to help a
child. You’ll feel better before you
hang up the phone. And soon, so will
a child.
Control yourself
These are the pros and cons of safe-sex options
DANIEL MUNKSGAARD
is a sophomore English
and philosophy major and
a Daily Nebraskan colum
nist.
Time to put my information
where my mouth is.
Last week, I discussed the need
for further education about effective
birth control options. Not only do
teenagers need it, but a startling
number of young adults (that means
us, people) haven’t the slightest clue
about the issues involved in sex,
despite the fact that 80 percent of
them have it on a regular basis (and
one in five may have some kind of
sexually transmitted infection).
So, in what seems an appropriate
follow-up, it’s time for a crash course
in contraceptive methods and issues.
Since there is so much information
to cover, and with very little space,
this will be a two part column (or
three parts, if you include last
week’s). This week’s will cover sper
micides, diaphragms, cervical caps,
and the pill, while next week we’ll
tackle condoms (both the male and
female varieties), IUDs,
injections/implants, and the morning
after pill.
Please remember: much of what
is discussed in the “Pros and Cons”
it
... a startling number of young adults
(that means us) haven’t the slightest clue
about the issues involved in sex.’’
sections are based on opinions, and
should in no way be the determining
factor in what form (if any) you
chose. Each person has his or her
own unique situations and tastes (or
lack thereof). Consult your doctor,
the friendly folks down at the
University Health Center or sinister
music Planned Parenthood for fur
ther information.
That being said, let’s begin:
Spermicides: These are chemical
agents used to kill or immobilize
sperm, as well as help prevent cer
tain sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). They come in a rather dizzy
ing array of options, ranging from
foams and jellies to gels and suppos
itories. They are inserted into the
vagina before each act of intercourse
and are best used in combination
with other forms of birth control.
Effectiveness: 79 percent through
typical use, 94 percent through per
fect «se.
Pros: These are readily available,
fairly easy to use (many are now
available in pre-filled applicators;
just point and squirt), and can usual
ly be applied up to 30 minutes in
advance.
Spermicides also have the bonus
of providing extra lubrication, which
can be helpful.
This is one of the only birth con
trol options besides condoms that
actually prevents certain STIs.
Cons: Messy, especially if you’re
not used to applying them. Of
course, sex isn’t exactly a spic-and
span activity in the first place, and
the problem decreases quite a bit
once you become more experienced
with the applicators. Also, as stated
above, spermicides aren’t terribly
effective when used alone, instead
serving as an effective supplement to
other methods.
Diaphragms and Cervical Caps:
These barrier devices cover the
opening of the cervix (which is
where sperm enter the uterus to get
crazy with the egg). Most are used in
combination with a spermicide of
some kind. The diaphragm is a
dome-shaped rubber or latex cup
with a flexible metal spring, and is
available in various sizes. Cervical
caps are similar, but are much small
er.
Effectiveness: 82 percent for typ
ical use of both (with spermicide),
91 percent for perfect use of cervical
cap, 94 percent for perfect use of
diaphragm.
Pros: These are excellent options
for women with uncooperative part
ners who refuse to use protection
(the other options being dumping his
sorry ass, or at least cutting him off
sexually; many women don’t realize
just how effective these two options
are).
Neither partner should feel it dur
ing intercourse.
The diaphragm can
be placed up to six
hours in advance, and
the cervical cap can be
placed up to 48 hours in
advance.
1
Cons: A prescription
is needed to obtain one,
since it’s important to
get one that fits. A lot
more time and energy is
needed to both obtain
them and use them
properly than most other
methods, and without
spermicides provide no
STI protection. They are
also, as a friend of mine
put it, “slippery little
bastards,” with the ten
dency to “go flying
across the bathroom while you’re
trying to apply the damn things.”
Also, it’s important to leave them
in for a few hours after intercourse,
but don’t press the recommended
time limit.
Birth Control Pills: These oral
contraceptives are combinations of
synthetic hormones, usually estrogen
and progesterone, although certain
progesterone-only pills are available.
These are frequently prescribed by
doctors to treat problems associated
with menstruation.
Effectiveness: 97-99.9 percent.
The main way you can foul this up is
by forgetting to take them at the
same time each day.
Pros: Very effective, when taken
regularly The Pill can also lower
risks of benign (non-cancerous)
breast disease, as well as ovarian and
endometrial cancer. It also makes a
woman’s cycle more regular, and can
lessen cramping and flow. Excellent
for sexually active women with sexu
Aaron Steckelberg/DN
ally stubborn partners.
Cons: The Pill can cause some
side effects, the severity of which
depends a lot on the woman.
Problems range from abdominal, leg,
or chest pain, headaches (particularly
migraines), eye problems and dizzi
ness. If you develop any of these"\_
problems, see your health care
provider immediately.
The Pill offers no STI protection,
and forgetting to take it at the proper
time can result in, well, you know.
The final con to the Pill involves
obtaining it: you usually need a pre
scription, and if you want to get it (or
any other prescription birth control)
through the University Health
Center, you have to attend a seminar
on birth control that is given by the
Peer Sexuality Educators. And guess
who’s one of them? evil laugh
That’s all for now; we’ll tackle
condoms and other options next
week. So until then, no sex. I mean
it.