CeReBrAL GuMbo.....

Now Playing:“Only you and me, hun, the love never dies. Satisfaction, I have the right tactics. And if you need 'em, I got crazy prophylactics” –Bonita Applebum, A Tribe Called Quest, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm

So since I've been in Florida, I've been trying to keep current with things going on in my hometown (Washington DC). I try and read the Post every now and then, listen to streaming radio online...you know--keeping myself in the loop. And amidst all of the city's news, one subject seems to never leave the media : STD rates in DC are rising to the point where they are rivaling whole countries.

I wrote this post a while ago, but in light of recent activities, I thought I'd share it again.....

Scenario One: You’ve been with your man for four blissful years. Of course both of you have decided to make your love more than just a mental connection. You guys become sexually active and because you love and trust him so much, you feel no need to use condoms. Well, fall rolls around and homebody starts at the Virginia Institution of Higher Learning. He’s on a basketball scholarship because he’s just that good. You part ways (because you go to the University of Utah) and promise to love each other no matter what. Time goes by and Christmas break rolls around. You miss him so much that of course the first thing you two do is have sex—because that’s the only way to adequately show how much you’ve missed him. Two weeks later you’re itching and burning. Come to find out, homeboy has been taking advantage of his hoop star status and has contracted genital herpes from one of the groupies.

How unfortunate.

Scenario Two: You met this girl when you were 10 years old, and what you like most is that she had so much soul.(I guess you and Common like the same type of girl) You like her so much that you decided to wife her—you know, powder blue Roca-A-Wear suit white Nike her. :>) Of course you’re having sex and because she’s your girl, condoms aren’t a must—it feels better that way, and she’s not cheating on you. A few weeks down the road you’re itching, burning and wondering what the hell happened. She says she’s been faithful and of course she’s speaking the truth, but homebody on the basketball team was fooling around with her two years before you.

How unfortunate.

Scenario Three: You’re single, sexy, fly and educated. Having a significant other is the furthest thing from your mind. You’re looking to have fun and you meet someone with the same mind set as you. Inevitably, you become friends—with benefits-- and you use a condom EVERY time. The local health center is doing free testing one day and you find out that you’ve contracted Chlamydia. Remember the condom broke last month but you kept going anyway. Your partner never knew he/she had it because he/she has never been tested.

How unfortunate.

Moral: RAP IT UP! Get tested together if you must. With the rapid spread of STDs in America, there is no plausible reason not to KNOW YOUR STATUS. Too many people are crying and dying from unprotected sex. If you’re going to do it, then do it right. I’m quite sure that itching and burning doesn’t feel as good as the unsafe sex you had to get it.