Our Next Scandal - The

Our Next Scandal - The Independent has the dirt on Secretary of State Colin Powell:

"Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, has made an admission reminiscent of Gladstone by revealing that he and his wife Alma help to educate girls in Washington about the virtues of sexual abstinence.

The Victorian-era British prime minister would scour the streets searching for prostitutes to rescue and rehabilitate. Meanwhile, Mr Powellhas described in an interview how he and his wife warn girls about the dangers of Aids. 'Abstinence is a good thing to teach young people before they're ready for the responsibilities of sexual activity,' Mr Powell said. 'Abstinence works. We know it works ... and it is a perfectly sensible strategy to take to young people.'"

Among those who view abortion as sacrament, I can understand withering anger at those who, say, oppose abortion on demand. I disagree with them, but I can understand their anger; it's analogous (thematically, if not logically) to my anger at the painful illogic of most gun control advocates.

But against abstinence - a topic that seems to draw scarcely less vitriol on the part of the zealot? That'd be analogous to me derogating people who don't want to own guns. Absurd, no?

Look for it to be used as a campaign issue.