ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Weeklong Lesson

Today marks the end of Abstinence Week in Costa Mesa, a period in which the City Council should have learned a valuable lesson: Read proclamations before issuing them.

An organizer of the drive to obtain the proclamation said the intention was to get people to ponder the benefits of delaying sexual activity until marriage and to support those who want to abstain. There may be merit in the sentiment, but, practically speaking, not all will subscribe to that philosophy.

The real problem was that the organizers’ agenda appeared to be more complicated. A statement they issued branded “a lie” the red ribbon worn by anti-AIDS activists, who say the ribbon symbolizes the fight against the disease and memorializes those who have died because of it.

Abstinence Week organizers said the ribbon “promotes a lifestyle and education that allows sex with a condom.” The statement, with a white ribbon attached, was distributed at a council meeting last month and was deservedly criticized by groups fighting AIDS. County health officials chimed in, saying it is not enough to promote abstinence. Since many teen-agers are sexually active, other safety measures such as condom use are needed.

When the controversy erupted, Mayor Sandra L. Genis said she had “just kind of glanced at” the statement and asserted that it was not part of the official declaration. But to avoid misunderstandings in the future, the council should be more careful in studying and endorsing seemingly routine proclamations.