February 10, 2003

  • Got Valentine's?


    The day after Christmas local stores erected displays of Valentine's merchandise.  Chocolates, hearts, and black lacey lingerie greet me at the door.  Large signs over the jewelry counters advise men that anything less than a diamond is an insulting gift to their Valentine.  Romantic comedy's suitable for a Valentine Date have been released to theaters.  The stage is all set.  Expectations are high.  Anyone getting performance anxiety yet?  Don't worry guys, there's still time to stop off at your doctor's office and pick up a prescription for the little blue pill.


    I have no desire to see the pendulum swing back to the days of Victorian repression of sexuality.  Denial of such an integral part of human nature makes us less than human.  I wonder though, whether we aren't in just as severe state of denial in our age.  We've taken sex off the pedestal, brought it out of the bedroom, and we didn't stop at the livingroom or kitchen.  We see it everywhere we turn in public life.  It's on our television, in the mall, and in the fashions designed for our children to wear.  What are we thinking?


    Are we truly accepting human sexuality for what it is?  Or by making it commonplace and public are we denying it's significance to our life experience?   

Comments (21)

  • I choose B--by making it commonplace and public we are denying it's significance to our life experience.  The brand of sexuality that is on display is false and acceptance of it is not truly accepting human sexuality for what it is.  The sex that sells is not the same as the sacred sex that binds a marriage.  But hey, that's just me.

    It's so nice to have you back, my dear.

  • I've never been comfortable with "sex as public entertainment".  It's infiltrated every little corner of our society and we are paying the price for that in children having children, and 12 year old girls who are trying to look like 20 year old hookers.  I just don't get it. 

  • I have no problem with healthy respect for naked bodies and what they were meant to do. I've never been to Sweden, but I understand that they have an enviably laid-back attitude about all this.  I understand that it is "commonplace and public," but most certainly not in the sick way in which it is in our society.  Our society has this vicious (and I use that word advisedly) double-take on this.  Sex is a SIN.  It's secret.  It's dirty.  It's titillating.  And it's painted on every public billboard in tits six feet high.  SICK, sick, sick.  Sick in the perversion of what is natural and healthy; sick in the objectification of the female, sick in the materialism attached to it.

    And no, I have never received a diamond, and would be insulted if I did !

  • I have to admit I don't like my 10 year old girl seeing Cosmo covers in the grocery line that say stuff like "10 ways to drive your man wild in bed!"  her friend and our neighbor spent the night last weeknd and left some of her clothes.  One of them is a pair of sliky, sexy bikini panties.  She's NINE for goodness sake!  *sigh*  It does seem like an uphill battle sometimes huh?

  • I think the human body is beautiful and sensual but at the same time I'm not into public display

  • I have to agree, but we don't just do this with sex...it's also done with violence...in movies and TV. Sad, really, that two things which SHOULD create a reaction in us now are just commonplace.

  • We take it and make it something ... what's the right word.. unreachable? unbelievable?  something so bizarre and strange that if you aren't strong enough in your belief of yourself, you will feel left-out.  I have this whole paragraph in my head but it won't come out in the correct words this morning!! Argh.

  • Great question.  I think much of the popular culture in the U.S. has become reactionary.  Prohibit alcohol one generation and watch the next several worship it.  Make abortion legal one generation and watch the next one go to war to try to stop it.  I think most conflict arises over attitudes and not the decisions that are made based on them, at least here.  Tell people what they can't do, and they want to do it even more.  Isn't that a basic principle of teen life?  Hopefully, our culture will soon mature into young adulthood, latch onto a reliable moral compass, and leave behind the follies of our national youth.  There is a big difference between the sacred and profane; we need to (re)discover it together.

  • Great comtemplation.  I think sometimes, we humans find balance only in the constant, rapid passing of it as we swing from extreme to extreme!   I have been reading about women being treated for "hysteria" during the Victorian age--UNbeLIEVable!  We humans are an entertaining lot, for sure!

  • I was watching the All-Star game last night and at half-time we were watching the show.  Mariah Carey was strutting around in a basketball jersey and such--actually sexy.  However, Roberto turned to me and said, "That's a little too sexy for her to be wearing with all those little girl cheerleaders dancing around her, don't you think?"  And it was true--prolly about twenty eight-year-old girls were dancing with her, and she was all but falling out of that dress.  Not very familial, that.  I'm all for acknowledging sexuality, but it has most definitely gone too far when I see the ladies in my school dressed the way they do.  Makes me feel old and prudish, but damn!  Good points, Terri.

  • things like this have gotten way out of hand...

  • *Dread faints*

  • Unfortunately, where money is involved, we cannot rely on the self-restraint of big business. As long as we, the public, tolerate it, there will be more and more sex displayed-- as long as it sells.

  • We've allowed ourselves to be robbed of the special place sex used to occupy in the lives of a married couple.   Great blog.  o/

    God Bless - Dale

  • I think the latter.

  • One thing is for sure. For centuries, even thousands of years, in all cultures, sex has held mankind's interest. We may not have much, but we have each other.

  • I, for one, can't stand having sex shoved down my throat by the media every day.

    I'm not for repression of sex, but if I suppose I lean further on the prudish side of things.

    I think if people wish to have sex, then nothing should stand in their way... I just don't want to have to hear about it all the time.

  • Actually I kinda liked the old days...where you didnt say a girl was pregnant....she was exposed....and sex wasnt something that was openly talked about in public or just in coversation..it was something reserved for mothers to tell their daughters...and fathers to tell their sons.....I just think that our "openness" has allowed too many teens to belive that it is a totally acceptible practice married or not....and with all the diseases that can be spread by sex....well I belive abstinance is better than monogomy.....but that is my opinion....

    Tina

  • The whole thing with the kids is bothersome to me... It's one thing to express your sexuality when you understand what that means... it's another thing to express sexuality when you're a wee one...

    There is a balance somewhere... I just don't think, as a society, we have found it yet. We get all up in arms about things that are really meaningless and then allow some truly atrocious things by.

    I dunno... I'm just blabbering...

  • The beauty of sex has been cheapened.  I wish it were not commercialized.  Not to go back to the dark ages, but some restraint about public view, please.

  • Its just a marketing ploy, nothing to do with acceptance or not of moral standards.  Sex sells.  So its everywhere.  So its more and more permissible by association....

    But I bet its just as wonderful now as it ever was :)

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