America the fucking prude

posted by Jeff | Wednesday, February 18, 2004, 11:02 AM | comments: 2

I can't tell you how many times in blogs and columns that I've seen someone say in the last few weeks how screwed up we are regarding what's "obscene." Here's a good one from Margaret Cho

I don't get it. The world freaked out because Janet Jackson's boob was on TV. I can lump the insanity of this into two areas:

First, sex is dangerous and bad, worse apparently than violence. I can turn on the TV and channel surf, and I'll eventually land on a movie where people are get shot in mass quantities or shit is getting blown up. That's entertainment, and that's OK, by American standards. On the other hand, sex absolutely can't be shown. Maybe it's because I'm a lover and not a fighter, but I for one enjoy sex and like to participate in it every chance I get. I don't think most people will ever find shooting people something they want to do, and our value system, twisted as it might be, certainly doesn't find murder to be an acceptable practice.

Second, sex is demonized, we're taught that our genitals are naughty and we can't talk about it in public. Not only is it something pleasurable, but it's the freakin' source of all life. I keep hearing about parents groups and how offended they were at the Janet boob exposure, and that's disturbing. I admit that I don't have children, but I fully intend for them to understand their bodies and not think they're dirty or obscene. I want them to have the facts and know the process of reproduction and the risks of having sex. Kids, especially teenagers, are not stupid. Endow them with the facts, because ignoring them or telling them what not to do isn't going to stop them from doing anything.

The female body is beautiful, in all its various shapes and sizes. It's powerful, able to attract men (and presumably a lot of other women) and it can reproduce. Why the hell are we as a culture so embarassed by it?

The world can be a really screwed up place.

Comments

Drew

February 19, 2004, 5:59 AM # If you ever want to get a good laugh, http://www.parentstv.org is the place to go. This group is considered the most powerful group in the fight to make us all wear white, bow down to the same god, and drink Kool-Aid.

CPLady

February 19, 2004, 2:33 PM # I've often wondered lately what happened to the children of the 60's who began the sexual revolution. It's almost as if the generation after mine suddenly got all moral. Could it be more than morality? Are people now going overboard against sex to prevent their kids from being "promiscuous" and contracting AIDS?

I'm glad I'm not one of those parents who rants about the evils of sex, would PREFER my son have some experience before marrying, would PREFER he lives with his intended for a couple years first, and see nothing wrong with masturbation. Frankly, the more open you are with your kids, the more they will listen to you and at least take precautionary measures.

Although I DID have to remind him there is a time and place for everything, and many people might not appreciate certain things. It brings to mind an incident when he was in second grade involving a certain body part and how he carried the key to the boys room. I got a phone call from a horrified teacher and I had the most difficult time NOT laughing. My response that boys will be boys shocked her to no end.