Sexuality in American society is currently being formed by the extremes on both sides. the far right wing religious conservatives and the far left wing liberals. Where is the balance between the two extreme philosophies on sexuality? Perhaps if we assess the extremes on both sides we can find some sort of answer.


I am not sure anybody could argue that the far, far left wing philosophy allowing or promoting violent and demented pornography like snuff movies, child pornography, gang rapes, and violence could be good in any way for society. In fact, this is where personal rights are infringed upon and human rights issues are raised when sexuality is inflicted against the will of another or the innocent are taken advantage of. As with examples such as rape, laws do need to be in place to protect the innocent.

On the other end of the spectrum. some on the far, far right who almost go as far as women being completely covered from head to toe, could be compared to living in a society like that of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is so extreme it is about run by "thought police" and what we do in the privacy of our own bedrooms with two consenting adults would not necessarily be private. Saudi Arabia is an example of a country that does not separate church and state. Who wants to move to affluent Saudi Arabia in a hurry? This is not about singling out a religious belief such as the "Muslim" faith. Indonesia is an example of a Muslim country that has separated church and state and they are a famously relaxed society.

Although I do firmly believe in separation of church and state, I do believe some form of moral standard for society is important also. Many African countries like Sierra Leone for example lack the moral standard that religion instills, hence women, children, and even grandmothers are gang raped in the streets and left to die in a pool of blood, and cannibalism still exists as along with massacres. Nor do I believe the "Ten Commandment Tablet" should have been removed from the courthouse. That is taking things way too far. Our society is based on Christian beliefs. Tolerance.

Do I agree with how American society is balanced now? Being very traditional, it has definitely stepped over my comfort level in many ways. For one, the invasion of privacy in my home of very explicit pornography in my inbox I could certainly do without. I guess my basic premise is I in no way believe I or anyone needs to be the sex police, but I do not believe it should be forced on us unexpectedly either. First and foremost, the protection of children and families needs to be considered.

The rights of far right wing religious conservatives and people with more moderate conservative views such as myself have the right to raise their children without having them unexpectedly subjected to sexually explicit images on their home computers or in a family place like a grocery store.

I guess I like the way many places in Australia balance this dilemma of infringing on others' rights. for those who want pornography it is in the "R" rated room where you have to be over 18 to go in. Families don't have to be subjected to sexually explicit images with their little six-year-old child in a public place. For people who are more liberal, let me say it is more unfair to subject a family with small children to sexual images than it is an inconvenience for you to find your pornography out of view of innocent little eyes. On the beaches in Australia we have fully clothed beaches, topless beaches, and nude beaches, which satisfy all spectrums of society with you agree with each other or not. Tolerance.

We should have learnt through the Prohibition era that telling someone they cannot do something makes them want to do it more. The almost single solution to combating this "prohibition" human phenomenon is not to make an issue of the subject, but to gently guide people with kindness and emotional intelligence. What's that old saying. "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

So I guess the balance I would like to see after assessing the extremes applied in other countries is a respect for the rights of others. If you infringe on the right of another, then an alternative solution should be sought. Anything that inflicts sexuality on anyone against their will should unquestionably be illegal. Although I dream of an innocent era more like how I would imagine the 1950s to have been, I do not believe it is my place or anyone else's to act as the sex police. The rights of families and children should first be respected with great reverence.

End.

TOLERATION

Toleration is the best religion.

- Victor Hugo