My mind has been wandering down some odd paths today, but you're used to that. What I've been thinking on is how our fundamental needs are fulfilled.
There are some very straight forward needs that all of us have. Maslow spoke of these, and indicated that fulfillment of them was necessary to advance our thoughts and goals into higher realms. And, in the most part, our cultures encourage the business community to fill these needs. For instance, if you are hungry, we have restaurants. Sleepy - motels. If you seek entertainment - cinemas and clubs. If you are needing health care - doctors. Churches, museums, pharmacies....etc. The point is that all of these services for one's needs are simply provided in the community. And yet, aside from all of these professionally administered services, there still exists a very fundamental part of each of us that typically requires some form of expression: Sex.
Sex is such a basic and common need, present in all creatures, and yet is deemed a dirty, illegal business. Where every other common need has institutions in the community to address them, we are left to fumble on our own, or with other often just as inexperienced and ignorant, in the pursuit of this need. And, I wonder why.
Most likely, I guess it is morality. But what are morals but an expression of a culture's values, no more iron-clad than any other culture's values and really not necessarily based on what is logical or rational. And yet, most cultures are quite pragmatic, maintaining that which works and discarding those things that do not - to a certain degree. So why is it that such a basic need as sex has been relegated to the back room, the dark closet, the "unspoken"? If a culture is rational and focuses on what is necessary, wouldn't that include a healthy open approach to sex just as other needs are fulfilled in the community?
Where does this thought come from, I bet you wonder...or not. Well, I guess I've been somewhat open about my own slow understanding of my orientation and how it is currently lacking in expression. And, I've thought about the role sex plays in our culture. I can't help but to wonder if my life would change for the better by being able to procure sexual expression the same way I procure groceries, gasoline, etc. And, I wonder what sort of changes a more open sexual environment would make on the culture's offenders? Would the concept of "gay marriage" be so difficult for some to accept? And, how would young people view themselves if they weren't hampered with overhanging concerns about their sexuality?
Would we have fewer problems if there were stores offering this service as easily attained as bread and milk? Or, would we find a whole host of new problems?
