There has, for years, been a push to promote abstinence as the only appropriate sexual choice for teenagers. Now, people are beginning to promote the idea that all unmarried people under the age of 29 should remain abstinent. The first article below discusses the new propaganda, while the second article explores some of the perspectives from people who have chosen abstience or celibacy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shelley-lewis/no-sex-please-were-sing_b_33084.html

http://villagevoice.com/people/0645,bussell,74920,24.html

You know, I have absolutely no problem with people consciously and deliberately choosing abstinence/chastity/celibacy if that is what's right for them at the time. It can be enormously healing and refreshing to approach life from a non-sexual position for a time. And I consider it a valid, respectable life choice.

However, people who choose abstinence or celibacy out of misguided feelings of guilt or shame about their sexual natures and desires need help to heal these psycho-emotional wounds. And I don't have any respect for those who try to force-feed others feelings of guilt and shame around sexuality, or who agressively promote their abstinence preference as the only right, clean, true and pure way to live.

Basically, I don't think our sex lives should be legislated at all. The government has no right to tell me when and when not to have sex, how to have sex, with whom I can share sex, how or if I should use contraception and STD prevention tools, whether or not to shop for, own or use sexual aids of any variety, if I pay or accept payment for sexual services, and the pornographic material I might choose to consume.

This blogger has posted a hopeful and optimistic prognosis for the future of some of our sexual and reproductive rights and freedoms which have come under attack in recent years, based on the recent election results:

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2006/11/08/after-the-election-potential-for-progress

I do so hope that some more realistic and reasonable solutions can be found, or at least discussed, for the sexual education, abortion rights, contraception information, human trafficking and free speech issues that have loomed so large in recent years.

What do you think?

Essay - BE the Change You Want to See

by Inara de Luna (c) August 2006

I have run across several philosophies lately that all mirror or interconnect with one another that point the way to a more peaceful approach to life:

Hawaiin Ho’Oponopono practice of forgiveness

Sioux Native American philosophy, O’Mitake Oyasin “All my relations”

Sanskrit concept of Namaste

Quantum Physics Law of Attraction

Buddhist Metta practice of lovingkindness

Wiccan Rule of Three & belief in Magic

Summarizing:

We are all connected. Everything we do affects everyone around us. We create our own reality. We attract into our lives that which resonates with what we say we want. By learning to practice love toward ourselves, and recognize the divinity within outselves and others, our stress from our interactions with others will lessen. Whatever energy we project will be returned to us threefold. Our thoughts have power; our words have power; through our thoughts, words and deeds, we have the power to change our reality.

* * * * * *

And so, rather than simply bemoaning the sad state of the world, it might be more helpful, for yourself and for the world, to do something about it. And that something can take so many forms. Of course, getting out and voting, writing letters to your Congressional representatives, voting with your dollars, and signing petitions are all obvious and helpful ways to bring about change. But you can also BE the change you want to see in the world. Are you tired of people being apathetic? Then get off your butt and DO something about the issues that concern you. Are you tired of all the bickering and sniping that goes on? Then learn conflict resolution techniques and listening skills. Does it piss you off how people don’t seem to give a sh*t about others? Learn how to apply the philosophy of lovingkindness in your life. Do you feel like people are always disrespecting you or taking advantage of you? Try looking at the world through the lens of compassion and forgiveness.

Don’t allow yourself to be overcome by despair, or that is the energy you will be projecting out into the world, and thus re-attracting back into your own life. Taking the time to evaluate and modify your own behavior, beliefs and daily practices, and then applying those skills to the relationships in your own life, will have an impact on all those you come into contact with. If you are projecting peace, you will begin to create a more peaceful immediate environment. And these practices have a ripple effect. Your efforts will spread out, far beyond your immediate sphere of influence. One person can make a difference, and if we all, each individual person, made a commitment to making a difference, it would continue to have a dramatic effect on changing the way the world works.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

~ Mahatma Gandhi