1. It seems that every private matter is now some sort of public and usually political matter. On the left you have hedonists who broadcast every odd thing they do -- we are supposed to listen with admiration to all the details of their orgys and their gay or bi or transgendered genderbenderism. On the right, you have people making public professions of celibacy or virginity or whatever. I remember when Clinton was in office and a religious group held some sort of pro-celibacy rally near the White House. At the rally, a lot of teenagers proclaimed their intention to remain celibate. I am sympathetic to people wanting to counter the hedonists with something a little more sane, but I was dismayed at so personal a matter being turned into a political rally. I was thinking, "What's this? Are we supposed to have a national sex policy in the same way the left talks about having a national industrial policy or socialiced medicine?" I was also concerned about the physical integrity of so many young virgins being placed almost within reach of Bubba, but that is another story.
2. One thing you can be sure of -- the left will continue to politicize sex. They really don't see anything as being a private matter -- and I mean private in the sense that one is considered competent to make one's own choices without the help of the annointed. The left has co-opted sex -- sex is just another tool, so to speak, which is why some "transgendered" rally will predictably turn into a demand for more socialism, and a "gay pride" march will denounce "American imperialism" and demand socialized medicine and a 20 hour workweek. The left is anxious to bring all sorts of fringe people into the movement, lest they miss the all-important chainsaw fetish vote. It is all a numbers game.
3. I can excuse the left of their cynical numbers game because that is the way they think -- if they thought differently, they would no longer be the left as we know it today. I would be no more shocked at them then I would be surprised that a leopard didn't change its spots. However, I am disappointed when the right does the same thing and takes what should be a private matter and turns it into a public spectacle. It would be a victory for decency if the right could, as much as possible, de-politicize sex. I know this is not always possible because the left is busy making everything a political issue. Still, we should abstain from making new political issues of what should be private matters. A case in point is this story. Methinks that holding a press conference after a date, announcing that one is still celibate, is the most certain way to ensure that one's celibacy will continue forever! While a man not being able to commit to a relationship and not having sex might be more healthy than the usual (The "usual" being a man not being able to commit to a relationship but lying to his girlfriend of the moment and having sex) -- I have to wonder about a man so self-important to think that his personal situation is worth a press conference.
4. I really don't understand this trend in contemporary America to make every personal matter into a media circus or a political rally. I said I don't understand this trend to make everything personal a public matter, but I admit it is sometimes enlightening. I remember several years ago when Clinton's misconduct became headline news. At about the same time Bob Dole was advertising for Viagra. The leading Democrat was accused of being a serial rapist while a senior Republican politician talked about his impotence. That is everything you need to know about the American two-party system.
Because they are running out of normal people.
I have to wonder about a man so self-important to think that his personal situation is worth a press conference.
Well, let's be fair. He's part of a breakfast panel discussion called "What Men Don't Like to Talk About".
Bwaha! I am imagining a very silent breakfast meeting. Most men I know, when they don't want to talk about something, do not make a sound...
I've often said that the 1996 election was referendum on whether you wanted a president who could "get it up" or a president who couldn't "keep it down".
Since you brought up Viagra, I got to see MRS. Rafael Palmiero on TV last night and, judging from the looks of her, I imagine Rafael gets all sorts of quizzical looks about his Viagra promotionals. If it was difficult to get interested in her, the man must have *really* had problems...