Sex. A naughty little 3 letter word that means so much (and unfortunately sometimes so little) to each of us. An often taboo subject that some people want to discuss all the time while others shun it like an outcast leper asking for a hug. In some ways, it's one of the most powerful words around. It is one of the few words that can stop or start any conversation in its tracks. Have you ever asked yourself why? Is it, as liberals say, a very normal act that should be out in the public? Or is it, as the conservatives say, a normal private act that should be kept behind closed doors?

More importantly, for this discussion at least, where do you get information about sex? Who informs children (or young adults) about the dos's and don'ts of sex? Is it the parents responsibility or the state (school)? In many ways it's an extremely difficult question to answer because at its heart it is a question of your deeply held beliefs.

The more liberal side states that SEX EDUCATION should be taught in schools. Because a lot of kids have trouble discussing this issue with their parents (which I can fully understand. To this day I really, really don't want my mom and dad discussing sex around me. It makes me feel extremely uncomfortable.), a lot of sex education goes un-taught. If no one at home is willing or able to discuss sex with a youngster then where will that child learn about what they can or should do? This liberal viewpoint insists that the more information you have on a subject, even one as provocative as sex, then the better off you are. If you take some of the mystery out of sex you will normalize the act and take away a lot of the guilt people have for this completely natural act.

The conservative side states that sex education is solely the prerogative of the parents. You are responsible for your own children and teaching them in this very private manner is your duty not the state. Sex is a moral issue and for a lot of conservatives this means abstinence until you are married. Although sex is a normal act it should be kept solely between a man and a woman and discussed very infrequently and only between the husband and wife. Any information about this act will be taught solely by the parents. The parents will determine the morality of this act not the state.

So, who is right? Again, both sides have valid points. In relationships sex is vitally important. It can greatly enhance or destroy a relationship. So knowing more about it seems to be a valid point. If you know what to expect you can avoid teenage pregnancy, Venereal diseases as well as some heartache. However, at some point, the morality of this act comes into play. We all know that sex without consequences is not reality. If you show kids how great sex is, aren't they more likely to go try it? If you tell them it's normal and pass out condoms aren't you encouraging them to go and "do it"?

In this issue I am truly Caught in the Middle. I believe that parents should inform their children about sex. However, this education should take place BEFORE a child reaches sexual maturity. Prepare them before it happens. That being said, there is a whole slew of parents that do not talk about sex to their children which is a disservice to these kids. These children need some way, other than other kids, to get information about this vitally significant act. I believe that there is only one certain way to not get pregnant or catch a disease and that's to not do it. However, I also believe that even though abstinence should be taught, so should responsible sex practices. In other words, I believe in having more information readily available but that information should be given out by the Mom's and Dad's of the world.

I live in Southern California and decided to go to the local mall the other day. It was a pleasant day and the mall seemed like a good idea. When I got there I began to walk around the mall and even went into a couple of shops. Something seemed very off though and I couldn't figure it out, at first. Then it hit me. Almost everyone was speaking Spanish.

Here I was in a large mall in America and the majority of the people around me were speaking a foreign language. As I started paying attention, I noticed something else. Unless I spoke Spanish to the people speaking Spanish, they seemed offended. It was like I was some sort of live version of Hannibal Lector asking them for a small taste, perhaps just a finger.

Then it occurred to me that this is one of the main issues I have with our Latino friends. Their culture is different from my culture. How they prioritize things is different from how I would. Normally, this is not an issue with most people I meet that are different. With them I can just discuss our differences and then find an area of commonality and then take it from there. With the Spanish speaking Latinos this is a lot more problematic. Communication means that we both have to understand each other. We both have to have a common point of reference or we will never be able to work out our issues. We need to be able to speak the same language.

At this point, a lot of the Latinos I know would point out the fact that most of them do speak English quite well. I agree. However, if they speak English quite well, then why aren't they speaking English around me? Why exclude me from the conversation? Why speak Spanish so much of the time when the language in our country is English? How am I supposed to find common ground when over half, or more, of what you say I cannot understand? You'll speak to me in English but then like old Uncle Bob that no one likes, you'll turn right around and exclude me by switching to Spanish.

Why not just speak English? You can still have every aspect of your culture that you want to have. Then again, maybe that's the point. You want every aspect of your culture and none of mine. You only want to communicate with me on your terms. So here I am, Caught in the Middle of trying to communicate and not being able to. Caught in the Middle between your culture and mine.

 

 

What with all the talk about Stimulus plans, falling (and rising) stocks, Bailouts and Bonuses, I've begun to wonder what will actually help. It seems that every side has decent arguments in favor of what will work. Some plans involve direct government intervention while others allow companies to work with the government. Which leads me to the question of the difference between government Oversight and government Ownership.

I think most of us can agree that the current situation with our financial institutions is intolerable. It seems like a bunch of rich, do nothing, fat cats sit in their ivory towers and make as much money as they can. They get paid WAY too much money for what little ineffective work that they do and like Nero fiddling while Rome burnt around him, they care nothing for anyone other than themselves. The question is what to do about it.

The Democrats are all for more government intervention and control. The Republicans think that the free markets will sort themselves out and government will only make it worse. I think both are right and both are wrong. What we need is a Limited amount of government Oversight. Something to balance out the abusive financial practices that affect us all. However, this does NOT mean that Governments comes in and takes control. Oversight means that the government will be watching and monitoring the financial institutions for compliance with our laws and for practices that are harmful to our economy. However, the actual power the government uses should be limited. They should let the public know when a company indulges in excessive behavior. Bring all their backroom dealings to light. Let us know what is happening. We'll take it from there. We'll decide whether to withdraw our funds or support a company. In this scenario, oversight means just that. The government watches and limits its responses.

Ownership means the government buys out the troubled companies and those companies now become part of the government. There's a simple word for this. It's called Socialism and IT DOES NOT WORK. Not only that, but when government owns something, there is no competition. They set the price of whatever you're doing and you have NO CHOICE.

So where does that leave us? Caught in the middle between Government owning Democrats and let the companies do whatever they want Republicans. Waiting for Oversight to happen and instead getting Ownership.

Like many people I'm caught smack dab in the middle of a fight between the Left and the Right. Sometimes it feels like I'm being pulled in two separate directions in some sort of macabre Luke Skywalker - Darth Vadar battle for my soul. In this battle I must choose. Am I a Liberal or Conservative? Am I a Republican or a Democrat? Am I a  Catholic or a Protestant? Choose. I must be one or the other. You cannot be both!

 

This is one of the failings that I think we're seeing more and more in our society. The fact that you must believe in EVERYTHING your group supports. It's like a giant grown-up version of dodgeball where you have to choose which side you're playing on before the speeding Ball of government or Business bashes you upside your head. Choose. Decide which side you are on and once you choose, be sure that ALL of your opinions match ours. Oh no, don't you dare share any opinions with the OTHER side! No, don't even think about their....(cue sinister music) Eeeviiilll thoughts.  Don't let their anti-our-views seep into your thoughts and dreams. We are all of one thought. One mind. Let's just call this exactly what it is. Political Borgism.

 

Remember the Borgs from Star Trek (ok, so I watch TV, sue me)? They were an evil race that abosorbed and converted any other races they came across converting them into mindless drone robots. There was no outside thoughts allowed. You will be assimilated!

 

Well, that's how I see a lot of what's happening in the world today. Each side wants you to be EXACTLY like them. Each side wants only to hear their opinions and no others. Each side will not tolerate dissent.

 

Liberal? Conservative? Choose. Oh, and don't you dare have any viewpoints that the other side has. Become a Political Borg. Become.....One of us!