Maybe the existence of this perspective is common knowledge -- maybe it's even widely held -- but it's new to me. Prompted by Alessandra's musings on the barbarity of our society's approach to "hate" speech I've realized that there is a large swath of society that acts (even if it won't admit it) as if there's nothing wrong with mental illness, obsession, dependence, manipulation, violence, harassment, and so forth. Many -- particularly among the people who act in these ways -- pay lip-service to "mental health" (according to their conception of it), but with little justification.
For example, who can say that a violently abusive relationship is "bad"? If the woman tolerates it, what gives society a right to object -- to impose external morality onto her relationship? Why would anyone think there's something wrong with stalking? Or co-dependent relationships? Pedophilia? (Dare I ask,) homosexuality? Even rape? Sure, many people find these things distasteful, but so what? How can any of them be objectively wrong? Even more weakly, how can any of them be "unhealthy"?
From a humanist perspective, anything that promotes the continuance of the species is "natural" and therefore healthy, and therefore good. Rape? Big deal. Women are biologically capable of bearing children, and it's only natural that they do so. Whichever man is strongest should pass along his genes at will. That's how every other species works, and we're just animals, right? All other sexual perversions can be rationalized with the same arguments. Whatever your genes incline you to do, do. If your genes are good, you'll win. Otherwise, you'll lose. Either way, the "problem" -- if there is one -- is self-correcting, and "health" will emerge spontaneously.
(HT: Clayton Cramer.)
Regarding homosexuality, my only question is this: What's the point?
Do you think sodomy laws should be reinstated?
Should homosexuals flock to those few in the medical and psychiatric fields who regard homosexuality as a sickness or "disease"? .. or, perhaps, should they be FORCED into such auspices?
I mean, where does the imposing stop?
The boggest sexual perversion is pre-marital sex. However, I don't see much evidence that that issue has a high priority among conservatives.
JT: Then you need to read this blog more!
Michael,
I was speaking of conservatives on the whole. I think you know that I am already reading your blog pretty regularly.
The problem with calling pre-marital sex the "biggest sexual perversion" is that the kids who have it (the sex) and get pregnant become afraid that others will see them as perverse and then get abortions to hide the fact that they have had sex. I went to an (anti-)abortion talk a few years ago and when someone in the audience asked why the same people who denounce abortion are the same people who say premarital sex is evil, the woman giving the talk said "Who says sex is bad? I like it, my girlfriends like it.." etc etc but basically only giving examples of other married women. If these people want the girls to stop having abortions, they have to 1) acknowledge that premarital sex does happen and educate people about the risks, and 2) not take on this condescending, scornful attitude toward extramarital pregnancy and offer to actually help these women feel good about going through with the pregnancy.
m: That's a reasonable point, similar in a sense to arguments that schools should pass out drug needles because "kids are going to use drugs anyway".
It's difficult because yes, once a girl is pregnant she needs to be able to get help (medical and spiritual), but at the same time, what she (and, of course, the boy involved) did was wrong. Excusing it or treating it as ok doesn't do anyone any favors. Sometimes people feel bad because they're genuinely guilty, and that's the proper response. Dealing with that guilt is part of the spiritual help that a girl in such a situation needs.
Worse still, I think, is the common societal response to the boy who impregnated her. He's often treated like a hero by his friends, or at least given quiet acclaim for his "accomplishment".
It's not a pretty situation, and I agree that it can be difficult to handle properly, but I don't think it's acceptable to excuse a wrong for the sake of mitigating its consequences.
As a woman and A friend of women who have been violated I am forced to say FORGET YOU. Women are very emotional beings whom in the name of love will put up with just about anything. I, in the name of love, looked past the fact that 3 out of my 4 older brothers molested me from the time I can first remember to about the time I was about 9 yrs old. I have a friend whom in the name of love (for her children)put up with a man who would lock her in a closet and BEAT her. This man was her husband. This man would take her against her will every chance he had.
Who the fuck are you to say that is right. Our sence of morality and wrongs or rights is what makes us human.By your definition We are no better or more educated then the comman housecat.
All I am saying is DO NOT spread your message of intolerance and inmorality to all. Our sence of moralality is what seperates us from the animals.
your views on sexual perversion and the fact that you're a christian are right on target. Thank you for the confirmation of a lifetime of evidence I have known, seen and experienced(a big LOL). What a stupid idiot. I don't care what your bent, cancerous iq is. But if you think you can do whatever you want then how would we have a society. I don't feel like going to work everyday, should I rob and kill. Oh, according to your logic the law would intercede so therefore the responsibility always rests with another, somehow magically righting itself in nature and therefore in life. You contradict yourself. Thats exactly what perpetrators do, do the damage and expect someone else to clean up the mess. How about child molestation, because someone feels like doing it and it causes damage to that child's psyche while feeding my degenerate impulses. You are under the mistaken belief that morality is somehow an imaginary concept but it is not. It a level of attainment in evolution, vital to the preservation of higher life and its future. You are a degenerate disgusting repugnant rats ass. It amazing how stupid and therefore dangerous people really are. You are unbelievable but you are right about one thing, there are too many substandard souls out there that don't deserve to even breathe.
zq: Dude, the whole article is sarcasm. Get a clue.