I call David Pope’s argument in the Sept. 14 issue – that we should “open our minds” to the world of casual sex – both ignorant and foolish. He bases this argument on the fact that “safe, consensual sex is, has been and forever will be a victimless crime.”
I am not going to counter this by arguing whether sex before marriage is wrong to partake in, because I believe the argument lies more with how “open” our minds should be. Thought I am not bound to any religion, I have never had sex and am not yet, familiar, fortunately, with the apparent pleasure it endows.
The reason I say “fortunately” is because, as a human being, I am inclined to puruse those things which grant me maximum pleasure at minimum cost, and if I experience sex once, I would most certainly be inclined by this rule to pursue it again and perhaps to no end.
This is why I am skeptical whether Pope’s argument – though not immoral or unethical – isn’t foolish. In the last line of the article, Pope’s ignorant decree of “open your legs this weekend – and don’t feel guilty about it” if taken to heart, would soon lead us to that society of “Brave New World” fame: everyone belongs to everybody.
Sex would be completely acceptable in every shape and form; people would begin to talk about each other as those that they’ve “had” before, like certain flavors of ice cream. Phrases like “Oh, I’ve had Amy. She was good; you should try her” would enter our conversation.
Is this better than calling her a slut? I will leave it to you to decide whether this new kind of society would be “progressive.”
The overall point that Pope fails to understand is that no matter what you do, having sex will simply never be the same as not having sex. Indeed, it is this difference that we hold on to with everything we are. We cherish sex as a noble act, an “incredible experience” as Pope puts it, but one that should not be trifled or toyed with. It does always mean something, and you can’t change that, no matter how many contraceptives you use.
The religious community does not criticize doing it so much as they criticize disrespecting it, treating it as if it were just some cheap thrill to do on the weekends instead of a noble act to experience with the one you love, perhaps with the intent to have children.
“Organized religions, conservative social structures and small minds” do not teach us to “hate” our desires, but to responsibly control them. They teach us not to “fear” our sexualities, but to respect them and not take them lightly.
Again, I am not part of any religion and consider myself more or less an atheist, but I choose to live the way I think is right and will benefit the most people, and I hope it is clear that the level of sexual promiscuity Pope openly calls for just isn’t right.
Ben Ott
Senior, biology
