Humanist Thought of the Week

Self Pleasure vs. Spanking the Monkey

Last week I meant to talk about this but got sidetracked through a variety of interruptions. Anyhoo, I was at a Humanist picnic last week. And we Humanists don’t consider any topic taboo. So, naturally we started talking about masturbation. I happen to really like that word, but another woman said she hated it because “It’s so dirty.” She prefers ‘self love’ or ‘self pleasure’ as a positive expression of a natural human behavior. The lone guy present said, “What’s wrong with ‘spanking the monkey?’” Personally, I don’t think we should get caught up on terms when talking about something so intimate. Some people like it dirtier then others. Others prefer a gentler touch. Ultimately it doesn’t really matter because, when it comes to masturbation, the only person we need to please is ourselves.

Interruptions

Interruptions My life for the last couple of weeks has been one big series of interruptions. Can’t hardly get started on a task when someone calls, rings the doorbell or needs my attention. Even when I sat down to write this post my hubby came home from work unexpectedly to drop something off and I had to go attend to that. It can be frustrating at times. However, that’s life. And instead of this podcast being about sexual ethics, I got diverted into thinking about interruptions. Oh - and I got some nice farm fresh eggs in the process. Long story short, interruptions are sometimes an annoyance. Sometimes they are a welcome diversion. But at all times they are a sign that life is moving on ahead, with or with out you. So enjoy the ride, interruptions and all. And I promise I will try to talk about sexual ethics next week.

Mixed Feelings

So, yesterday we found out that Bin Laden is now finally dead. Yay. Kind of. It turns out I have mixed feelings about this.   Yes, he was responsible for a tremendous amount of death, dying and destruction. That doesn’t mean I have to feel happy about it. I think what I feel most is relieved that one of the many people who wish to harm others can’t do that anymore. But I’m sure Al Qaeda will continue without him. Because the reality is that there is no shortage of idiots in the world who are so angry they just want to kill other people. So does Bin Laden’s death represent some sort of turning point in the fight against religious extremism?  No. It doesn’t. And that makes me sad.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Obviously, today is my birthday. I feel like I’m in a pretty good place in my life. It took a while to get here though. Unlike most people my age, I actually enjoy knowing that I am a year older. It beats the alternative. So what do I want for my birthday? Honestly? For my book to be a huge success. So in honor of my birthday, please go buy my book, The Humanist Approach to Happiness. Thanks!

Happy Passover

This week is Passover. One of my favorite holidays. I’ll celebrate anything as long as there is a party and food involved. And Passover not only includes food, but 4 cups of wine as well. Plus, it’s a celebration of freedom. Not just for Jews escaping Egypt, but for everyone. One of the reasons I like the holiday is because it calls on us to rededicate ourselves to the cause of freedom. We are reminded that as long as someone is held in slavery, we all are. And since slavery is still a problem in the world, it may be a good time for all of us to commit ourselves to ending it.