The (D)Evolution of Sex

Over the span of time, sex has evolved in its meaning, acceptance and description.  Sex in itself has a dual definition.  Not only does it define the act of mating and reproduction taken on by the majority of species (with the exception of asexual beings), it is also defined as the biological makeup and organs of an organism as one of the two major forms of individuals that occur in many species.  For all intensive purposes of this post, sex will be referring to the act of reproduction that commonly occurs within a species.  The second definition of sex is room enough for another post by itself.

In the beginning of time, sex and the act of mating in the human species is characterized by the act of a caveman hitting a woman over the head and dragging her back to his cave.  It was a more primal instinct.  While that still is within our being, the modernity has changed the acceptance of this practice to being void.  But when there were few people on the Earth, the reasoning behind sex was to populate the world.  The picture of the caveman could also be an explanation of expanding the gene pool, as well as an expression of power.

This expression of power did not become extinct with the evolution of the species.  On the contrary, it was adopted as a ready expression and method of warfare.  Along with this, pedophilia was adopted in early armies, especially found within the Greek armies.  I will not speak much on this as I would have to do extensive further research to have a better understand as to the reasoning behind.  But sex as an expression of warfare had primal reasons.  You breed them out.  This is why warfare is sometimes connected with the phrase "rape and pillage."  You steal their wealth and impregnate the women, the nation has in effect lost a piece of its identity.  What is more, the winners write history.  Whenever you read history or study history, consider that half of the story is not expressed from anyone's view but the victors and that there is always two sides.

There has been records during WW2 that when foreigners stepped foot on Japan, whole families were found to be dead in their homes.  Women were told that if invaded, they would be taken and raped, the ultimate disgrace against honor and the family.  As a result, they would kill themselves to avoid their bodies and bloodline being defiled.  War, rape, sex and self-protection has at some point in time been intertwined together.

To this day, there is a battle occurring with power and sex intermixed.  Rape is a prominent under belly of society.  And rape is nothing other than power.  There is nothing sexual influencing the "choice" to rape a woman (or a man, as they too can be raped).  Men can be raped.  It is still an act of power.  This is a major issue in society.  There are mixed signals expressed by society.  The media depicts women as objects, as something to be demeaned, taken advantage of and torn apart.  Then the act of rape is wrong.  Is it any wonder that there is possible ingrained confusion in our youth?  The popular media objectifies women and has lyrics glorifying the act of rape while the law reads that it is wrong.

Women at one time were nothing more than living, breathing property, to be bought, sold and traded.  To be treated as cattle, where the "rule of thumb" came into play on the steps of Town Hall.  Dowry was paid to husbands.  Women were expected to carry, bear and keep children and house.  They had no rights and no privileges in society.  While much of this role in society has changed, equal rights still do not exist.  In my blunt opinion, it will not exist until I can finally walk down a street in a seemingly safe neighborhood without fear for myself.  And yes, I have had that fear even while in college, on campus.

Sex is ever evolving.  The definition of what is acceptable within the sex world is constantly changing, including accepted acts with items, such as dolls (NatGeo "Taboo" had an episode based on the attraction to dolls, robots or inanimate objects).  But there is never excuse for rape.  My jeans may be tight and my dress may graze the top of my knee.  But that is no reason to say "She was asking for it."  Too many women have been subjected to this horrifying crime and will continue to be subjected until we change our societal perception and address the situation accordingly.  Instead of teaching how to avoid being raped, why not teach NOT to rape?

I believe I have gone on a sufficient rant for the day.  I must get ready for work but please keep in mind when read this that no deep research has gone into this posting.  This is just a collection of observations and studies and lectures over the years of education.  I hope you all enjoy this thing called "La Vie."

From Individual Back to Community

I need to have a moment to vent.  Last night, I encountered an experience at work I never, ever want to encounter.  I had a customer call me about a rebate program offered by one of the utility's I work on.  She began asking me about an incentive.  Confused, I began explaining the program to her.  She went on to explain that she was suppose to go through one program but a contractor cancelled it.  They found out she wasn't going to purchase an expensive HVAC unit and called behind her back, cancelling the service she wanted.  She explained she had lost her husband and can't afford to install such expensive measures but doesn't think it is fair that we don't offer it.

Giving a hand...

If you can't see what I find appalling in this, let me explain: They were taking advantage of this older woman.  And she voiced that she was afraid to report them for fear of retaliation.  "I don't want my house to blow up with me inside of it," she told me.

My heart breaks for this woman.  She will be in my prayers for peace and protection.  But it makes me mad that both women and the elderly get taken advantage of, even in this modern time.  How is it fair or right for the world to treat our elders and that of the sex responsible for bringing us into this world?

We are the only ones we have in this world.  We only have each other.  If we don't look out for one another, who will?  If we aren't worth protecting, what motivation does the army have for looking over us?  If we don't feel a sense of ownership for our neighbors and what is morally right, what incentive does the government have to look for our best interests?  How can we be protected if we don't protect each other as a first defense?

This morning, my fiance, his son and I had to go and have my oil changed in my car.  It has been long overdue for that service.  On our way out of town, we came across two accidents.  The first had already been mostly cleaned up, the people already whisked away for medical examination.  The second was fresh.  The people from the cars were out there, directing traffic and helping guide people around the collision until the police officers and other first responders arrived.  There had even been strangers, uninvolved in the accident, had pulled over to help figure out the mess until the police could come and take over.

All of us together make the world go 'round.

This is a prime example of how we should be trying to help each other out in this world.  Too often, we get involved in our own worlds and forget to see those around us.  I know there have been a few occasions when I wanted to help.  But we also have to consider that not everyone who seems in distress is truly in need and rather, a predator themselves.  There are accounts of women, stopping to help a motorist on the side of the road, only to be abducted.

What kind of world do we live in that we have to fear our fellow man, rather than take a community approach?  It use to be that it took a village to raise a child.  Now, the village is the enemy of the child, not its protector.  Perhaps it is about time to go back to the only way of thinking.  A sense of community, a sense of protection, a sense of family.