I’m very disappointed that the Republicans are saying “hands off” to the media about Bristol Palin’s pregnancy. Bristol Palin’s pregnancy needs to be shouted from every rooftop, radio and TV antenna in the country, not with the intent of maligning the young lady and her family, but with the intent of allowing her guiding values to surface. At some level what she was taught has not served her highest interest, if her goals were to not get pregnant and to stay abstinent until marriage. Those are the only values her parents believe in and those values are broadcast as the only values the rest of America must adopt. Those values are true – no questions asked. They way these values are presented is that they are given by God and anyone who does not uphold them is a sinner. As sinners, they are worthy of the wrath of God to be heaped upon them . . . and if God doesn’t heap wrath upon them, we are justified in doing it because we are following His will.

These values of shame blame are detail of Brittney’s of Molly Cyrus’ sex lives. These women are helped up as an example of Hollywood’s lack of morality.

The New Testament says “by their fruits you shall know them.” What fruits has an abstinence only policy borne? Since President Bush took office, the abortion rate has gone up. In addition, more and more adolescents are having intercourse at younger ages. One middle school in Maine is offering free birth control pills to stop unwanted pregnancies.

It was interesting to note that when Sarah Palin addressed reporters about her daughter’s pregnancy, she used the words “Bristol chose to keep her baby.” To me, her statement is the epitome of hypocrisy: her daughter made the choice that Sarah would deny thousands of other women who find themselves in the same situation with her pro-life policies.

The truth is we are sexual beings and we need not be ashamed of it. If we are created in the image and likeness of God, then what is there to be ashamed of? Yes the Bible presents injunctions against same sex marriage and coupling out of wedlock. My perception is that those admonitions addressed the needs of the population at the time. The ancients Hebrews and Egyptians engaged in cleansing rituals as part of their practice. Men’s lying with men was perceived as unclean. Let’s face it; the anus is not the cleanest parts of our body. The anus is one of the most delicate parts of our body. The tissue can be damaged easily and infection is likely to spread.

I’m not in any way judging homosexuality. Love is love and male love and tenderness is a sacred and holy act. Male love is as holy as every sexual act that has love as its goal.

Not coveting your neighbor’s wife, in my view, could have something to do with determining paternal lineage. I also think that the admonishment against coveting has a lot to do with taking responsibility for behavior and thinking twice about it.

And I don’t think there is any evidence that those admonitions ever worked. Infidelity and homosexuality have been present in every culture throughout history.

Kids today need to know the truth and as a society, I believe we’ve failed them in that. The generation of 10-16 year olds is maturing much earlier than my generation. Can anyone else besides me see a correlation between adding steroids to the animals whose products we’re feeding our kids and the younger age at which they’re maturing? Is it any wonder that babies are having babies? And I have been thinking about, at a deeper level, that perhaps this generation will learn about sex early so that when they reach theirs 20s, 30s, and beyond, they will have turned sex from a hedonistic activity to one that can be savored and cherished.

Please forgive me if I sound like I’m chastising the right wing. I am stating my observations because I feel frustrated that as a society we are demonstrating incongruency. To be incongruent means that our thoughts, words, deeds, and emotions are out of accord with our highest interests. Our highest interests, those that come from the Divine spark that calls to us are those that inspire and connect and nurture everyone who hears, sees, and feels them. Abstinence denies our inherent sexuality and sets up conflict when we send out messages that say “don’t do it.” Our messages are out of accord with the sensationalistic way in which every sex scandal flashed in neon before our eyes. Our thoughts and behavior are out of accord with our emotional body whose yearning for intimacy is drowned out by repressed rage. In other words, the heart is capable of being hurt and sex is easily used as a weapon of attack or power.

Randi Rhodes said something brilliant this week. She was talking about what she told her daughter about sex. She told her daughter that when you have sex you give up all your power. As a woman, think about the consequences about that: To whom am I giving up my power? Why am I giving up my power? Do I have a choice? Is this in my highest interest? Osho, as well as other mystics and sages say that when sex is used as a spiritual it can lead to the highest transcendent experience of the Divine.

Men also give up their power during sex. That’s something that women realize more and more as they get older and they stop giving their power away.

Interestingly enough, the topic of women’s sexual power has become a contentious issue for debate. The reason for this is that young men are taking “male enhancers” at younger and younger ages.

I’m not judging any sexual behavior in which young people are engaging. I am saying that the psychological, social, emotional, and spiritual consequences of our children’s behavior needs to be discussed without fear, condemnation or sanctimony. This generation’s behavior is a reflection of the times just as every generation’s behavior reflects the times. My generation reflected the antithesis of the sexually repressed generation that came before it. What we saw with aids was the consequences of flaunting sexuality. Perhaps the next generation’s “Just say no to sex” policy reflects fear of sex’s consequences, but rather than deal with those consequences, they just said don’t do it. A consequence of not being open about sexuality is that one in four adolescents between the ages of 14-20 has a sexually transmitted disease.

Bristol Palin’s pregnancy is none of my business. She has the same right to privacy person in this country. That’s the point!

This is a democracy! I have a right to express my values without fear of being judged. My values simply put are this: Sex is very powerful energy. Sexual energy can open people to experiences of transcendence, awe and unity, or carry people to depths of despondency. Learning how to handle sexual energy with dignity is the key to a healthy society. I'm praying that we have finally arrived at a point in our history where we can have an open, honest, heartfelt talk about sex and sexuality.
Amen. May it be so.


Dr. Sorah Dubitsky, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, teacher and healer. She conducts workshops and seminars on love, marriage, sexuality and spirituality. She also offers individual and couples counseling. She is also a fellow at Florida International University’s Center for the Study of Spirituality. Her book, A Chorus of Wisdom is available at Amazon.com and all major online and retail book outlets. Visit her website. Send an email to dr.sorah@drsorah.com. © copyright 2008 by Dr. Sorah Dubitsky