but that was *nothing* compared to the discussion about sex in the
Japanese restaurant...
Please tell us about the discussion. (You can ignore the sex; some of
us know about sex. Who were the people at the restaurant? What did
you say? What was mortifying? {think `were I writing a novel'} I keep
being reminded of a comment by a elderly British, female demographer
that "Dutch parents talk about sex with their children; English
parents don't".)
won't touch inter-species marriage right now
Hmmm ... I just reread a book with inter-species marriage -- indeed,
it was a Brin novel! -- and it seemed reasonable enough to me.
That brings up a question: is inter-species or same species marriage
supposed to ratify culturally:
* lust, which helps produce children
* romance
* affection, which helps keep adults together while they bring up children
* a clan relationship
* an economic relationship
* stability, which helps a government
Or some or all of the above?
(I primarily mean `_supposed_ by people in government'. The US
government treats people differently depending on their marriage
state, for example, in taxes. Do you think, like many, that a
government has more to think about than taxes and spending? Or do you
think that a government should only be a `night watchman', who does
not look into your window, but only protects you (through military,
policing, and welfare mechanisms) from danger? If you are not in
government, what do you think a government should do? One person on
this list suggested that the US governments (in particular the states)
should pull out of marriage all together. Does that make sense over
generations? Or is it in the interest of governments, especially
`governments by the people', to encourage one specific form of social
relationship, such as tolerance?)
--
Robert J. Chassell Rattlesnake Enterprises
http://www.rattlesnake.com GnuPG Key ID: 004B4AC8
http://www.teak.cc [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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