December 9 “we can’t talk about this”

On December 9th, 1994, Joycelyn Elders, the United States Surgeon General resigned. She was asked to do so by President Bill Clinton. Elders had given a speech on Aids at the United Nations on Dec 1, 1994. When she was asked about promoting masturbation instead of riskier sex, Elders was quoted as saying ‘…In regard to masturbation, I think that is something that is a part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.”

President Clinton’s Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, spoke out that “Elder’s statements had repeatedly not been in line with Clinton’s. Schools should not be teaching this in school, and the Surgeon General should not be saying such things.”

I looked through the collection of my school health books, and did not see anything about masturbation. I had written a piece on November 26th called “Good Grief” about school health books. I then searched my collection of books that I have in a locked bookcase, that do talk about sex. A few are rather rare. Without going into details of self-love or self-abuse, I thought I would just display a few books that have a discussion on sex.

I have a rather old set of books “Studies in the Psychology of Sex” by Havelock Ellis, One was published in 1902, the rest were reprinted in 1930’s.

Then a book printed in England by Sylvanus Stall, a “Purity and Truth” book, “What a Young Man Ought to Know”, published 1904.

I have two books by the next author, TW. Shannon, “The New Perfect Manhood” published 1916, and then “Guide to Sex Instruction – Vital Facts of Life for All Ages” by T.W. Shannon, published 1913.

An eye-opening book, “Female Sex Perversion” by Maurice Chideckel, published in 1935, still in dust jacket.

I then have two later books, “Facts of Life and Love for Teen-agers” by Evelyn Millis Duvall, 1956; and “What the Swedes Teach About Sex” by The Swedish Association for Sex Education, published 1970.

A book for just about everything can be found in this library.

Sometimes, you don’t want to read. The world can be crazy this time of year, and you want to relax. I can help put you in a better time, a better state of mind.

On December 9th, 1965, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was first aired on CBS. I can listen to the original sound track recording.

I can also mindlessly go through the story in popup form, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Interestingly, back on November 26th, I also wrote about Charles Schultz and “A Christmas Story”. With two references to go back on that date, it might be a good idea to reread.

BTW, here is the first Charlie Brown comic.

Some people are just not happy, whether it be orbiting Venus, cuffing the carrot, or even just seeing Charlie Brown. There are challenges we don’t see, could be stress, an unhappy lifestyle, even just the Holiday season. Make sure this Christmas, you show support and encouragement for others…and perhaps even get them to a library.

’tis the season.