From: Ruth I. Gordon <Druthgo>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:34:04 -0700

I am a great defender of the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay region, both the separating and non-separating (and yes, there is a difference). They were neither asexual nor unsexual. (Yes, it's a new Gordonian word.) Nor did they always wear black. Sure, at one time a cow was buried on the Boston Common with her feet facing up) for having had sex with a human. (I forget what happened to the man.) But diaries let us know of love between couples and great affection. Because they were human, they were sensual and sexual. Our nation's reaction to sex is really Victorian and probably imitated British attitudes.. Since Victorians, especially those who had power, were often great hypocrites and fearful of the views of others, they tried to ban sexual conduct and descriptions thereof from the populace.

So...let's not tar the memory of the settlers of the early centuries on this region of North America unfairly. Remember Morton of Merrymount?

Defender of the Faith, The Very Left Reverend Dr. Ruth

Sorry this is unclear but I am recovering from a long horse & buggy trip to Fort Dearborn for ALA


"You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass the guilty." --Jessica Mitford (191796)
Received on Wed 29 Jun 2005 07:34:04 PM CDT