Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll: Taboo in America

Taboo. An interesting concept in our culture. From the hidden nature of sexuality to the untouchable realm of religion to the shunning of civil disobedience, Americans have a great many taboos. I would know because the concept of "taboo" never sat very well with me. I believe every reasonable question deserves an answer, and as such taboo is a bit of a hindrance to knowledge. Survey the average teenager. They more than likely cannot tell you much about sex. Never mind that they are sexually active. Our culture often considers the subject too sensitive to properly address in the classroom, making for a nation full of kids making bad decisions.

What of our civic duty? The stares one receives while not pledging allegiance to the flag are nothing short of concerning in a country that prides itself on freedom. Tying politics to religion, what of the outcry over the seasonal Atheist display in the state capital of Washington? Bill O'Reilly has even jumped on the wagon for this one. It seems some actions are just blanketly unacceptable.

The state of evolution in the classroom has come under great fire in recent years. The reason really has little to do with science. Religion is the issue. Objective educational responsibility has, for the first time in ages, required teachers to acknowledge the elephant in the room: Maybe the Bible got it wrong.

Entertainment in America has been the source of taboo almost since radio hit the airwaves. In recent years, we have the "wardrobe malfunction" of Janet Jackson. Apparently, the female form is too much for an audience to take, even for a fraction of a second. What of Madonna? Since the nineteen eighties, Madonna hasn't run out of ways to shock and offend nearly everyone. She has really ever done anything horrid, but her willingness to confront our greatest taboos has made her the source of endless controversy.

In a world full of poverty, disease, famine, one has to ask: Why?

This is the question I seek to answer with my new series, "Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll: Taboo in America." For this series, I am going to invite you, dear reader, to decide our journey into taboo. I want your insights and thoughtful questions. Together, we will take the plunge into taboo, discovering as we go the forces of culture, education, religion, politics, and the like. We may step on some toes along the way. Maybe I've stepped on yours a bit already. But I hope in the end this series will not serve to incite anger, rather encourage an open and honest dialog between us all.

With that, let us begin.