We Canadians are more conservative in some things than Americans. Although we look the same, and sometimes sound alike in our accents, we are two related peoples with differing histories, and we have many subtle differences between us. We certainly tend to be quite a lot more reserved in all inter-personal relations in public. This came to mind through Dave's heart-warming response to his observations of the loving couple near the waves on the Santa Monica beach.
I am not criticizing that couple whom I did not see, nor Dave's experience there, which was clearly a positive one. However, his post made me think about and decide to write to you here. Any kind of demonstrativeness in public is seen much less in Canada. Any public love-making has only been seen here since the hippy days of the mid '60's and early '70's when those young people believed that they should "let it all hang out", and "if it feels good, do it". Maybe it appeared in the USA then, too. There isn't much of it around here any more.
There is occasionally some kissing on the street in Canada in among those who are quite young, usually adolescents to mid teens. Sometimes it is clearly done for display purposes. They are trying to prove a point, or they are driven by something else, which is that girls who don't ever have warm and comforting fathering may have a need for holding and cuddling, and they turn to boys for it. The boys want to try out their new manhood and are quite happy to find a needy girl. What a pity.
What you saw on the beach is modelled for people by the movies. I am thinking of the movie "Airplane" that makes fun of many other movies by pointing out their cliches. There is an "over the top" scene of passion in the waves in "Airplane" that is making fun of all the other movies that have used that scene. This is not to say that what Dave saw wasn't the real thing, and even if it wasn't, it brought a quality response from him.
Dave also commented about simply saying "I love you" to your mate, family, dear friend. This is a wonderful thing, as long as it is real and not just a habit, and we di it, too. We have also often read that the time to say it is now, because tomorrow could be too late for somebody, and you will always regret it, so we have cultivated the habit of remembering to share our loving words and thoughts.
Other people's physical love can be beautiful when it is real, and when it is not too close to you. Otherwise you feel that you are being forced into being a voyeur. There certainly is a difference between passion and love, and lust. When love and passion are together, it is best. There is a lot of simple lust in action today. Too bad.
I think that love and passion times between mates has a cherishing aspect that is shown to each other by sheltering it in privacy so that it is not for every stranger's eye. It is also good to be able to make love in beautiful places with your beloved. Alas, that isn't always easy in our world today. So you have to choose your occasions carefully and wisely for both safety and privacy, it you want a little adventure in the out of doors.
Any of you here on the forum are free to disagree with me, of course.
I think there should be complete expression of love and trust in every way between a husband and wife. I remember my father and mother holding each other in their arms as they stood together and I heard them say to us and to each other many times that they loved each other. I never saw them nude or clearly sexually relating with each other. Personally, I think that children should know that their parents love each other but that it is unfitting, and possibly damaging to the children, for them to see their parents nude or sexually active.
I am only bringing up nudity and parental activity because some people don't lock their bedroom doors from children when they should, and also because some people think it is good to walk around nude in their homes, and also, nudist beaches and nudist clubs exist. We are humans, not animals, we wear clothing coverings, even in hot climates. We should have modesty, and not appear nude in public, and also we should not display much in the way of love and passion in public.
This is my belief, and I don't want to impose it on anyone, but I also don't think that you should believe the United States and its movies, no matter how wonderful they can be, stand for ALL of the West, and that unfortunately often happens.
I think that many Americans would agree with me about the above, and that by far more Canadians than Americans would agree with me..
Thanks for paying attention this far.
Best greetings to all here, Mary
