Are Americans Prudes?

A Valentine in Portugal

I realize the U.S. was founded by puritans. But after 400+ years…we need to ask ourselves, are Americans prudes?

Look Closely

Take a moment and look closely at the Valentine display we found at Pinga Doce, the grocery store we visited last week. Notice anything? Yes, there are mugs with cute, loving phrases. There are flowers, wine, and heart-shaped chocolates. But look, more closely…right there in the middle of the display. Do you see it? Let me help you out.

There you will find, condoms and lubricants. How nice of Pinga Doce to bring together everything you need to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one you love.

European Flesh

If you visit a beach in southern Spain, I suspect you will see grandmothers without tan lines. If you visit the Netherlands you might run to see the red-light district. You might also find a magazine produced by the Dutch government promoting safe sex. In Belgium, if you aren’t careful, you might drive off the road when you pass billboards with huge lathered breasts advertising soap.

I will admit, the first time I visited St. Barts and found I was the only one on the beach with a shred of cloth on my body, I felt uncomfortable. And when we saw this display we stopped, marveled, and laughed just a bit. Yes, we are American.

But Perhaps, We Should Consider

Rick Steves asks us to consider, the consequences to our puritan tradition:

… I have a hunch that children raised in America, where sex is “dirty,” are more likely to have problems with sex and their bodies than those in Europe. I suspect there is more violence associated with sex here than there. I have a hunch that the French, who have as many words for a kiss as Eskimos have for snow, enjoy making love more than we Americans do. I like a continent … where the human body is considered a divine work of art worth admiring openly.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of travel is being able to see our values and beliefs through a different lens.