Dear George,

I recommend an excellent column, "God and Sex," by Nicholas Kristof, writing in the New York Times.

Kristof quotes Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, Governor of Texas about 80 years ago, from her explanation of why teaching foreign languages in Texas schools was a bad idea: "If English was good enough for Jesus Christ; it's good enough for us."

After absorbing that observation, one might turn to the presumably infallible, scriptural injunction that appeared in the Daily Progress today and read it from a slightly different angle. Alas, even English doesn't bring absolute clarity. Maybe "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a woman" means it's not okay to prevaricate with men though it's apparently okay with women. Above all, ignore context.

Beyond his comments on homosexuality, Kristof has advisory notes about self-castration as a solution to sexual problems. Do you think people will take that to heart, or wherever?

As ever,
Virginia (electronic mail, October 25, 2004)