Adultery - Then & Now

Looking at Spain today, a modern and cosmopolitan country on par with New York, London or Paris, I was quite surprised at times that in some respects it's almost backward up to 30 or more years ago. I saw a recent press-photo showing a young woman holding up a large picket board, with enormous writing on it, proclaiming herself as an adulteress. She had a little child straddled on her shoulder, and her husband walking by her side! Her indiscretion had obviously been forgiven.

She was in a manifestation parade with other women, all with more or less the same wording on each picket-board; in other words, all adulteresses and wanting to let the whole world know about it. They were protesting against the law punishing adulteress for their 'Crime', with imprisonment and public shame in some countries. In Spain that was more than 30 years ago (abolished in 1976) when adultery was so considered by law but, inexplicably, their accomplices, men, were not prosecuted!

I can't help wondering that in the case of such adultery being committed with another woman, would the two then were both considered guilty? If so, one could argue that the lover, in the case of man/woman not punished, why should the female lover? Wasn't the whole thing too evident that the law was blatantly discriminating against women? Didn't any of the parliamentary members ever thought of that being absurd?

I am all for loyalty, faithfulness and mutual trust in a marriage, but I also feel that there are more than sexual desire for another that contributes to committing an adultery in some cases. In fact the underlying factor might even has nothing whatsoever to do with extra marital sex. I am almost sure that it has more to do with emotional incompatibility, lack of understanding and harmony in the marital home, and even circumstantial causes before sex being the sole motive. The husband in the photo supporting his wife testified to that in a way. He understood and therefore forgave.

Anyway that era is gone for good. Although it may not have been completely so in many minds.


Tags: Adultery,Crime,Punishment

Silence Speaking Volumes

Silence often speaks out even louder than words.

 

Spain, as most parts of Europe, is suffering historical financial problems. More than once, this makes me think of a nationwide TV coverage of the interview of Mariano Rajoy, during the past election period. I have never been too enthusiastic to follow politics, and rarely pay more attention than lingering a few minutes on TV or newspaper headlines, to get the gist of what's more or less going on, just in case the world tumbles on top of me without my knowing it in time.

The interview with Mariano Rajoy, opposition to Zapatero at the time, caught my attention. He was asked a few questions by a reporter and, 2 of the questions and answers in particular, illustrated the reason why I am never too keen on politics, especially politicians: -

1st question -

Q: " What do you intend to do with the 1 million illegal immigrants who are not registered here in Spain? "

A: " I would not regulate them "

Q: " But what are you going to DO with them? " the reporter insisted.

A: " I would not regulate them " he repeated.

Naturally one would think that the word " expulsion " would be too strong a word to use in the middle of an electoral campaign. But if the candidate does not voice an alternative, such a word would be associated immediately as a silent voice.

2nd question -

Q: " What would you do in the case of a terminally ill patient with continuous suffering? " referring to a recent case of a hospital being unjustly accused of inappropriate approval of carrying out the court decision, in accordance with the family as well as the patient's own request to end his life.

A: " I am supporter of fighting all odds for life "

Q: " In all hospitals, all professionals fight to save and preserve life too." the reporter suggested after a dense silence.

A: " I am supporter of fighting for life " he repeated himself once again as he did with the previous question.

That's it. Candidate Rajoy obviously has no ready answer to such simple questions. He as all other candidates are expected to declare their intentions to the public, as to what they will strive to do, if they should be elected to govern the country. In this interview anyway, the silence spoke much louder than words. Ironically and to the dismay of the majority of the country, he was elected president!!

Enough politics and politicians for me for one day. I have been reconfirmed that my lack of interest is based on solid ground.

 

Tags:Politics,Politicians,LoudSilence