The debate between Cecelia Chang and Jeffery on the play (now banned by DBKL) The Vagina Monologues is interesting. Let me share a thought or two.

+The impression given by Jeffery is that Asians or non-Westerners are a sexually oppressed lot, and that their women are not aware of their rights and dignity. It might have been so in China in the late 19th century but it is no longer correct now. If we lead a healthy social life, we would surely have come across many Asian male and female adults who are able to hold dignified talks and discussions about sex in their private conversations.

The only difference is that we in Asia feel that this responsibility comes with a certain degree of inhibition in what we say or do. Sometime, what adults discuss and should be free to express are not suitable for children who still need parental guidance on the subtleties involving love, sex, sexual perversion and animal instinct. Twisted minds could be 'thrilled' and 'excited' by even genuinely artistic expressions of sex.

It is for these reasons that, as a father of three daughters, I tend to agree with Cecelia that we should sacrifice freedom of expression in this particular regard so that our families and children are safe.

There are other more pressing areas where freedom is needed. Liberals like Jeffery should perhaps devote more of his energy to fight for the abolition of the dreadful Internal Security Act and other politically oppressive laws. They should demand for the independence of the judiciary. They should argue for more openness and transparency in the government.

Let us adults fight for democracy and human rights against the state, not against each other on non-issues. If anyone is not sexually liberated enough, let him or her log on to the Internet to educate themselves.