Best of Both Worlds

Halperin made his point emphasizing the short history of sexuality despite the timeless act of performing sexual intercourse. Sex is our means of survival after all. As we discussed in class, there just was not noticeable sexuality in the first societies. Halperin specifically clearly explains how the ancient Athenian society regarded sexual relations as a part of politics. In other words, it did not matter whether sexual acts were homosexual or heterosexual, just as long as a social superior sexually dominated a social inferior. That idea is mind-blowing to me. The way I interpret it, ancient Athenians must have had sex for sheer pleasure. It almost makes the social superiors shallow in my mind.
As we analyzed Halperin's reading together, we came to a consensus that sexual preference is one of the most scrutinized parts of our identity and how strangers perceive an individual in the twenty-first century. Athenian society was more mature about personal preferences and lifestyle choices than our society today, but at the same time was vastly more immature in other aspects compared to our generation's culture. I am of course talking about the fact that they had slaves and generally did not look down on the oppression of social "inferiors". I have come to the conclusion that a combination of the two societies would make a better society than the one we live in today.
Supposedly, today's American citizens abide by the law and treat homosexuals one-hundred percent equal. Most people, although I can only speak for teenagers with certainty, have heard numerous derogatory terms aims at homosexual individuals in various settings. I have even heard successful, hard-working, family oriented adults stoop to that level as well. Humans have managed to mold our world into a place were people feel the need to be accepted. A world were many people fear to express themselves openly. The fear to let who we are and what we prefer out for everyone to see might not be as strong as it was a century ago, but there are still so many flaws in our society. How is it that ancient Athenians could accept homosexuality and so many of us still cannot?
Maurice finds himself in the same boat. He cannot be open. He cannot be honest. Up to where we read up to, he is lost and uncomfortable with himself. He even has trouble formulating his own opinions. Maurice might not be living in the twenty-first century, but I am sure he feels the same way as hundreds and hundreds of people all around the world.