On January 29th, 2006, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that he would engage in “two and a half months of complete sexual abstinence until April 9th (Election Day).” He has promised not to partake in any sexual activity until the Italian Election Day, a pledge that provided the media with a field day as they rushed to cover Berlusconi’s latest campaign tactic. Berlusconi is actually known in the political world for his sense of humor, sexual or otherwise. In June 2006, he joked that he had used his “playboy tactics” to persuade the Finnish President, Tarja Halonen, to cancel her proposal to place the European Union’ s food agency in Helinski, rather than in the Italian city of Parma. Gossip columnists have also alleged that the Prime Minister complimented the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on his good looks in 2002. Berlusconi stated, “he’s so handsome, I’m even thinking of introducing him to my wife.” It is worth recognizing that he made this statement while his wife was rumored to be having an affair with another politician. Berlusconi has had a lot of fun with the Italian media, or, more accurately, they joke about him. He makes dirty jokes to lighten the atmosphere, and, in doing so, usually ends up compromising international relations for the Italian government. So one might wonder, how is his new vow of celibacy going to help him win an election? In a world full of sex, the absence is sure to cause a frenzy. The media promotes pre-marital sex and implies that the more sex you have, the better off you are. This is a cultural truth in Italy as well as America. There is still the older conservative generation, which shakes their finger at us and says, “Wait until your wedding night.” There are even teenagers who fervently believe in saving themselves for marriage. But what about all of the activities in-between sex and nothing? How do we categorize them? The average American is told not to have sex before marriage. They have no qualms with going out into the world and touching all the bases besides sex. We kiss, we fondle, we suck, we blow, etc., but penetration we take a bit more seriously. Is that really what Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and every other religion is preaching? Does that mean that when Berlusconi promises to be sexual inactive, he is only talking about sex in the traditional sense? Catholics and Christians, who constitute a majority in Italy, both know that according to their faiths, sex that does not end in conception is sinful because it is a waste of the process that gives life. Are the Italians more interested in having a president who is a pimp and sleeps around, or would they prefer a guy who restrains himself? Who is gaining more respect? The cultural discrepancy between sex or no sexual activities is a complete conundrum. The media tells us to have sex because it proves our worth as humans. It’s a fun activity, it burns calories, and it releases endorphins. Also, the act of having sex implies that you are either good-looking, in a relationship that provides self-esteem, emotion and physical gratification, or a very talented social butterfly who knows how to appeal to the sexual desires of others. All of these are desirable positions, or at least that’s what the media tells us. In our society, you are respected if you are having sex. But if you are choosing to not have sex, there is a certain respect there as well. Considering all the subliminal messages we are bombarded with everyday, it is hard to resist. It is hard for one to choose to detach himself from cultural expectations and follow his own beliefs. Abstinence is also currently believed to be healthy, because the man wastes nutrients that are are used for ejaculation. Those engaging in sex are not stressed because of a relationship. There are benefits to both sides. Our culture is sexually-obsessed. So when a major political figure, who is usually driven by sex like the rest of us, says, “I am not having sex” why do we all turn our heads? Because he has broken free from the sexual obsession cycle? Because he is making a political statement? “If the man cares this much about his election, then maybe I’ll vote for him because he’ll be able to get some again,” some may think. You might think its a brilliant public relations maneuver. You could think that he’s crazy for giving up sex if you haven’t gotten any in a while. Or you could just call his bluff and watch for the media to catch him in bed. But it won’t change the fact that the modern world is fascinated by sex, whether it’s concerned about its abundance or deprivation. And, honestly, I’m still trying to figure out how Berlusconi is going to work this out. Are his bodyguards going to watch him in bed? Is his wife still allowed near him? Maybe they could rig a surveillance camera to his pants . . .Only time will tell.
