Viagra doesn't save lives, Dave. Never did. Its use is primarily aiding what is, for most situations, merely a recreational activity. There are plenty of other things a person can do of an evening. It does not actually heal anything. People put a lot of their self-identity into whether or not they can perform sexually. I would posit that this tendency is ultimately self-destructive. Age takes away what it gives: sexual funtion, mental capacity, and eventually, life. Viagra and other drugs of that kind do not carry the kinds of honest benefits that medications (artificially-produced or naturally-occuring) that actually help treat the sick and provide an anodyne to the wounded do. People more and more often these days ignore their bodies (capabilities and limitations, thereof, not to mention basic nutritional and similar needs), feeling instead they have to artificially bend it to their will to satifsy a cultural dictum in order to feel valued as a worthwhile person, while they often mask their own personal insecurities about the onset of new situations or conditions in their lives, rather than dealing with them head-on, with therapy if needs be. Society values youth and sexual vigor above age and wisdom anymore. We marginalize in importance the elders, and those who don't fit a certain rigid standard. In order to conform to this standard, people will do astonishing things to themselves, be it through use of drugs, surgery, and even sheer willpower, to sledgehammer themselves into an ideal that may not be realistic for them anymore, given what their body is honestly capable of as they age, deal with and injury, live with a medical condition, or suchlike. This basic denial of the reality they should be dealing with, not hiding from, does not exactly produce a particularly healthy mindset. There are things it's culturally not OK to be in this society anymore, if the media is any indication, and if a person is not feeling valued for who and what they really are, then I would posit that there is indeed a sickness to be dealt with, philosophically speaking.
The medical treatment of injury and illness are perfectly fine and laudable pursuits, as they always have been. I never issued an indictment of such things. Healing is not a selfish manipulation of the human body. Using chemicals to force an erection when the body is otherwise incapable on its own power is manipulative. I'm not telling people what they can and cannot do to themselves. I am merely asking that people engage in a little critical self-examination and ask themselves what is the wiser, healthier decision to make in their situations, and to consider their motives in doing so. Many are so caught up in what they CAN do with medical science, they barely stop to consider if they SHOULD.
Xander07, I greatly appreciate your heartfelt kindness and your enlightened misapprehensions regarding my personal beliefs. It was wonderful to see how you think you know me so very well. Alas, you don't know me at all. Clearly. I don't tell anybody how to worship, who to pray to, what religion is "right" or "wrong" and I don't advocate limiting the religious freedoms of any church, sect, faith, temple, mosque, coven, or individual. I merely ask people to think, consider, act with some wisdom and long-term analysis. I will take your friendly comments in the spirit they were offered. May you receive as you deserve.
If there are any further accusations, indictments, insults or suchlike things on this matter anybody wishes to fling in my direction, feel free to step to me in the forums. For those who have offered their support: Redhunter, and NonProphet, I give you my deepest and sincerest thanks.
