Three Topics

What is desire? What is the meaning of our need to feel the joy of intimacy? Why has nature provided us with perplexed energy to feel and want love?I was born and raised in natural surroundings and with well-educated parents, yet lived in a sheltered and restricted society. As a strong-minded teenager, I was always questioning myself about love and desire; I thought that any person should have a way to get his or her answers truthfully, and should be able to dress, feel, express, and love for pleasure. Since I couldn’t accomplish such delicacy, I intensely fell in love with books, poetry, and my imaginations. I preferred loneliness because I saw myself differently than others.As I grew into a young lady, I still sought the answers for my forbidden questions about sexual intimacy and love. I knew there is more in a marriage than having children and mother-child bonding like the grown-ups were telling me. I wanted adults to admit their experience, wishes, and wisdom, not just feed me with a shameful cultural message.Now, as a woman who has failed to achieve her goals of love, I am more aware of revealing answers to all my questions. I know that women have sexual desires and fantasies that we should approach authentically with defined erotic intelligence. Then, and only then, we will be able to live a happy and fulfilled life.

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Sexual predators primarily target young children,teenagers, young women and men choosing their victims based on their vulnerability and weakness. Unfortunately, today's electronic devices have a significant impact on how a predator chooses and controls their victims quickly and efficiently. Sadly, an overwhelming number of crimes against children are committed by people they know.Predators usually never consider the impact of their crimes or that the victim's lives would never be the same. They often do not obey the law, and they hide their actions carefully, but they can quickly unleash their destructive effects. Research has shown that some form of mental disorders has been found among most sexual predators; it is believed that predators usually suffer from low self-esteem, psychological problems, and abnormal sexual needs. 

As a parent and advocate for children's rights, I strongly suggest that we all educate ourselves about our children's safety, education, and prevention regarding sexual predators. We must educate our children about the dangers of trusting and interacting with people, even those they know. To do this, we must put our shame and self-pride aside and instead put forth our best efforts to protect our nation's children. Together, we can teach them to be smart and make healthy decisions to protect themselves from harm.

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Sadly, most people think of women as the weaker sex and do not understand that physical strength isn't the only measure of their potential. Women have been oppressed for the majority of human history, and this inequality still exists in different forms across the globe. Educated women with opportunity are capable of thriving in the professional realm. Women as role models can enlighten, inspire, and empower society. Instead of looking at women as the inferior sex, we should respect the feminine characteristics of compassion and empathy and have confidence in their abilities. It is necessary to recognize the importance of women as a whole.

Shahla Latifi

October 2016