More Like Him

Thomas Manning in his room at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, on May 14, five days after the 15-hour operation. CreditKayana Szymczak for The New York Times

That is a man to look up to. NY Times science writer, Denise Grady, was surprised that any man would openly discuss this. After all, she'd been seeking out patients on the waiting list who would and had been repeatedly turned down. She even offered anonymity; no names, no pictures, just their words. The responses were always, "no."

Then she approached Noah Brown, a public affairs officer for Mass General, and asked if the recipient would talk. Surprisingly, the answer was a resounding "yes." Not only was he willing to talk, he was willing to talk to a woman.

"Something that infuriated him, he said, were the ridiculous taboos around talking about sex and genitals in this country. 'How do people think we all got here?' he asked. 'Go ahead, ask me questions, ask me whatever you want.' It was almost a dare." Grady reported in her piece. (NY TIMES) [click the link for full article]

Much in the same way that Lance Armstrong, now disgraced and stripped of his record-breaking Tour de France wins, boldly discussed his Testicular Cancer, and as a result is probably responsible for saving countless lives, Manning is speaking out. Loudly and proudly.

We need more people like him. Particularly in the U.S. where shame, much of it brought on by religious zealots, permeates our society. Men (and women) pros or amateurs alike) who willingly pose for "pornographic" photos or perform for sexually explicit films, whether they realize it or not, are making a bold point. People who aren't afraid to be seen nude in public are making a statement: We are endowed with what nature gave us

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these things function as nature intended.

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There's nothing lewd, disgusting, or offensive about that.
Thank you to Jean for bringing this follow-up article to us!