A friend sent me this quote today:

The books that the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.

-Oscar Wilde, writer (1854-1900)

It has set me thinking.

I can think of many instances from my own life when I’m sure this is true.  Times when I’ve observed someone condemn as immoral a book or film or even an idea, when I know that  person is really trying to avoid facing their own shame, their own knowledge that they have done or thought or felt something that they consider “wrong.”   You probably can think of such instances too.

As a writer of fiction with a lesbian protagonist, I’m especially sensitive to it.  Just featuring such a character in a positive light can be viewed as “advocating” the “homosexual lifestyle”–which, I suppose, it is–which I know plenty of people find immoral.  So I like jumping up on my imaginary soapbox and pointing an imaginary finger at such people and shouting, “Yeah, you, buddy.  Calling me immoral, are you?  Well, have a good look at what you’re really ashamed of inside yourself!”

But I think the rich value of this quote comes in this: I wonder how often I do this as well?   It strikes me as a little suspicious that I can’t think of a single time when I’ve called something immoral just to deflect my own sense of shame.  This probably means I’ve done it for sure!  I mean, if you’re deep in the throes of denying your own shame as you toss about the word “immoral,” then you surely won’t realize it, right?

Hmmm . . . do any of us escape this?

Today I’m going to give that some thought.  What book or film do I find immoral?  Would I actually use that label?  What is it I do when I confront ideas that show me my own shame?

What do you think of all of this?