Public Displays of Affection in Turkey and the U.S.

There's an interesting reaction that occurred in Turkey lately regarding the regulation of public displays of affection.  Recently, in Ankara, a couple was admonished by subway authorities for kissing while riding the subway.  Earlier in the week, the same officials asked patrons to "act in accordance with moral rules."  Said moral rules were not enumerated. 

The result: about 100 people staged a subway kiss-in; some holding signs advertising "Free Kisses."  Apparently, there is a conflict between those who prefer Turkey to be more Islamic, and those who prefer a some secular country, in accord with the pattern set by Kemal Ataturk.  This even extends to kissing.
 
But is this a singular phenomenon to Turkey?  Apparently not. 

India, the land of the Kama Sutra, definitely has discouraged this sort of kissing activity in Bollywood productions. 

In Massachuetts, you may not kiss in front of a church.  That kind of crimps the sweet conclusion of a church wedding.

In Florida, a man may not kiss his wife on her breasts.  Nothing about girlfriends' or mistresses'.   

And, for some reason, Colorado and Hartford, CT has laws which forbids married couples from kissing on Sunday.    They should spend their time doing Connecticut-approved activities.

The maximum kiss allowed in Iowa is no longer than five minutes.  Better use a kitchen timer or stop watch, just to be safe.  I wonder how many people in Des Moines are arrested for protracted osculation offenses.  Are those corn-fed lads and lasses less skilled in kissing.  Oh well, one less reason to be a Hawkeye,

You can't kiss while riding on a train in Wisconsin.  Better wait until you're in the less legally inhibited states such as Illinois or Minnesota.

Strangely enough, one European country also forbids kissing on trains: France.  There is no limitation on public kissing otherwise.  A particularly romantic place to kiss is under an archway in the Place des Vosges in Paris during a rainstorm!*

I am pleased to say that a couple may kiss for as long as they want to on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar in New Orleans.  Kissing on the Desire Street streetcar is no longer possible since that line has long been out of service.  Blanche DuBois must depend on the kindness of strangers elsewhere.

*A sweet memory of a trip.


http://wtop.com/220/3336583/Free-Kisses