Historically, America has always had an uptight and unhealthy attitude toward sex. Guess that’s what happens when you live in a nation founded by Puritans.

Case in point: Last year, Stacie Halas, a 32-year-old science teacher at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School in Oxnard, Calif., was fired when it was discovered that, prior to her hiring, she’d performed in a handful of pornographic movies under the nom du porn “Tiffany Six.”

Some readers may recognize Halas/Six from her work in such movies as “Boobaholics Anonymous 2” and “Eat My Black Meat 4.” Others will also recognize her work but refuse to admit it. After all, sex is icky. We wouldn’t want to admit that sexuality, erotic fantasies or masturbation are all natural parts of human nature, would we?

Last month, Halas lost an appeal to overturn her arguably wrongful termination. Never mind the fact that Halas proved herself capable in the classroom, the only thing that should even matter. Never mind the fact that Halas turned to porn out of desperation, at a time when money was low and jobs were few and far between. Never mind the message Halas’ firing sends, that second chances are little more than a pipe dream.

For that matter, never mind the fact that adult entertainment is a completely legal profession, one which Halas engaged in with other mature, consenting adults, all on her own time, before ever entering the employment of Haydock Intermediate School. Never mind all of that. Instead, chock up another win for repression and hypocrisy.

Sure, there’s an argument to be made that teachers need to be role models and that Halas failed to be a positive one. But that once again raises the question of why those in the adult entertainment industry are viewed so negatively in the first place. Why is someone considered to be a “bad role model” for doing something both legal and lucrative that, when done responsibly, harms no one? The mental image many have of the porn industry, one of sleazy snake-oil salesman and traumatized and exploited drug addicts, is an outdated cliché.

Ultimately, we can debate all day long whether Halas should be fired for not disclosing her XXX past when she applied for the job, or if the revelation of said past would prove disruptive enough in the classroom as to prevent her from being an effective teacher. But what this situation really brings to light is America’s inability to make peace with its own libido.

It’s baffling that Americans are so squeamish around sex considering how comfortable we seem to be with violence. One has the power to create while the other can only destroy. Still, television programs can show bullet-riddled torsos but not bare breasts. We’re all OK with the parts of “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” where players murder police officers (i.e. all the parts), but not the “Hot Coffee” hack that depicts fully clothed and pixilated cartoon sex.

Don’t be confused. The point here isn’t that violence should be censored, despite its inherent negativity. It’s that sex shouldn’t be. Certainly, if the argument could be made that sex should be done in private (for some reason), then one could just as easily counter with the argument that war should not be done at all. If Halas had been a war veteran, would that have caused even a lick of controversy? Would anyone have questioned her integrity or capability? Not likely. And, yet – no disrespect intended – what is a soldier other than a trained killer?

Killing on the behalf of corrupt politicians: good. Knockin’ boots for fun and profit: bad?!?

Speaking honestly and realistically for a moment, let’s face it. Many people don’t get into the military because of some sense of honor or duty or an overriding urge to protect their country. Many people get into it to help pay for school or because they have few other options. That doesn’t sound too different from why Halas got into porn, does it?

Perhaps the American attitude toward sexuality is so immature because a lack of education. All over the country, PTAs argue over when sex ed should be taught in schools, if at all. Meanwhile, the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are treated as ho-hum historical facts. War, it’s implied, is just something that happens. A necessary part of human culture.

What, then, is sex?