Nonromantic Passion

In the context of interpersonal relationships, the word passion often has a perceived affiliation with romantic and/or sexual feelings one person might harbor for another.  Popular culture, casual conversations, and common jokes can all reinforce this alleged affiliation.  Conceptually, though, to have passion that is directed towards another person means nothing more than that one experiences strong emotions or attitudes, whether positive or negative, towards the person in question.  The erroneous equating of passion with romance (or sexuality) encourages the average person to not express strong emotions for others outside of romantic or familial relationships, and, in doing so, stifles the quality of other relationships.

The presence of passion is not an indicator that romantic feelings lurk nearby.  Western culture is quick to associate intensity of passion with romantic or sexual affection, despite there being no logical connection between the them.  Romantic feelings can accompany passionate affection, yes, but it is also possible to find examples of nonromantic intimacy.  Of course, logic proves there is no inherent connection between passion and romance without the need to actually observe or speak with other people.

Passion of a nonromantic kind can be a core component in friendships between people of the same gender or of the opposite gender.  A man can have a passionate but nonromantic connection with another man, just like a woman can have a passionate but nonromantic connection with another woman; a man and a woman can likewise share a passionate but nonromantic connection.  Western culture has conflated romance with passion, yet the latter can be entirely distinct from the former.  The result is confusion about the differences in various types of passionate feelings for other people.

I love my closest friend, a woman, beyond my ability to articulate the depth of the attachment.  My love for her is not a calm, quiet love, but one that is deep and vibrant.  There is definite nonromantic passion in our mutual affection for each other, and there is nothing unnatural about this.  Every person is capable of experiencing such passion for another person, irrespective of gender.  It is American culture that is responsible for the inaccurate perceptions that many Westerners have about expressions of emotional and physical intimacy within same gender and opposite gender relationships.