Pornography is an issue that angers many along the political spectrum.
To many modern feminists, pornography is offensive because it reduces the human
being to the level of a sex object, with little regard for the beauty within. They argue
that since most pornographic media portray women in a helpless, brainless manner,
it seeks to reverse the trend of gender equality that women’s rights activists have
striven so hard to achieve.
Conservative Christians are offended by the implications pornography has on
society, if not solely because lust is a strict violation of God’s word. The disease,
immorality and damage to the family pornography brings with it gives them fuel in
which to continue their fight.
In light of the increase in Sexually Transmitted Disease cases over the past six
years, I cannot argue in favor of free sexual display in society. Pornography
encourages rampant sex, which leads to STDs.
I can and will defend the First Amendment, and the right of the people to freely
express what is on their minds. However, we must not abuse our rights. I support the
freedom of speech, not anarchy.
What is Pornography?
Webster’s Third International Dictionary defines pornography as a portrayal of erotic
behavior designed to cause sexual excitement. That is a very loose definition.
While the connotation of pornography may be limited to Playboy magazines and
X-rated videos, the denotation of the word indicates the exposure of body parts or
the simulation of acts of intercourse which are intended solely to arouse.
There's Something on Mary
From Ally McBeal’s innocent adventures (complete with coed restrooms) to the
outrageous scenarios on “The Jerry Springer Show,” many television shows attest to
the entertainment industry’s disregard for the sacred. These shows rarely contain
pornographic material. However, they are “breaking the barriers” for it.
The comedy hit, “There’s Something About Mary,” displayed every form of human
genitalia, albeit vaguely. While the scenes could not be classified as pornographic,
they were obvious enough to get the message across and gain a cheap laugh from
the morally apathetic audience. One particular scene involves an exchange of
reproductive fluid, which I will not describe here for respect to the reader.
A child can no longer remain innocent to sexual behavior. A friend of mine
suggested that I not worry about the children, because such movies have an
R-rating and are not marketed to children. Then why were advertisements for “Mary”
aired during weekday afternoon cartoons?
Even movies with vague and mild sexual references are advertised in children’s
magazines. A 1997 issue of Fox Kids magazine had a full-page advertisement for
“The Nutty Professor” video. The movie had a genuinely funny script, and Eddie
Murphy played his role well. But such foul language and sexual hints are enough to
inspire a young boy to pursue deeper expressions of perversion.
Movies like “Mary” paved the way for “American Pie,” which involves another
assinine sex joke.
On a re-run of “The Late Show with David Letterman,” Dave was, without any shame,
flipping through an issue of Playboy. Camera angles of the pictures were shown.
KSTAR, channel 49, during broad daylight, now airs advertisements for a video
entitled, “Girls Go Wild.” The video showcases women who candidly flash their
private parts in front of the camera. The actual genitalia are blurred just enough to
avoid a potential FCC violation.
How much longer before full frontal nudity becomes common? Porn is on it’s way to
public television.
“Parents should tell their kids not to watch,” the liberals may say. “If you don’t like it,
then change the channel.”
The Effects
How many friends do you have that are suffering with a Sexually Transmitted
Disease? I can count 10, off hand.
According to the Center for Disease Control, cases of STDs have tripled in just six
years. There are five dozen STDs including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis,
and genital warts. If left untreated, most STDs can lead to arthritis, brain damage,
heart disease, infertility, and even death. How many of us college students (living
below the poverty-level) can afford such treatment? Let us not forget the incurrable
dangers of AIDS epidemic, either.
Nearly two dozen other STDs are incurable. Most who are “shackin’ up” today are
teens or in their twenties. It is in this age group that STD's are growing fastest, with
women composing the majority of all cases. One study conducted over a five-year
period revealed that six percent of cohabiting women had been to STD clinics for
treatment compared to only one percent of married women.
The average size pore in a store-bought condom can contain three or more sperm
cells and multiple viruses. This is hardly “safe sex.”
It is obvious that the widespread availability of contraceptives has not reversed, and
will do little to prevent, the occurances of STD exposure.
One cannot “change the channel” on this tragic reality.
Mirrors of Sculptors?
The widespread availability of sexually-oriented media is helping to spread the lie
that sex is safe. Our favorite television comedians insist that it is normal to have
multiple sex partners. Are our beloved entertainers to blame for the increase in
sexual behavior?
It is a continuing argument whether media trends are like mirrors or sculptors. Those
who attribute them to mirrors would suggest media are mere reflections of the
degradation that is already taking place. Those who believe the media are
sculptors imply that media take an active role in shaping the values and activity of
the viewer. I’m somewhat undecided on that one.
Regardless of whether the entertainment industry has shaped our values or not, the
fact remains that STDs and extramarital sexual affairs are increasing at the same
rate as the increase in sexually-explicit displays in media.
My Meeting with Dr. Ruth
Pornography may soon be supported by academia.
I had the honor of attending the Phi Theta Kappa International honor society
convention in 1997 as a delegate. Dr. Ruth Westheimer (yes, the Dr. Ruth printed in
The Daily) was the keynote speaker for the theme, “Family in the 21st Century.”
Dr. Westheimer was scheduled to offer her scholarly prediction of how family
dynamics may divert from the traditional two-parent system. The convention
program announced that Dr. Ruth would suggest how we as friends and distant
relatives of those in broken families can fill the gap left by divorce and infidelity.
Instead, Dr. Westheimer began one of her typical rants of how important it is for all us
“good little college students” (her words, not mine) to use contraceptives. She had
assumed that the entire audience was sexually active. She told us that
contraceptives will stop STDs from occurring, despite a plethora of facts to the
contrary. To my sheer embarrassment, she had the entire convention repeat the
word, “contraceptive” in unison.
I was also ashamed to hear the good doctor’s flippant references to pornographic
magazine articles.
I had to hold back my tongue when I met Dr. Westheimer in person at the reception
after the speech. Every fiber in me wanted to tell her about the lies, disease, and
even death which have devastated my friends and family in the name of “free sex.”
Being humble, I gently shook her tiny hand, returned her kind smile, and said, “Thank
you for your time.” What a fool I was for not exposing her ignorance.
The time has come for discipline, not just prevention.
Drawing the Line
Abstinence entails both the discipline of rejecting cheap, casual sex and of denying
those influences which seek to destroy the sanctity of intimate privacy.
The discipline I am speaking of is not of the government, but of the heart.
Self-discipline is an inner strength that transcends all laws and customs.
You are an individual, and are in control of your own body. Who am I to say
otherwise? But our individual actions do affect others. And in return, their actions
affect us.
I humbly plead to all who may stumble across this column to consider the dangers of
rampant sexual behavior. Make personal strides to change this dangerous trend
before it’s too late. While avoiding sexual promiscuity primarily benefits the world
around you, the life you save may also be your own.
Let us now work together to discourage casual references to sex. Under the Trojan
horse of “free speech,” the common display of fornication is not only cheapening the
mystique of love making, but causing irrevocable damage to our loved ones.
Pornography is on it’s way into the mainstream media and then into our living rooms.
It has already made it’s way into our personal lives. Are we ready to draw the line
and collectively say “Enough?”