Posted on 05/24/2005 1:42:28 PM PDT by CHARLITE
Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions that may be difficult for some readers.
A crowd of people gathered on Capitol Hill last Thursday to hear experts* in obscenity law and sexual crimes speak in recognition of Victims of Pornography Month.
What they said in that room should be heard by every American. (It just so happens that you can download and listen to the presentations, including one by CWA’s chief counsel, Jan LaRue, on our Web site by clicking here.)
First, if you aren’t convinced yet that we, as a society, should crack down on pornography, consider some of the facts presented at the summit.
Where should we start? Maybe with this statement from Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values in Cincinnati, Ohio: “I’ve never met a police officer yet who investigated a pedophile that did not find pornography. Every one of them said pornography is always on the scene.”
Or perhaps that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMC’s) Cyber Tip Line (http://www.cybertipline.com/) collected about 1,500 reports of possible child pornography being transmitted online in a seven-day period earlier this month (and 293,000 reports since 1998), according to Marsha Gilmer-Tullis, Director of the Family Advocacy Division at NCMC. They received 35 reports of adults trying to meet and greet children in chat rooms that same week.
Or, we could also consider facts presented by Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist, professor at Princeton University and researcher at the University of Nice, that the sexual slavery trade is the third-largest source of funds for organized crime, right behind drugs and arms, and that pornography drives that trade.
Plus, Satinover mentioned studies showing that brain activity associated with craving pornography is “identical to any other behavioral or chemical addictions.” In fact, some have pointed out that pornography is as addictive as cocaine, but even harder to overcome due to the images burned into the user’s mind. “It is not an art form,” he said. “No one gets addicted to The Washington Post. No one gets addicted to James Joyce [author of Ulysses, a book with some erotic scenes].”
Satinover also had the courage to point out the motivation behind the porn industry: “Its purpose is not to entertain.” Its purpose, he said, is to lead the viewer to “achieve arousal and orgasm” as quickly and frequently as possible. There’s a financial interest – the more the buyer gets aroused by pornography and achieves orgasm, the more he will purchase. Comparing the purchasing frequency of mainstream movies and pornographic ones makes that clear.
When the movies, magazines and Web sites just aren’t cutting it anymore, the user moves to the final stage: acting out. Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Florida) read the following quote from serial rapist Ted Bundy, made one day before his 1989 execution:
“The purveyors of pornography repeatedly challenge us to prove that pornography causes violent crime,” said Rep. Harris. “I challenge them to prove that it does not.”
Likewise, John Richter, the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division, said, “Because obscene material is so accessible, many may fail to realize that availability does not equate to legality.”
Concerned Women for America (CWA) Chief Counsel Jan LaRue wrote an excellent, full-scale paper on this topic, Hard-Core Harm.
So, what can you, as a citizen, do with the information these knowledgeable presenters gave? Here are several ideas:
Start with your own home. Supervise your children on the Internet, and teach them how to safely use it. Read CWA’s brochure, 14 Ways You Can Protect Your Children Online, for help. Watch out for peer-to-peer file-sharing sites like Kazaa and Morpheus, as they are virtually unregulated – children can easily access pornographic files and even give away your household’s personal information. If you or your spouse is struggling with addiction, there is help (see http://www.victimsofpornography.org/ for a start).
Be aware of what – or who – is in your neighborhood. Check with local law enforcement to see if it maintains a sex offenders’ registry. Use the registry to find out if any convicted sex offenders live in your neighborhood. If your state doesn’t have one, lobby your officials to make this information public.
Encourage your local officials to prosecute obscenity. If juries never get the opportunity to set community standards, then pornographers will set them. In cities where prosecutors have gone after pornographic shops and other sexually oriented businesses, all types of crimes have dropped. Local law enforcement should be enthusiastic about cleaning up communities in this way.
Encourage your local and national representatives to make laws to protect Americans from obscenity.
Sign up for e-mail alerts from groups like CWA that are fighting pornography. We’ll keep you informed as to how you can act on the issue. Sign up at www.cwfa.org.
Vote! Watch how your officials and representatives are voting, acting and responding to your requests regarding obscenity. Register to vote, and encourage your friends and family to register as well!
Educate others. One voice can start a movement! Join an organized grassroots organization like CWA – we’ll be happy to tell you how you can become active at the state level (phone: 800-964-2203). Encourage your friends to join e-mail lists, or form one of your own to pass around vital information. Organize events in your community and bring in experts like the ones at this presentation.
Contribute to hard-working groups like CWA, CCV and others. We are dependent upon generous giving from people like you.
John Richter ended his remarks by asking for continuing support of American citizens:
We aren’t backing down to the purveyors of obscenity… we do not fight these battles alone. We know that folks like you here today – decent, honest Americans – support us. And it is my last privilege today to ask for your continued support as we continue to move forward. I want you to think of our team as I think of them: As those men and women, at Justice, who seek justice, by doing justice, for those who deserve justice.
*Among the presenters were Concerned Women for America (CWA) Chief Counsel Jan LaRue; Citizens for Community Values President Phil Burress; Reps. Katherine Harris (R-Florida), Mike Pence (R-Indiana) and Joe Pitts (R-Pennsylvania); Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas); Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, John Richter; Marsha Gilmer-Tullis, Director of the Family Advocacy Division at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; Focus on the Family Media and Sexuality Analyst Daniel Weiss; Florida Deputy Attorney General George LeMieux; and Dr. Jeffrey Satinover, a psychiatrist, professor at Princeton University and researcher at the University of Nice.
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I agree with your underlying premise completely. We were talking more in terms of what happens on a daily basis after a long days work and rather than getting appreciation and affection, we are greeted with utter nonsense about frivolous matters that completely saps the urge to have sex with the other person.
Most guys are really decent and want to do the right thing. However, when a pattern of rejection sets in, there is also a pattern where the guy goes to his outlet to get what little satisfaction he can.
What guy after a long day wants to hear about how he needs to spend more money on crap or hear hear about how his mother is not nice enough to his wife or about some other stupid S$%&^????
You are right in the long term, but I telling you the reality of what usually goes on.
Why?
Unless you enjoy it, then it's all good.
Well, no. At least not for that reason of its own accord. And something need not be either evil or good. It can be neither.
Foaming at the mouth haters of Christianity would rather be governed by a "libertarian" coalition of drug dealers, pimps, and abortionists than us kooky "Jebus" worshippers.
Personally, I don't think hipster rock n' roller types spend enough time thinking for themselves to hate anything to any real degree, but it's definitely disparaging. Jesus is a major buzzkill in those circles, don't'cha know.
That was Doctor James Dobson. He's not an ordained minister, but he's a licensed psychologist and one of THE most respected members of the conservative movement. I'd say he knows what he's talking about.
How is it you know so much about it, hmmmmm?
I watch porn at times and have been faithful from day one, for now eight years. I have never cheated or even looked at another woman with that intent.
I can't believe that some of you would have people in Congress regulate your life in this regard. Give me a break.
Or something can be both evil and good and neutral, for that matter, depending on context. That applies here.
Actually
Hey Kids ! Want Good Sex? Try Abstinence. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1298761/posts
How has the best sexual satisfaction... Those single swingers or married Christian women? You might be surprised to find the latter is the correct answer.
That's really what it comes down to. Christianity is a faith grounded in moral absolutes. Some folks will never be able to accept that.
Watching porn is cheating on your wife. You aren't focusing your attention to her
I would say your relationship isn't all that great.
Congress to regulate my life in this regard, gimme a break. I don't want or need congress to regulate me, that isn't liberty, or freedom.
Thanks. Better yet with a name. Yes I know of Dr Dobson. I'd just never heard anything to the contrary regarding Bundy and I have a professional interest on that particular subject.
Then you do not believe in absolutes, do you?
No, you're just a chronic CHRISTIAN-HATER.
And His name is J-E-S-U-S C-H-R-I-S-T -- not "Jebus." What's the matter -- does it make you cringe to utter His name? BOO!! Afraid you'll turn into a pillar of salt?
Btw, do you EVER tire of your pathetic Christian-bashing at every turn??
Thank you!I will check this out Char..
And for those that make a joke out of this it isn't funny..
All of the children that use the Internet and have no idea that some old fart is looking for a kid to rape is sad..I have never been to a porn site and know nothing about what is on them..I can tell you there have been some political sites that should be rated R that I have seen. The people on them are trash and I guess there are children that read them.Some of the poster say they have grandchildren that read the sites.I posted on one until all the tramps came out to flirt with the dirty old men that act like a dogs in heat..When that happened I never went back.And I guess the same trash is still there.
Of course I believe in absolutes.
I just don't accept the immoral Christian version of absolutes.
Let's see, what other arguments can be made on this premise? How about 'all guns should be banned because all perpetrators of shooting-related crimes possessed a gun?' Or 'alcohol should be banned because every drunk driver was intoxicated?' Or even 'swimming pools and bathtubs should be banned because most home-related drownings involve them?'
...Cyber Tip Line collected about 1,500 reports of possible child pornography...
...that the sexual slavery trade is the third-largest source of funds for organized crime...
These things are already illegal. Broadening the scope of what's illegal to include something not directly causing these crimes punishes law abiding citizens for the crimes of others. Ask the pro-gun folks how they feel about that.
...studies showing that brain activity associated with craving pornography is “identical to any other behavioral or chemical addictions.”
Other addictions such as gambling, alcohol, sweets, politics, religion, etc. maybe? If citing instances of potential addictiveness is grounds for banning something, the list of what can be made illegal could get pretty long.
“Its purpose is not to entertain.” Its purpose, he said, is to lead the viewer to “achieve arousal and orgasm” as quickly and frequently as possible.
And all we have to do is hand over our right to decide what we consider 'entertaining' to someone else. I'm sure they will always make the right decision for us. What's a little censorship among us 'enlightened' people?
There’s a financial interest – the more the buyer gets aroused by pornography and achieves orgasm, the more he will purchase. Comparing the purchasing frequency of mainstream movies and pornographic ones makes that clear.
Well, can't argue with that. Whodathunk the porn industry was in it for the money?
When the movies, magazines and Web sites just aren’t cutting it anymore, the user moves to the final stage: acting out.
Which explains why the millions of porn consumers are all running around raping and terrorizing whole communities - what? You say they aren't? Oh well, don't let contradictory facts get in the way of a good supporting argument.
“The purveyors of pornography repeatedly challenge us to prove that pornography causes violent crime,” said Rep. Harris. “I challenge them to prove that it does not.”
Then let's make all motorists prove they're not speeders, all television owners prove they aren't stealing cable, all gun owners prove they aren't murderers, all...well, you get the idea. It sure would be easier to convict people if they always had to prove a negative instead of us actually having to prove they did it.
Bah. I'm getting tired of going through this piece of crap line by line. And you the reader, assuming you are still reading this book-length post of mine, are probably getting tired of reading it. Anyone who still thinks I am wrong will continue to do so regardless of whatever else I could write.
Do those that wish to see the extermination of the Jewish (conversion of the Jews) faith ever get tired? Nope.
Hmmm, just hit me... Then you aren't looking at women in those porn videos or mags are you?
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