Posted on 07/28/2003 12:19:43 PM PDT by chance33_98
Contrary to What Some May Think, War Against Illegal Obscenity is Far From Over, Says Morality in Media
7/28/03 2:40:00 PM
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To: National Desk
Contact: Morality in Media, 212-870-3222; e-mail: mim@moralityinmedia.org Web: http://www.moralityinmedia.org
NEW YORK, July 28 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Robert Peters, president of Morality in Media had the following comments in response to Frank Rich's article, "Finally, Porn Does Prime Time," which appeared in Sunday's (July 27) New York Times:
"'We've come a long way, baby,' bubbled Frank Rich, a fountainhead of moral wisdom at the New York Times, in his 'Finally, Porn Does Prime Time.' 'But few bemoan the porning of America these days. Except for the usual fire and brimstone sermonizing in pulpits,' he said.
"Even if it were true that the last bastion of resistance to the floodtide of obscene materials pouring into America's communities, homes and children's minds was the religious community, that is not an insignificant factor. While atheism or agnosticism may reign among our nation's secular cultural elite, that duo does not reign in the hearts of most Americans.
"Most parents, irrespective of their religious views, are also concerned about the proliferation of pornographic materials, especially on the Internet.
"While some women in the real world do think and act like prime time TV harlots, most women recognize that most pornography is degrading to women and that much of it depicts violence against women. Many have had first hand experience with the fruits of pornography addiction: divorce, rape, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of children.
"Many men have also discovered that addiction to pornography can have devastating effects.
"Perhaps that is why 81 percent of adult Americans said YES, when asked in a March 2002 national survey (conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide) whether federal laws against Internet obscenity should be vigorously enforced. Among adult women, 90 percent supported vigorous enforcement.
"Perhaps that is also why Mr. Rich's employer, the New York Times, still doesn't accept ads for sexually oriented businesses, like so-called 'adult' book and video stores and strip joints.
"This is not to say that the floodtide of hardcore pornography and the celebration of that floodtide in academia and the entertainment and news media is not having an effect. But contrary to what Frank Rich may think, the war against illegal obscenity is far from over."
MORALITY IN MEDIA is a nonprofit national organization working to curb traffic in obscenity and to uphold standards of decency in media. MIM operates the obscenitycrimes.org website, where citizens can report possible violations of federal Internet obscenity laws.
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