Tonight's letter is a darker, sadder topic than usual. I'm a naturally cheerful person but there are times when I can't help but be sad. Tonight, I'm going to talk about pornography. Now I'm no psychologist and I'm not going to pull up research to support my opinions. Lots of people have done that already. If there's some statistic that you want to know, look it up. I'm not going to provide it here.
Pornography. What an ugly word. For me, words have a great amount of power. I tend to associate feelings and colors with them. Pornography is a color deeper than black, riddled through with despair, reeking of sadness.
Why? Just why? What's the point? All it does is hurt. You can't possibly convince me that is has any benefits whatsoever.
While pornography is viewed by women, it is for the most part aimed at men. But what good does it do them? Pornography becomes an addiction. It's not something that people are happy to share with those around them. No, most often, it is something hidden, sequestered away in the dark. It is desensitizing and the whole concept is degrading.
Pornography is degrading to those who are its subject. They are seen not as people, but as objects. No one cares what kind of person they're looking at, who they are, what they're like, what their story is. They're just another body, just another object of desire.
Pornography is degrading to those who make it. It erodes their character. What kind of person exploits another human being in that way?
Pornography is degrading to those who view it. It hurts them and it hurts those around them. It may bring fleeting physical pleasure but it gives no true happiness, just a false notion of reality. It isn't real. Those people have no feelings for you. They don't even know you exist. Even if those pictured are the ones putting themselves out there, those who view pornography are still taking advantage of them in some way.
To those who have an unwilling addiction to pornography: Please, I beg you, free yourself of this despicable substance. Seek help if you need to. Those who love you may be disappointed but they will still love you, will do anything in their power to help you. The road will not be easy. Trust may be broken, respect may be lost. But I can promise you that a life without that addiction is worth any amount of pain, shame, embarrassment, or anguish. If you find yourself abandoned by those you counted on for support, count on me to have compassion. Just because your struggle is different than mine doesn't mean I haven't made other mistakes of my own. If you can't count on me, count on Christ. He suffered unspeakable pain so that he would know exactly how to help you. Let Him. Please, by all that you hold dear, remove yourself from pornography's vicious influence.
To those who view it willingly: Stop it. Stop it right now. Whatever you imagine that pornography does for you, I can guarantee that you will be better off without it. Have you actually thought about what you're doing? Stop it. Stop now.
To those who make pornography: I cannot comprehend what possesses you to make you think that this is not only okay, but desirable. Your work disgusts me. The sheer depravity of what you're doing is without magnitude. Have you thought about what you're doing? Have you thought about the real-life influence that is being had on people all over the world? I cannot adequately express the horror and bewilderment that I feel.
Pornography destroys individuals as well as families. How can there be trust between two people when one or both betray basic values? After all, they have promised something of the equivalent of to "cleave unto [him/her] and none else". Viewing pornography doesn't exactly fall into that category, now does it? Not by any stretch of the imagination.
You won't hear me shortening the word pornography to "porn". As I said earlier, words have a lot of power and it is my personal belief that shortening the word makes us more comfortable with it. It's almost like a nickname. To me, to shorten the word "pornography" is to allow it to come closer, to give it more access. "Porn" is kinda catchy, isn't it? Rolls right off the tongue, even rhymes better. When it's shortened, it's not as threatening, doesn't have as much of an impact.
Wrong. Whatever form it is in, pornography is a relentless evil. Yes, I said evil.
I know there will be those out there who will think that I'm being judgmental, that I don't know what I'm talking about, that I just don't have a clue.
I don't care what they think. Pornography is wrong. Pornography is evil. And you will never convince me otherwise. It's a sickening concept and I cringe to think of all those caught in its web.
I realize that pornography cannot be completely eradicated. There will always be a demand, always be someone willing to produce it.
But why is it so prevalent? Why is it so easy to gain access to? There are actually those of us who don't want it and yet almost everyone of us has unwittingly come in contact with it at some point.
If there has to be a market for it, why can it be found for free?
Do you know how many young boys have found themselves trapped in its insidious web? Do you know how many innocent minds have been caught up in this trap? It makes me sick to know that those I care about, my brothers, my friends, my family, all have the potential to be touched by this plague.
What value can be found in exploiting the gift of our bodies? What good does it do? None.
I may be only one person, but I will do what I can to eradicate pornography. Take responsibility for your own sphere of influence. One person at a time can influence the world.
