Another one bites the dust?
Oct. 15th, 2010 07:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apple_pathwaysHad a lovely day today: I spent it thrift store shopping for my Halloween costume. At the salvation army in Redford, I found a wedding dress that would be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT for dressing as a Calvierri girl from Doctor Who. It was of a thick, satiny ivory fabric with a swirling french pattern, long sleeves, and a very full gathered skirt with long train. There were a few too many sequins on the bodice, but overall, they were tasteful and would have blended in perfectly. The best thing: it FIT me! Perfectly! The one problem? It was $70.00. I'm sure that's a very good deal for a wedding gown, but it's a little pricey for a Halloween costume.
What I ended up buying instead is a long black and white formal gown, the kind one might wear to prom or to be a bridesmaid. It was only $15.00, and just a little bit too big; it only needs a few tucks in the bodice, and it should fit perfectly. My plan is to be some sort of Zombie Miss America. Stay tuned for pictures.
Now here comes the dilemma:
When I was researching thrift stores in the area, I came across the Salvation Army's website. I've always known that they're a christian organization. Normally, as a rule, I avoid religious charities, because studies have shown that they're less efficient at getting the money to the populations they serve than secular charities and, depending on the religion, I often don't agree with a lot of the doctrine their programs espouse. I try my best to be consistent in making a moral stand, to the point where I have to tell my ten year-old next-door neighbor that I can't buy his popcorn because of the Boy Scouts of America's policy of excluding homosexuals from their ranks. (The Girls Scouts of America are a completely separate organization and have no such policy, so I am free to enjoy their cookies guilt-free. Well...almost.)
In the past, I've made exceptions for organizations like Purple Heart and the Salvation Army because they're good at what they do and are a staple of American charities. Who could argue with the good work they do? Well, now I can.
I was at the Salvation Army's website, and under "Programs that Help" the very first one that's listed is Anti-Pornography. Check this out:
The Salvation Army firmly believes that sexuality is a gift of a loving Creator. It deplores pornography as a distortion of God's design for human happiness and well being. Pornography is a harmful scourge on society, endangering and degrading the physical, psychological, moral, and spiritual welfare of all persons. Thus, the following pages are offered to provide critical information about pornography's devastating effects, equip people with the means to protect themselves and their families from pornography's reach, and to extend hope to those struggling
with pornography addiction.
Good. Holy. GOD! (Pardon my French.)
As someone who *ahem* writes pornography, I am offended.
Yes, there is bad pornography. What is bad pornography? Pornography that exploits its subjects and takes advantage of the disadvantaged (including children). Some pornography is nothing more than rape on camera.
Is pornography harmful to those who view it? Possibly. (And I say that very tentatively.) It's true that some people become addicted to pornography. However, not everything that is addictive is illegal. (Cigarette, anyone? says the former smoker.)
Pornography has been linked to all kinds of horrible, nasty crimes: there are studies that discuss its influence on sexual violence, attitudes toward women, and all kinds of things good feminists should get all up-in-arms about. However, nothing more than a "link" has ever been proven to exist.
Why? It's not because scientists haven't tried. They have. They just couldn't find any men who didn't view pornography in order to study them. So if EVERYONE views pornography (at least every man; I don't know what studies have been done on women who view pornography), then why aren't we all rapists and killers? Food for thought.
For me, it's about freedom of thought and expression. I'm very big on that. In a major way. One of the few doctrines or dogmas I've ever been able to get behind.
So what does everyone else think? Should I be boycotting The Salvation Army? (If my RL friends were reading this, they'd be rolling their eyes right now: "Who isn't on the list?" a friend once asked me.) Is pornography a "scourge on society?" Should I just shut up now?
I welcome your input.
What I ended up buying instead is a long black and white formal gown, the kind one might wear to prom or to be a bridesmaid. It was only $15.00, and just a little bit too big; it only needs a few tucks in the bodice, and it should fit perfectly. My plan is to be some sort of Zombie Miss America. Stay tuned for pictures.
Now here comes the dilemma:
When I was researching thrift stores in the area, I came across the Salvation Army's website. I've always known that they're a christian organization. Normally, as a rule, I avoid religious charities, because studies have shown that they're less efficient at getting the money to the populations they serve than secular charities and, depending on the religion, I often don't agree with a lot of the doctrine their programs espouse. I try my best to be consistent in making a moral stand, to the point where I have to tell my ten year-old next-door neighbor that I can't buy his popcorn because of the Boy Scouts of America's policy of excluding homosexuals from their ranks. (The Girls Scouts of America are a completely separate organization and have no such policy, so I am free to enjoy their cookies guilt-free. Well...almost.)
In the past, I've made exceptions for organizations like Purple Heart and the Salvation Army because they're good at what they do and are a staple of American charities. Who could argue with the good work they do? Well, now I can.
I was at the Salvation Army's website, and under "Programs that Help" the very first one that's listed is Anti-Pornography. Check this out:
The Salvation Army firmly believes that sexuality is a gift of a loving Creator. It deplores pornography as a distortion of God's design for human happiness and well being. Pornography is a harmful scourge on society, endangering and degrading the physical, psychological, moral, and spiritual welfare of all persons. Thus, the following pages are offered to provide critical information about pornography's devastating effects, equip people with the means to protect themselves and their families from pornography's reach, and to extend hope to those struggling
with pornography addiction.
Good. Holy. GOD! (Pardon my French.)
As someone who *ahem* writes pornography, I am offended.
Yes, there is bad pornography. What is bad pornography? Pornography that exploits its subjects and takes advantage of the disadvantaged (including children). Some pornography is nothing more than rape on camera.
Is pornography harmful to those who view it? Possibly. (And I say that very tentatively.) It's true that some people become addicted to pornography. However, not everything that is addictive is illegal. (Cigarette, anyone? says the former smoker.)
Pornography has been linked to all kinds of horrible, nasty crimes: there are studies that discuss its influence on sexual violence, attitudes toward women, and all kinds of things good feminists should get all up-in-arms about. However, nothing more than a "link" has ever been proven to exist.
Why? It's not because scientists haven't tried. They have. They just couldn't find any men who didn't view pornography in order to study them. So if EVERYONE views pornography (at least every man; I don't know what studies have been done on women who view pornography), then why aren't we all rapists and killers? Food for thought.
For me, it's about freedom of thought and expression. I'm very big on that. In a major way. One of the few doctrines or dogmas I've ever been able to get behind.
So what does everyone else think? Should I be boycotting The Salvation Army? (If my RL friends were reading this, they'd be rolling their eyes right now: "Who isn't on the list?" a friend once asked me.) Is pornography a "scourge on society?" Should I just shut up now?
I welcome your input.
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no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 02:05 am (UTC)I know that there are places that go by Christian values but they don't intrude too much in people's lives. Which I give a big thumb's up to. LOL. And I do know that there are people who are addicted to sex sites or to porn and it affects not only them, but their family and their whole lives and that is sad. That is when I think that having services available is worth it.
I'm sorry about your dress. :( I bet it was awesome.
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 02:31 am (UTC)Oh, absolutely! Any sort of addiction deserves treatment. If this were all they were providing, I'd be fine, it's the whole "porn is evil, and NOBODY GETS TO SEE IT" that bugs me.
I know that there are places that go by Christian values but they don't intrude too much in people's lives.
Absolutely, and I do know this! My heart is always warmed by people who use their religion as inspiration to devote their lives to others. (I have a lot of relatives in this category.) But I don't really have time to research every charity out there, so I tend to just avoid religious charities as a rule until I know more about them. I usually just stick with a few good causes that (to the best of my knowledge) are responsible and reliable.
The dress WAS awesome! But I do not a castoff wedding dress I will only wear once or twice as a costume, I don't! (I'm going to be telling myself that all night when I dream about it...)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 02:36 am (UTC)I've dreamed of having a traditional wedding... maybe someday we can renew our vows and I can wear the dress. LOL.