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 03:07 am (UTC)As for men who don't view porn, I'm pretty sure I could say without a shadow of a doubt that my dad and my grandfathers don't. They're all men of such honor that I can't see them keeping any secrets of that magnitude from the family. I know that being a Christian and a porn watcher aren't mutually exclusive, and I know that being a pastor (as my maternal grandfather was) doesn't keep a man from getting caught up in that activity. But I also think that the world of pornography is something that Christians should be set apart from, that we should have nothing to do with. The Bible teaches that Christians should be "in the world but not of the world" - we're called to be different. So I do agree with the Salvation Army.
As for sex, I believe that sex is enjoyable (or should be - I'm still a virgin) and meant to be enjoyed, but that it needs to be between a husband and wife, because that's what the Bible teaches. It's sort of like teaching about various forms of birth control, but also that abstinence is the only 100% safe way to avoid disease and pregnancy.
But I also believe that I can't expect a non-Christian to adhere to a Christian's moral standards (how can I expect someone to follow the rules of a God they don't believe exists?), so, despite how relativistic this sounds, if you have to boycott the Salvation Army, that's your call, and I hope you find somewhere else to score some sweet bargains.
And now I have to hit up our thrift stores and look for a ivory satin gown. Again, darn you. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-10-16 03:36 am (UTC)If you do, I WANT PICTURES!
I'm sure there are men who don't use pornography, the point is they don't exist in great enough numbers in order for science to study them. (I'd like to believe the same of my grandfathers, but I would be very surprised indeed if they had never in their lives partaken of a little porn!)
Personal beliefs are, as always, up to the person him or herself. I can understand why many christian religions would want to discourage their members from it. A lot of porn is just, to put it mildly: not nice. It doesn't depict loving relationships, and it doesn't respect the participants as people, using them instead as objects.
However, that is not all porn. It is possible for (some) christians to adhere to their personal spiritual beliefs, participate in a loving, committed marriage, and enjoy some good, wholesome porn!
And even if it weren't possible, not everyone is christian, as you've observed. The rest of us have a right to make decisions for ourselves. (I understand you're respecting that right, and I appreciate it! I'm just trying to make a wider point here.)
If the Salvation Army were just offering counseling for pornography addiction and information for christians on why pornography might be wrong in the eyes of their faith, I wouldn't have a problem. But they're talking of pornography as a "scourge" that must be eliminated, and I have a problem with that.
There's a few consignment shops in the area I've visited. I would try Goodwill, but there aren't any within 25 miles of me. Good luck in your dress hunt! Once again: PICTURES, PLEASE! (I'm going to be dreaming of that dress.)