The American Spectator

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Doubters and Skeptics

6.14.07 @ 12:01AM

(Page 2 of 6)

I'm sure Mr. Mehan and Bishop Loverde will take a lot of heat from those holding an absolutist view of personal freedom because they dared to expose the harm caused by the virtually unrestricted dissemination of pornography. For decades we have been told that this form of "entertainment" is not only benign but actually beneficial in some instances to those who partake of it. After all they say, only puritanical clods, who desire to take away everyone's fun, believe there is anything wrong with looking at pictures of naked co-eds. But, as these men point out, the reality of this vice is quite different from the one our libertarian friends portray.

When law enforcement officers search the homes of sexual predators they usually uncover a huge cache of pornographic material. Online sting operations like MSNBC's To Catch a Predator, reveal that many of the men caught soliciting sex from underage children entice them with graphic sexual images, some with provocative pictures of their own genitalia. The fact that the recidivism rate for people who commit crimes fed by their addiction to pornography is extremely high should temper any reservations we might have about reconsidering our permissive attitude toward this blight on the human landscape.

Obviously, there is a market for this stuff because the number of websites peddling smut on the Internet continues to grow at an exponential rate. But there used to be a time not that long ago when our culture differentiated between what was profitable or popular and what was acceptable. One wonders how anyone not completely brain-dead can assert with confidence that no connection to consumption of this vile material and criminal activity exists when the evidence to the contrary is all around us. How is it that a purveyor of porn can held up by some as a crusader for free speech? Why does this cesspool of human depravity continue to be touted as a harmless diversion? How many ruined lives will it take before we awaken from our moral stupor and decide to revise our naive assumptions about this plague?
-- Rick Arand
Lee's Summit, Missouri

Bishop Paul S. Loverde writes well on a difficult subject for libertarians: adult erotica (i.e. pornography). As good citizens, we need be guardians of morality, but we must balance this against our vigilance against government meddling. Libertarians are, by their philosophy, closer to amoral (i.e. morally neutral) than we are too evangelical. As a loyal reader of AmSpec, I am accustomed to reading occasional articles that take on religious overtones, but most often these articles are within libertarian doctrine. "An Industry of Mutual Degradation" hews very close to a sermon, and one that is not philosophically keeping with AmSpec.

If the good Bishop wishes never to look upon erotica, I wish him well. Further, if he objected to posting of nudity or erotica in public spaces, I would hoist a banner and march with him proudly, but if he wishes to deny enjoyment of this certain form of entertainment, he goes too far. Is erotica a vice? From many a religious and moral perspective, it is. But so is the use of alcohol or drugs. But if one wishes to indulge a vice, with moderation, little damage is done to anyone. On the reverse, complete prohibition violates human will (ye shall not yield to temptation for all temptation has been removed) and falls into censorship. The difference between the bishop's position and the Taliban is one of degree not kind.
-- Ira M. Kessel

Wow! Two great, powerful and intertwined pieces, "An Industry of Mutual Degradation" and "History's Greatest Liar." I "almost" had to double-check what site I was on.

Once again, Catholic teachings put out for everyone to read, and heed. I guess despite all the Liberal Theology and Leftist Non-practicing/Cafeteria Catholics, there is much wisdom and truth.

There have always been moral absolutes. We were created with "free wills," we can choose our course and direction in this life. I pray that the Lord is merciful, since so many have been led astray and deluded.
-- Sandra Dent

Excellent article. But what can we do. This multi-billion dollar industry seems to have all the cards. We should still try to push in order to help people.

Thanks,
-- Joseph D'Ambrosia

BROTHER PAT
Re: Bernard Chapin's Hillary's Will to Power:

Bay Buchanan's interview was interesting considering her brother Pat has repudiated Reagan's legacy and Reaganomics by becoming his antithesis in anti-Israel diatribes, willingness to appease Islamic terrorism, advocating closed borders, protectionist and pro-union economic schemes and becoming the MSM's creature. Even worse Pat has fawningly described Mrs. Bill Clinton as "Reaganesque." It would have been interesting to read her response to Pat's total abandonment of Reagan's conservative philosophy.
-- Michael Tomlinson
Jacksonville, North Carolina

HINDERED BY HINDSIGHT
Re: Ralph R. Reiland's Intelligence Failure:

Ralph Reiland attempts to portray the current chaos in Iraq as inevitable because it so closely matches what intelligence reports predicted, but it wasn't inevitable. The U.S. chose to negotiate and appease Sunnis who actively supported Al Qaeda in hopes of seducing them into the political process. This pampering of the Sunni leadership allowed Al Qaeda to implement its plan to stir up civil strife by murdering innocent Shia civilians. Now the U.S. blames the Shia for defending themselves. Had the U.S. arrested and killed the Sunni clerics, politicians and tribal leaders who aided Al Qaeda in the beginning, Iraq would be a peaceful country today.

In fact, the current stalemate in the Iraqi government is the fault of U.S. policy. The U.S. wanted a "unity government" with all religious factions represented, instead of a republic with the majority assuming control. By insisting on a "unity government" (what an oxymoron!), the Sunni never had to appeal to voters because they knew they would get a proportion of the power in government regardless of how many people they murdered. Instead, had the U.S. insisted on the rule of the majority, the Sunnis would have been forced to seek some Shia votes in order to gain political power.

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