Speak Out Against Pornography!

OFFENSIVE TO MANY!

Although obscenity and indecency are not protected by the First Amendment, in June of 1999 Forbes magazine contended that the mainstreaming of pornography had developed into a $56 billion business. Pornography is profitable to an extensive network of people. 1.

However, what benefits some is offensive and harmful to many. Criminal Justice statistics document that in 1996, 38 percent of Americans thought pornography should be illegal for everyone, and 58 percent thought it should be illegal for persons under eighteen. 2.

SPEAK OUT!

Citizens are encouraged to speak out to protest obscenity in our culture by:

* writing letters to the editors of the local paper to express concern,

* writing to elected officials to actively prosecute obscenity, and

* writing letters of complaint to businesses that distribute or advertise pornography.

SAMPLE LETTER (or write your own)

Dear Owner/Managers

While shopping in your store recently I noticed that you sell pornographic magazines. Please consider the harm such materials have on children's lives, our families and our community.

Statistics show that the largest consumers of pornography are children ages 12 to 17 - formative years of a young person's emotional and sexual development.

Young people are being drawn into early and promiscuous sexual behaviors. Addictions are created that harm healthy relationships and tear apart marriages and families.

* The Center for Disease Control reports that 1 in 4 teen girls has a sexually transmitted disease, often leading to cancer or infertility.

* Since 1973, more than 50 million abortions have been performed in the U.S.

- over 80% to unmarried women, 52% to women younger than 25 years of age, 19% to teens.

* 40% of births are now out-of-wedlock births.

* Out-0f-wedlock births and the increase in divorce leaves many men out of the important role of fatherhood and leaves children without a father for guidance and support.

* Children born to unwed mothers are six times more likely to live in poverty.

* Pornography is used by predators to lure children and young women into abuse and prostitution.

* Rapists and serial killers repeatedly identify pornography as a formative factor in their behaviors.

You have no obligation to sell pornography. This is not a matter of censorship. It is a matter of good citizenship and responsible choice as to what is appropriate material to be placed in a store where families shop.

Please consider replacing these materials with something more responsible. I'm sure many people in the community would support you in this decision.

I look forward to hearing from you in regard to this concern.

Sincerely,

(Sign your name)

*************************

If polite letters are not effective, pressure on elected officials to support legislation actively prosecuting obscenity and indecency in the community and media would be appropriate and necessary.

Our children and grandchildren should not be burdened by the immense moral burden that is being passed on to them by our careless abandonment of foundational personal and social values.

References:

1. Thomas, Cal. "Selling out a heritage; AT&T becomes a top provider of pornography."

World magazine. Vol. 15, No.25 (June 24) 2000:31.

2. Henslin, James M. Social Problems. 5th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:Prentice-Hall. 2000:75-81

3.American Family Association. A Guide to What One Person Can Do About Pornography.

www.afa.net/pornography/PornGuide.pdf. pg. 41-45.

Freedom of Choice Divides the Nation

When Roe v. Wade was enacted in 1973 the U.S. engaged in a massive social experiment that the country was not ready for. Abortion became one of the most explosive, bitter and divisive conflicts on the American landscape.

The terminology used to discuss the issue has been crucial. Initially the terms pro-abortion and anti-abortion were used by the media to discuss the positions of the opposing sides. However, each side sought to use more positive images to package their viewpoints. Those supporting abortion rights favored the term pro-choice in support of a woman's right to control her body. Those opposed to abortion favored the term pro-life in support of the rights of the unborn child. 1.

The positions are emotional extremes with little room for compromise. The nation became torn and continues to be divided. In a 2003 Gallup survey, 47 percent of adults claimed to be pro-choice, while 46 percent claimed pro-life. 2.

SOCIAL PRESSURES TO ABORT

Since the legalization of abortion in the United States the pressures not to abort have been replaced by a multitude of social pressures encouraging abortion.
Industrialized countries now favor lower fertility. A woman may be discouraged from bearing a child by family or friends. Increasing data document that in many cases the choice to abort was not made by the woman but was forced upon her.

The Elliott Institute catalogs and examines the after effects of abortion, focusing on stress experienced by women. They report, "Pressures to abort can come from husbands, parents, doctors, partners, counselors or close friends and family. They may threaten or blackmail a woman into abortion...Coercion can escalate into violence." 3.

An abortion security guard testified that women "were routinely threatened and abused by the boyfriends or husbands who took them to the clinics to make sure they underwent their scheduled abortions. 4.

Research by Rue et. al. studied the relationship between induced aborton and traumatic stress. In a study of 548 women (331 Russian and 217 American) they noted that 64% of women who aborted felt pressured by others; 54% were unsure of their decisions; 67% received no counseling beforehand; 87% received inadequate counseling; 79% were not told about alternatives; 31% had health complication afterwards; and 65% of the American woman suffered multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorders with 14% meeting all of the diagnostic criteria for post traumatic stress disorder. 5.

THE POLITICAL PROCESS UNFOLDS

Because abortion is intimately related to the value and meaning of human life and family, the disputes became acrimonious. A struggle ensured for political control over circumstances under which an abortion could be obtained. States became active in seeking to manage and control the circumstances surrounding abortion.

States Limit Abortion Practices

In January of 2009, the pro-choice Alan Guttmacher Institute summarized the laws that had been passed by states "limiting whether, when and under what circumstances a woman may obtain an abortion". 6.

*38 states require an abortion to be performed by a licensed physician.

*36 states prohibit abortion after a specified point in pregnancy, most often fetal viability, except to protect a woman's life or health.

* 14 states prohibit 'partial-birth' abortion.

* 32 states and the District of Columbia prohibit the use of state funds for abortion.

* 4 states restrict coverage of abortion in private insurance plans.

* 46 states allow individual health care providers to refuse to participate in abortion.

* 43 states allow institutions to refuse to perform abortions.

* 17 states mandate that women be counseled in regard to the purported link between abortion and breast cancer (6 states), the ability of the fetus to feel pain (8 states), mental health consequences (7 states) or the availability of ultrasound (6 states)

* 24 states require that a woman wait a specified period of time, usually 24 hours, between counseling and procedure.

* 34 states require parental involvement in a minor's decision to abort. 22 states require one or both parents to consent, while 10 require that one or both be notified.

Federal Protection for the Unborn/Born Alive Child

* The Born Alive Infant Protection Act, enacted into law in 2002, states that any baby born alive is legally a person and entitled to medical care. Failure to provide it is a crime.

* The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, enacted into law in 2003, prohibits a late-term abortion called partial-birth abortion.

* The Unborn Victims of Violence Act ,enacted into law in 2004, was the first recognition of federal legal rights for an embryo or fetus as a person separate from the woman. This Act made it a separate federal crime to harm a fetus during and assault on the mother.

THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT (FOCA)

This Bill was introduced in April of 2007 but failed to be reported to a committee.
The Freedom of Choice Act "declares that it is the policy of the United States that every woman has the fundamental right to choose to bear a child; terminate a pregnancy prior to fetal viability; or terminate a pregnancy after viability when necessary to protect her life or her health. It prohibits a federal, state, or local governmental entity from denying or interfering with a woman's right to exercise such choices..."

The Freedom of Choice Act was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer and co-sponsored by 19 co-sponsors, including then Senator Barack Obama.

On July 17, 2007, Senator Obama spoke to the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. He said, "The first thing I'd do as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act." 7.

In discussing the Freedom of Choice Act, Brad Mattes, executive director of Life Issues Institute, said, FOCA "is a dangerous bill that President Barack Obama has promised to sign...FOCA... would kick to the curb every protective law that has been passed by Congress, state legislatures, or local communities." 8.

MORAL AND LEGAL AMBIGUITY

When does life begin and who should decide? Legal and moral ramifications lie at the core of decisions about abortion. Women, especially young women, are left in a state of ambiguous concern as to the value of the life of their developing child.

Although abortion became legal in the United States in 1973, Time magazine reported in January of 2003 that "53% of women between ages of 18 through 39 say they consider abortion an act of murder." Results of a TIME/CNN poll reported that 60% of 1,010 adult Americans agreed that it is "too easy for women today to get an abortion." 9.

The Alan Guttmacher Institute, Planned Parenthood's research affiliate, reported that since 1973 the total abortions in the U.S.through 2007 exceeded 49 million, 550 thousand.10.

The Freedom of Choice Act would create extreme and divisive moral confusion in our country.
A "NO" vote to FOCA is the wisest choice.



REFERENCES:1.
Craig, Barbara Hinkson and David M. O'Brien. 1993. Abortion and American Politics. Chatham House:Chatham, New Jersey.
2. Pisano, Marina. "Roe v. Wade at 30". San Antonio Express News. Jan. 20, 2003:1A.
3. Elliott Institute. After Abortion.org. Facts Sheets & Healing: The unChoice.com. 2/3/2009.
4. McQuarrie, Brian. "Guard, clinic at odds at abortion hearing." Boston Globe, April16, 1999.
5. Elliott Institute. After Abortion.org. Facts Sheets & Healing:The UnChoice.com.
Rue, V.M., P.K. Coleman, J.J. Rue, and D. C. Reardon. "Induced abortion and traumatic stress: a preliminary comparison of American and Russian Women." Medical Science Monitor. Sept. 23, 2004. Oc:10(10):SR5-16. E-pub.
6. Guttmacher Institute. "State Policies in Brief:An Overview of Abortion Laws".
www.guttmacher.org. January 1, 2009.
7. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Jan. 30, 2009. "Freedom of Choice Act."
http://wn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_Choice_Act.
8.Butts, Charlie. Jan. 28, 2009. "The fight against FOCA begins."
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Printer.aspx?id-399060.
9. Tumulty, Karen and Viveca Novak. January 27, 2003. "Under the Radar-Thirty years after Roe v. Wade." Time. Vol. 161. No. 3:38-41.
10. National Right to Life. http://www.nrlc.org/ABORTION/facts/abortionstats.html.
2/2/2009.

Tragic Statistics! Wake up and smell the coffee!

On March 11, 2008 researchers at the federal Center for Disease Control announced that 1 in 4 teen girls has at least one sexually transmitted diseases (STD's). The virus that causes cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus, was the most common, affecting 18% of the 838 girls studied. Chlamydia, the second most common, affecting 4% of the sample, can cause infertility. Nearly half of black teens had one or more STD's, while 20% of white and Mexican American teens were affected. 1.

Sexual temptation is ripping the soul out of our American culture, our children's lives, and our families. As we are bombarded with sexual images, our culture is giving us a license to lust. Little is being said about the tragic consequences of behaviors once considered immoral, even sinful.

Casual sexual behaviors presented as acceptable by Hollywood, television, the press and even our universities and schools have become the dominant force in our society. Young people are being drawn into early and promiscuous sexual relationships.

CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING TRAGIC STATISTICS

Abortions:
In the wake of Roe v. Wade in 1973 more than 45 million abortions were performed in the United States by the year 2000. 2.
81% of abortions are to unmarried women
52% are to women younger than 25 years of age
19% are to teens

Out-of-wedlock births:
In 1960, 4% of births were to unmarried women. By 2005 out-of-wedlock births accounted for 37% of the babies born in the United States. 3.

Fatherless homes:
40% or more of children are being raised without a father present in the home. Fatherhood is the most socializing and civilizing role for men. With the increase in out-of-wedlock childbirth and the increase in divorce many men are being left out of this important social function. 4.

Deterioration of child well-being:
Key indicators point toward the deterioration of child well-being, including: rates of delinquency and crime; suicide; depresssion; growing number of children in poverty; and drug and alcohol abuse. The most fundamental factor contributing to the deteriorating well-being of children is the weakening of marriage as an institution. 5.

An epidemic of sexually trasmitted diseases has resulted from the increasing prevalence of casual and non-monogamous sexual behaviors.

3 million new cases of chlamydia occur annually in the U.S. Usually occurring without symptoms, chlamydia can lead to infertility, tubal pregnancies and increased risk of HIV infections. 6.

5.5 million people become infected with the human papilloma virus each year. Cervical cancer, penile cancer and anal cancer are attributed to this virus. 7.

Gonorrhea is the 2nd most commonly reported STD in the U.S. Gonorrhea rates for 15-19 year old women are the highest rates compared to other age or sex groups. These infections are a major cause of pelvic inflammatory disease which can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and chronic pelvic pain. 8.

Syphilis rates in the U.S. that had significantly decreased in the 1990's, increased between 2001 and 2006, primarily among men. Syphilis rates attributed to men having sex with men increased from 4% in 2000 to 62% in 2004. 9.
7
By 1998 AIDS was the fifth leading cause of death for people ages 25-44.
The first cases were reported in the U.S. in 1981 in the homosexual community. 77% of those affected with AIDS are male. Bisexual behaviors have transferred the disease to the heterosexual community. 10.
The cumulative estimated deaths of persons with AIDS in the U.S. in 2005 was 530,307.

A male teen entering the homosexual lifestyle today has a 50% chance of getting AIDS by the age of fifty. 11.

Shame On Us!

Our parents and grandparents would have made a public outcry to the sexual portrayals assaulting us. Today we are silent!
Our silence and failure to challenge destructive behaviors provide no defense or support for young people that could help them protect their sexuality for a loving family.
Shame on us!


References:

1. The Associated Press. Tuesday, March 11, 2008.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23574940/print/1/displaymode/1098.
2. Center for Disease Control - Abortion Surveillance - US, 2000.
3. Associated Press. Nov. 21, 2006. MSNBC.com
4. David Blankenhorn. Fatherlessless in America. NY:Harper Perennial. 1996.
5. Marriage in America: A Report to the Nation. Council on Families. 1995.
6. Center for Disease Control. STD Prevention Press release. Dec. 5, 2000.
7. Ibid
8 . Center for Disease Control. STD Surveillance 2006. http.www.cdc.gov/STD/stats/syphilis.htm. Jan 2,
2008
9. Ibid
10. Center for Disease Control, April 2004; June 28, 2007.
11. Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "Gay Culture" : NYTimes 23, 1997, section 4, page 1.