I am an environmentalist. I am not talking about the greenhouse effect, whales,
black-footed ferrets, ozone holes, spotted owls, amazon forests, wetlands, pesticides or
biodiversity. Nope. We have other threats greater than those to deal with.
Tobacco. By any standard, the biggest pollutant and threat to human life is tobacco
that is inhaled into sensitive lungs. Tobacco use accounts for more deaths than homicide,
suicide, fires, car accidents, alcohol, heroine, cocaine, meth, and AIDS combined. Even
second hand smoke adds to the grisly total.
Practically no new smokers are recruited as adults. A reduction of tobacco use by teens
has happened because effective media campaigns and public education has changed
perceptions of tobacco as being "cool". Unfortunately Hollywood is indifferent
or promotes smoking by having its heroes and heroines puffing away.
Sexual promiscuity and premarital relationships. Tobacco may not be the biggest
environmental threat to human life and happiness. There is a new form of pollution: the
depiction of private sexual acts and the divorcing of sexual relations from values of
bonding, trust and commitment in marital relationships through mass communication.
The depiction of promiscuous sexuality is taking an unprecedented toll. AIDS and other
sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancies and weakened bonds of commitment after
marriage are the results. Teen willingness to engage in premarital sexual behavior comes
at a time before they are emotionally mature and able to assume responsibility for their
sexual behavior.
Notions about premarital sex being wrong, immoral and misguided have been overwhelmed
by the sexual revolution and attitudes suggesting that no harm is being done.
The challenges to health and well-being of American's youth are not primarily rooted in
illness or economics but in life inhibiting and life threatening risks. The problem is
self-destructive behavior - drinking, drugs, violence, promiscuity. This is a crisis of
behavior and beliefs, a crisis of character.
Our society does send out messages against AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
However, at the same time, our youth is bombarded with thousands and thousands of images,
depictions, innuendos, and messages of sex.
Visions of sex. Movies, TV, videos, magazines, the Internet, music lyrics and
advertisements are increasingly explicit in portraying graphic sexual activity. Sex sells.
Advertisers and producers of media products continually push the limits of decency. There
are practically no limits. You see things in PG and PG-13 movies that would surely have
carried an R rating just a few years back. Go back a few more years and they wouldn't have
been shown at all.
These scenes are meant to have an impact. Advertisers wouldn't pay good money if they
didn't get results. It appears so glamorous, so adult, and it sells so many tickets. The
sexuality portrayed is seen as "normal" entertainment. What is shown to be
commonplace becomes commonplace.
How much exposure to sexual images is sufficient before valid and meaningful expression
of sexuality becomes distorted? In the absence of strong moral values and teachings, what
chance do teens have for learning restraint in sexual behavior? Is there any wonder why
our teens are sexually precocious? Someday we'll wake up and discover we put a whole
generation through a form of electronic sexual abuse.
Adults are enticed by sexual images. It is easy to pretend that our children are not
affected. Not enough people are interested in reigning in the rampant exploitation and
degradation of the minds and souls of human beings. If we would have had a moral pollution
index that kept track of the amount and type of exposure of sexual scenes in the popular
media since 1970, the numbers would jump off the chart.
Impact on relationships. Sexual relations is a "private" act in the
context of a marital relationship. Healthy sexuality doesn't need voyeuristic depictions
of lovemaking to be satisfyingly expressed.
The sexual preoccupation and obsession of our society doesn't contribute to better
relationships.
In fact, the use of pornography creates fantasies that may not measure up to reality
and leads to dissatisfaction.
Showing graphic sexual scenes between unmarried couples devoid of commitment and love
debases and trivializes the act that can mean much to marital happiness. The explosion of
unmarried couples living together sets a poor foundation for marriage if their
relationship makes it that far.
Taking action. An ecological perspective suggests that we need a holistic, long
range understanding between actions and events so we can avoid the unforeseen and
unintended consequences to life by short-sighted specialized interests. We need to apply
this perspective to our moral environment before it becomes so polluted that it is unsafe
for our children and their normal development.
It is pollution! It is pollution of sexuality! It is pollution of values! It is
pollution of society! It is time to take advertisers and producers of media products to
task for the gratuitous use of sex scenes that abuse children and young people.
Legislation doesn’t provide much relief. Education and consumer boycotting can get
results. If you see an objectionable ad, complain. Vote with your pocket book and viewing
habits. Don’t aid and abet exploitative interests who appeal to our baser instincts
and mesmerize us into standing by and letting innocent children become sexualized by an
uncaring and value-free culture.