Porn Isn’t The Problem
‘DStv mulls porn channel’ – The Namibian 9 March 2009, and our “shocked” Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Marlene Mungunda claims that if porn was allowed in our country that it would contribute to (amongst other things) drug abuse.
How?
What does drug abuse and porn have to do with each other? She further goes on to say that it would add to the increase of HIV-AIDS issue and teenage pregnancies. Again how? She then goes on to say it could contribute to prostitution. Sorry Ms Mungunda, prostitution is a commercial enterprise and operates on a simple basis of supply and demand, remember it is also the second oldest profession.
It is the message regarding these often sensitive issues that is being sent that is the contributor. For example, over Valentines weekend a leading financial services company published an advert in the print media with the catch line “Happy Valentines Day. Use a Condom”, if ever there was an irresponsible or a negligent message being sent out this is it – a direct promotion of promiscuity.
Back to the porn channel debate, there is not a shred of definitive research that can substantiate that any form of entertainment media (movie or film) contributes to violence, increased crime or other immoral acts. If this was the case, then I think we should ban horror movies as well, as they contribute to the increased murder rate in Namibia. Have a look at the amount of so-called romantic/girly movies, if there was any ounce of truth in it, then we should be a nation of rabbits! We do not hear any resistance to these type of films and frankly horrors and porn belong in the same category. In fact it is well known that psychologists and sexologists (yes there are such people) actually promote the use of porn as a treatment measure in marriages when intimacy has been lost.
Reverend Maria Kapere claims there is already a social degradation amongst the youth, maybe Kapere has not realised it yet, but this life of ours is ever evolving and new challenges are being tossed at us daily, it is how we deal with them that makes the difference. She furthers says that Namibians are “still very conservative”, it is this attitude and belief that leads to believing that Namibians are isolated or should be mollycoddled from the horrors of the world. Kapere will be surprised that many Namibians are open-minded and do not walk around with blinkers on. She makes reference to where porn is available in other countries it has lead to problems, she has no qualified evidence to make such generalist statements.
Let me add to the horrors of porn: use an internet search engine such as Google or Yahoo, in the search bar type in “naked”, “sex” or “blowjob” this exercise will give you access to more porn than most people will be able to consume which includes 2 Namibian porn websites! Please do not be fooled that kids do not have access to porn through this medium, they probably know more about it than most adults.
If DSTV intends to launch a porn channel based on international models, rest easy, access to it is a lot stricter than that of internet porn. If people spent as much time as they do shooting down the concept of a porn channel in developing their relationship with their children, it would be better. It is easier to say (on smoking for example) “you-will-not-smoke”, that’s it, no explanation, nothing! Does this all sound familiar - the forbidden apple comes to mind. The energy should be taken to explain to children the consequences of certain actions such as smoking, drinking even taking drugs along the lines you will be arrested if you indulge, it is the same with porn, and for that matter sex and if we follow Ms Kapere’s advice this is not being discussed in the average home. Porn is adult entertainment (and so is smoking and drinking) and entrainment can often be a moral issue. It is a matter of choice. If children are equipped with the correct knowledge then they will grow up with the armour to make secure and confident choices once they are adults.
Pro-Porn
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