“We are a guinea-pig generation for an experiment in mass debasement that few of us would ever have consented to, and whose full nefarious impact may not be known for years. The march of technology is irreversible, and we aren’t so naïve as to believe that any kind of imposed regulation could ever reseal the Pandora’s box of pornography.”
Those are pretty hifalutin words, but the last line makes clear that the complaint is against pornography, which does indeed debase people. Since the 1950s, this culture has been bombarded by wave after wave of pornography in its various formats. It began with slick magazines, moved into the genre of movies which became available to watch (and still is) on cable stations (also videocassettes, books, DVDs, and online). Some would not agree, but pornography is a “dead-end outlet for people too lazy to reap the ample rewards of healthy sexuality.” Certainly, the statements quoted are accurate, but it is surprising that they come from Pamela Anderson Lee.
Does that name sound familiar? It might. She appeared on the television series, Baywatch, from 1992-97. Yes, she is an ex-Playboy model and no stranger to nudity or sex tapes. So, it is interesting that she has now concluded that at age 49 much of what she has devoted herself to is unhealthy for the public. Lest the reader think that she has been busy earning a Ph.D., however, she does have a co-writer for this Wall Street Journal column—a rabbi named Shmuley Boteach (no, I didn’t make that up). Presumably, much of the verbiage is his, although both agreed with the final product.
No one could argue successfully against the fact that viewing pornography is an exercise in dehumanizing men and women. God created us in His image (Gen. 1:26-28). Yet many in society want to exalt the human body. Within 100 years, the design of the swimsuit for women went from nearly total coverage to nearly total exposure. The girly magazines with their centerfolds went further, but then the floodgates were opened with various movies depicting various aspects of intimacy. Although the lust of the flesh offers a strong appeal to many, it will not encourage anyone to be pure in heart. The sin (Matt. 5:27-28) may not be irreversible for everyone, but a few are already on record as having gone past the point of no return. The use of pornography will ruin homes, healthy relationships between males and females, and (most importantly) one’s relationship with God. We wish Pamela Anderson Lee success in her efforts to combat this evil influence on society.