When the Homily is about Immunology

Corporate America and Pornography

A good friend of mine forwarded me a post from some Orthodox Forum in which someone was ranting about "Corporate America" especially in regards to the new Paris Hilton / Carl's Jr. commercial (yeehaaww...that'll get me some hits!) Using it as an example, the author of the post goes on to slam the Religious Right for supporting politicians who support "Corporate America" and says that given our culture's sinful decadence that if we continue in this direction then we "deserve to fall to the Islamists." (Citing that at least the Islmaists wouldn't allow Paris Hilton's commercial)

Ahem...wow...okay, ummm they'd not just disallow it, they'd kill Paris Hilton...not that I'd miss her, but jeez let's be realistic here.

How does this tie in to pornography? Well the Religious Left (RL) is often slamming the Religious Right (RR) for their seemingly insatiable thirst to focus on things like drugs and pornography as being the bane of our culture. The RL argues that trying to fight drugs and porn is missing the point: the real issue is the state of the human soul (or in some cases for those who are particularly liberal in the RL the issue is the economic state of the individual person or whatever other sociological need that is perceived as not being met). Regardless of the details, the RL sees the pet issues of the RR as being symptoms to the greater problem. The drug and porn industry are simply catering to what society is hungry for and we need to figure out why our tastes are leaning in that direction.

And you know what, they are right. But you know what else?

The RL, in similar fashion to the RR, LOVE to blame "Corporate America" for many (maybe all) of our society's woes and I am really having a hard time seeing how this is different from what the RR is doing to Pornography and Drugs (and perhaps abortion as well?).

Anyway, here is my reponse to my friend's forwarded email:

Corporate America is merely a symptom. Focusing and blaming them is missing the
point.

I am the one they are catering to, and I am the one who placed the order for
what they are serving me.

At least with them, I can afford to be a Christian....I'm not sure I could
afford the Islamist Jizyah. You see with corporate America I can chose at any
moment to stop paying them my jizyah and I can chose at any moment to stop being
their dhimmi....I doubt Islamists would afford me the same freedom.

In the end: porn, drugs, and corporate exploits are all serving to fulfill my perceived needs. I just need to stop perceiving that I need them. So...before we start slamming the RR or the RL, take a look and make sure you don't have a beam in your own eye.

Honestly, I am hoping that once I get my beam out, I can save some money and use it as a part of my ongoing remodel project.