NO COINCIDENCE IN RISE OF PORN VIEWING AND SPIKE IN SEXUAL OFFENCES
THERE IS A DEFINITE LINK. WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE IT
Latest ratings show Fijians are accessing pornographic websites more than other local websites.
Pornography is working like a stealth bomber in our midst.
It is playing a destructive role in individual lives, relationships and families.
It is one of the major factors linked to the rise in rape and sexual offences which have become prevalent in Fiji.
It has penetrated the inner sanctums of our living rooms and private lives.
Pornography is easily accessible where internet is available and there is a smart phone, at home, at school, at sea and in the plantation – in fact anywhere.
Because of its pervasive and addictive influence it is destroying lives, relationships and families. The plethora of rape and sexual offence cases that come before the courts and highlighted in the monthly statistical report released by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions gives us a depressing picture.
It is distressing to say the least that victims of rape and sexual violence include children and the perpetrators are members of the family, in some cases their fathers. We need to ask the question: What is happening to our society?
What can we do to address this problem and save our people from a life of misery?
First we need to recognise that pornography is causing havoc out there.
It is not hard to believe this when we see the website ratings by SimilarWeb, an international group that monitors websites’ popularity. The porn websites rank high.
The ranking (in the fact box) shows what websites Fijians are accessing the most.
It is worrying to see the increasing interest in the three porn sites. They can be accessed, with a smart phone and internet, at school and at home by young people.
Data is not available to show the age breakdown, but it can be reasonably assumed that young people are viewing them because of their accessibility.
There are enough information and anecdotal evidence from many studies that show that pornography is evil.
From a religious perspective, ‘Satan’ or the ‘Adversary’ or the ‘Devil’ uses pornography to destroy people, marriages and families. Pornography camouflages itself as a form of entertainment for people looking for love. That’s what it does in the short term.
It grabs people searching for instant self gratification. It is lust, not love. Lust is only physical and temporary. It precedes misery. Love is both physical, emotional, enduring and it lasts forever.
Pornography gives people unrealistic sexual fantasies and expectations that can spur them to rape a woman and a child.
In a religious sense, when people are addicted to it, they surrender their self-control to the Devil who wants them to be miserable like him.
They lose all sense of human decency, respect and dignity.
Studies show it affects every aspect of their lives.
They become withdrawn, lose their self-esteem, negatively affecting their performance at work and in their homes.
Over time it puts a strain on family relationships and eventually can lead to marriage and family breakup.
Some people turn to pornography out of curiosity because they want to know what it contains. They say there is nothing wrong with trying to find out.
For the young people it may be a natural thing to do because they are exploring life and learning.
But they are walking into a trap when they access a porn website.
At first images may titillate the mind, but it’s that first impression that sticks and can easily suck people into this evil.
A safe advice for young and old is to stay away from any material that promotes pornography and glorifies sex as part of a global empire of pornographic business.
TOMORROW: A collaborative effort is needed to effectively address the increasing incidence of rape and other sexual offences