The US can learn from the UK on this one

Well, it’s Christmas and, like you, I’m often looking for good ideas for gift giving… especially for kids. Gift giving gets pretty difficult as the years build up on you. When my wife asks, “What do you want for Christmas?” I really struggle as to what to say. I have no idea. I don’t need any particular thing and when you get to be my age what you really want is way too much money. So, what can you say? It’s just as challenging when trying to figure out what to give.

Well, I recently received a link to a story from a friend. The headline thrilled me because of the subject. I identified it right away as a great Christmas gift—a different kind of gift, but a gift just the same—especially for kids. The headline read: “Plan to block all online Porn.” It immediately caught my attention. One of the frustrations of the internet is the easy availability of porn. It has been a dangerous blight and has captured plenty of full grown men in its trap. So, when I saw the link I followed it.

Imagine my disappointment when I found the article (see http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/all-internet-porn-will-be-blocked-to-protect-children-under-uk-government-plan/story-e6frfkui-1225973481287), and realized it was in the UK, not the US. Well, of course not. What was I thinking? Why would the country or purveyor of 80% of all internet porn think to make the internet safer for our children? You see, we can’t compromise the astounding amount of money to be made.

I know the argument; it’s the parent’s responsibility to teach their kids about the dangers of porn and also to provide safety nets on their own home computers. Pornographers don’t bear any responsibility for the welfare of US kids, just their own welfare. Besides they have a 1st amendment right to muddy the morality of our youth and eventually our country.

Well, the last time I looked at the Constitution, there was more there than just the 1st amendment. I wonder what pornographers can do to help “form a more perfect Union,” or “insure domestic Tranquility”? Or what do they think it means to “promote the general Welfare” … “to ourselves and our Posterity”? Wouldn’t it be nice if the world of porn policed itself and willingly contributed to the safety of our children? Now that’s a real gift they could give. It may not be a gift that brings them more wealth, but it might help America maintain a moral people in whose hands the Constitution would be held inviolate. In that way we all benefit.

Since the Revolutionary War, there hasn’t been much America has jealously wanted from the UK. Well, maybe this is one thing to jealously desire. We also need to find a way to block internet porn to protect our kids. Let’s make the internet less dangerous for them. Though I don’t appreciate the porn world as some do, I don’t suggest blocking it from everyone. With all of the technology out there, I’m certain there is a way to conveniently make the internet safer for families without compromising access for those who want it. I have a feeling it could easily be resolved if the pornographers were willing to unselfishly give a gift. Come on, it’s Christmas, give a gift to America’s kids.