namerica13

Children deserve a childhood that includes a period of innocence - a protected
space. We're not protecting our children when we allow them to be used for the
monetary gain or sexual gratification of adults. Ervin Duggan, President of PBS

Tragically, children, the most vulnerable of our population are those most at risk
from sexual exploitation. Using children as sexual commodities has become a
global growth industry. In our own country, even provocative advertisements that
sexualize children are symptoms of what has become a disturbing trend. Children
have become fair game in our sexually saturated society. When we sexualize
children, a daunting descent is begun that puts us on the path of seeing them in
a sexual way. Surely our culture is progressive enough to see the consequences
of this process of desensitization.
This article will briefly explore some of the Canadian laws, studies, and court
cases that deal with child sexual exploitation.
Many of the laws dealing with this problem are effective. However, too frequently
the laws are not enforced, or when they are, charges are often dismissed in
court. Sometimes a loop-hole in the law or the use of the Charter of Rights results
in someone who admits guilt being given a light or even no sentence at all. This
may be because we live in a very sexually charged society. The limits or "line in
the sand" are always being moved. In fact, our children constitute one of the
newest sexual frontiers.
For example, in May 1996, Chateau Mouton Rothchild brought forth a wine label
with a drawing of a nude, reclining, pre-adolescent girl. A big debate followed -
was the label obscene, or was it art? In California, the label could not be used. A
LCBO spokesperson defended the label by stating that that province's moral and
artistic climate is more tolerant - "what the heck, this is the 20th century. Let's go
ahead with it." (Globe and Mail, May 2, 1996) Rothchild's press release stated "the
fragile and mysterious girl seems to hint at some secret promise, a pleasure to be
shared." A spokesman for the advertising company stated "the agency is trying to
be current with today's attitudes." (Saveur Fare, No. 12, p.2) The statements,
along with the picture of a sexually provocative female child left no doubt about
the double entendre that was intended by clever profit driven advertisers. There
are numerous
There are numerous “jean” billboards and magazine ads of young adolescents.
The question often asked is “What product is being sold?” Calvin Klein answered
that very question when he said, “Sex will sell my jeans.” The fragrance
companies have copied his style. Have you noticed how often these ads portray
young children with adults in a very suggestive relationship? This in no way says
that love and affection are not extremely important in families. In fact, without
love and affection, families fail. However these ads could easily be interpreted
as exploitive relationships with children.
In 1996, members of the Ontario Film Review Board stated at their annual
luncheon meeting that they would never approve films depicting sex with
children. That is no longer their policy. Often these very films that would have
been considered illegal a few years ago are now acclaimed as award winning
productions.
EXOTICA - (Canadian) Was given the International Critic’s prize at the 1994
Cannes Film Festival. Toronto director, Atom Egoyan, told the press “I’m totally
aware ... that presenting a stripper as a 14 year old schoolgirl is a very
transgressive image ... I’m going to be very careful of not using that image
outside the context of the film. It’s not going to appear in publicity stills or on the
(advertising) posters.” (Toronto Star, May 15, 1994)

KIDS - (Miramax Disney) The story of violence, drugs and sex and a 17 year old
who calls himself a “virgin surgeon”. His victims are as young as 12 years old. The
Ontario Film Review Board gave Kids an AA14 rating, after Alliance Releasing won
an appeal that changed the original “Restricted” rating to AA14.

As the media champions’ free speech, it also supports many sexual fetishes. One
of the most blatant offenses was a Globe and Mail article, September 4, 1997 titled
“The untold story of children and sex” which supported and encouraged sex with
children.
The arrival of Howard Stern on Canadian radio is a prime example of how far the
line in the sand has moved. There is not a sexual deviancy that he has not
promoted. Many of these included sex with minors and bestiality. His program is
very popular with teenagers and young adults. It is their newest sex education
course. The C.R.T.C. has refused to do anything to remove Howard Stern. In fact,
they have stated they are not even monitoring his program. With our regulators
ignoring the likes of Howard Stern, the message is that he is okay, and his
comments must be correct and legal. It could be said the newest guideline is “if
something is popular, it must be good.”
As long as popular culture supports and encourages sexual deviancy, Canadian
children are at risk. Those who make, enforce and interpret the laws are
influenced by the culture they live in -- we all are!
The task of protecting children from those who would sexually exploit them is an
enormous one. But it is a task that must be done.
REMEMBER, INDIFFERENCE TO EVIL STRENGTHENS EVIL.