Polemic on pornography

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Wed, 04/19/2006 10:18 AM  |  Opinion

In spite of my decision to not give the furor for and against pornoist as any serious consideration (as it deserves so little), I do have two questions that someone might be able to answer for me.

I am curious as to why pornography has remained the subject of such polemics, given its relative insignificance.

As a developing nation, are there not more pressing issues that people could more constructively focus their attention on? Just off the top of my head, those include poverty eradication, infant mortality rates, malnutrition, institutionalized racism, healthcare, education, climate change, the price of fish or pretty much anything else.

It is baffling to see so many people distracted so easily, and it speaks volumes of the ability of the few to manipulate the many. One can only hope that the people are one day able to see past the series of ruses presented to them, to the perhaps more pressing issues that need to be dealt with. When, if ever, can we expect this to happen?

ROSS GULLIVER
Denpasar, Bali

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