During a recent visit to our public library I was treated to a remarkable spectacle that illustrates how one can remain illiterate while surrounded by books. While navigating amongst the bookshelves in the library I observed three boys, perhaps 13 to 15 years old, huddled around a library supplied laptop computer in the reference section.
Curious about what could render three adolescent boys motionless for so long I walked over until I could clearly see that they were watching a video showing a woman performing oral sex on some guy. Cartoons and comics always depict boys watching pornographic images with a wide eyed stare; and I am here to tell you it is real. They were truly spellbound by the visual candy in front of them and oblivious to the rest of the world. The slack jaw on the youngest boy suggests that his more experienced and learned friends were providing him with an important part of his education. When he starts dating we certainly know what will be on his mind all evening.
When I mentioned this to the librarian while checking out my books she reacted as if I had told her that no one had dusted the windowsills recently. She said something about it being the parents’ responsibility, that there wasn’t anything they could really do, and besides, and here it comes, it is protected by the first amendment. Can you imagine James Madison, pen in hand, facing Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin and asking, “Do you think we need a new amendment to protect pornography or do you think the first amendment pretty much covers it?”
You can’t help but wonder how adult men sworn to uphold the Constitution can give their seal of approval to McCain-Feingold, the type of law the first amendment was specifically designed to prevent, and still maintain a straight face as they justify their ruling that pornography, including virtual child pornography, deserves protection under the first amendment. If I sat on the Supreme Court and faced a case involving pornography I would point to the tenth amendment and throw the lawyers out of my court room.
As an aside even though I find flag burning to be far more offensive than pornography, I believe it is protected by the first amendment since it is a political statement. If someone is so passionate in their hatred of America that they feel a need to desecrate its flag they may do so without government interference. This can be a topic for another day; so let me get back to the original subject.
Within a week of this event the local newspaper carried a story about a teenage girl being inappropriately touched by a boy in the library. Now where do boys get such ideas? Parents would be wise to take note of how their children improve their minds in public libraries that give unlimited access to the internet. Most parents would probably agree that this is not the best utilization of library resources.
Given that pornography websites are notorious for carrying malware, it doesn't seem unreasonable for the library to block such sites since ultimately the taxpayer will be responsible for the cost of restoring a compromised system. If anyone feels the need for entertaining themselves with pornography they should do it on their own system and not a publicly funded one.
3 comments:
I think it's fabulous idea! It's gotten to the point where I only take Violet to the library during school hours because I know the other kids won't be there yet. They have no where else to hang out, so they clump up at the library and cause trouble.
I too have seen these losers hanging out in front of the library and inside it as well. Loud and obnoxious, these people are keeping other people out of the library who would be using it for its intended purpose. I say ditch the free internet or put right out in the open instead of tucked into a dark corner.
I spoke with the person in charge of the library and apparently the librarian on duty at the time of the incident was wrong. Library policy forbids minors from accessing adult material and it turns out it is against the rules to have more than 2 persons on one computer. The library is being very cooperative and I think the problem is largely resolved.
As for the dirtbags that use the library as a hang out, that will have to be addressed separately.
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