 Yes, you read that right. To be clear... I'm not into porn and I love the Fourth of July. Now... let me explain. I had to return something to K-Mart. I saw something in the parking lot that made me wonder; What do I believe? I love this time of year... when the school year ends and summer begins. Here in Oregon the firework stands start popping up around town at the end of June. They stay up until closing on the Fourth of July and you can't buy fireworks anywhere in the state until the next year rolls around. Fireworks have changed a great deal over time. You can't get anything... legal that is... that flies in the air anymore. Pretty much all that's left are smoke bombs, sparklers, colorful cones and Piccolo Petes. I can't believe they still sell Ground Bloom Flowers. In 1979 I watched one one of those bounce into a neighbor girl's chest. It just sat there and spun. It was horrifying and she was badly burned. Even now I hate it when I see kids lighting those things off. Aside from that, everything has seemingly become more safe and sane. I thought that until today. As I left the K-mart lot I noticed a fireworks stand... it's actually a big tent... like what you'd see at a wedding reception. My heart skipped a beat with excitement until I realized they were set up in the parking lot of a huge Adult Shop. Not cool. How will parents of kids old enough to read explain that? I know the Fourth of July is about; freedom, liberty, human rights, patriotism and I am truly proud to be an American. I know that as a country we make mistakes... we're too big not to. I do believe in and stand by my own rights as an American and would stand up for the rights of others if I felt called to do so. That said, at the risk of sounding like a hypocrite... I just don't feel that way about pornography. My heart tells me that at the basis of porn are men and women who sell themselves short. They give away what is precious and holy in the sight of God... sometimes over and over again. And that isn't the half of it. There are levels of porn that go far beyond what I have chosen to talk about in this little blog and it only gets worse from there. When I saw a symbol of our country's most celebrated holiday set up in front of an Adult Shop I felt disappointed. As families parked and children ran toward the tent I didn't feel like shouting Hurray! let freedom ring! I just felt sad and a little angry. I'm not a prude and if you know me you know that about me... but some things are just meant to be held sacred and the love between consenting adults falls into that category for me. Congratulations Mr. Flint. You got what you wanted... but at what cost? Father Tim Mockaitis talked at church today about standing up and speaking out for what we believe to be right. Wow... I think I just did. Check out Fr. Tim's Blog if you like at http://www.frommysideofthealtar.blogspot.com/ 
16 Comments
salem resident
6/24/2012 02:26:04 pm
Your a hypocrite.
shawn berkau
6/24/2012 02:57:59 pm
I know Julie very well, and I can say without a doubt, she is not a hypocrite. In fact, Julie Hoy is a person who loves unconditionally and cares endlessly about other people. Julie would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it, and it doesn't matter who you are or what you choose to believe in or stand for.
Jason Carter
6/25/2012 03:06:48 am
Well put Shawn....I second that. Anyone who knows Julie can tell you that she's the real deal. She think of others first, has a boat load of integrity and defines what a true friend is. The "salem resident" above obviously doesn't know her, and is probably a real jack ass.
Christina Baublitz
6/25/2012 03:34:23 am
You are right about one thing. The fourth of July is meant to celebrate our freedom. That being said, everyone has the same freedoms. Even you have the freedom to print something like this where everyone can see it, and not be forced to take it down. I, personally, have no problem with pornography. The men and women who make porn, and who star in it are doing so to make money, which is why anyone gets a job. To make money to support themselves and possibly a family. Now, would I go into the porn industry? No, because it isn't for me. Do I condemn those that do? No, because it is their right as an American citizen to decide for themselves how they will spend their time, and how they make their money. The basis of porn is sex. Plain and simple. These people probably enjoy their jobs, which is more than I can say for most people now a a days who take any job they can because the economy has gone down the toilet. The only problem I have with you standing up for what you believe to be right is this: Religion and state have had a divorce a very long time ago. And to push your own beliefs and 'morals' onto other people is not what this country is about. It may seem that way to you, but two (or more) adults consenting to having sex isn't against the law. Nor is it against the law to have those shops here. They are decently covered for the younger of us who don't need to know about it yet. I.e. the kids you were speaking about. And as far as I'm concerned, I am smiling over the fact that it was in the parking lot of an adult store. Where our freedoms allow us freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom to be ourselves in this world. You Ma'am have a long way to go to see that. As a parent, if I took my son to get the fireworks that were sold there and he asked me questions I would take the opportunity to explain things to him in a manner that he could understand. We as parents have to take every opportunity we get to teach our children all the things that we hold dear. And for me, what I hold dear is the ability for human beings to be able to think for themselves and decide for themselves what is right and wrong for them. I hold dear the notion that we as a people can think for ourselves and are not lead around like sheep. That we can be individual without hurting others, and be ourselves without fear of persecution. I, am proud to be an American. Where even though I disagree with everything that you have stated in this blog I would fight for your right to say it.
shawn berkau
6/26/2012 03:18:35 pm
Christina Baublitz, I appreciate what you have to say on this subject and actually agree with a lot of your points; however, regarding your view on porn and children, I feel compelled to say that while you are well versed in the expression of personal “freedom”, you seem to be naive on the facts. An enormous amount of credible research has been conducted on porn and its negative effect on children who are exposed to it (For that matter anyone exposed to it). The results of this exposure can preoccupy a person throughout their life and have devastating effects on their family.
Christina Baublitz
6/26/2012 08:51:50 pm
Shawn Berkau, If pornography is that detrimental to the human being, then why is it that most countries that don't have a 'taboo' on it have less issues with sex crimes than we do here in America? I think our priorities are just a little backwards. (Sometimes mine included, as I was raised here as well and find myself feeling the same way as others-I'll explain soon) I feel that we as Americans seem to be more fine with violence and blood and guts, than we do with love, or the expression thereof. We are cool with tons of blood and guts in movies, (If I'm correct in my thinking here. If not please correct me) a long time before we were okay with a couple giving each other a kiss or showing affection for each other at all. I don't even mean a 'porn' kiss, but a kiss on the lips. Yes, she has every right to state her opinion, just as I do. I don't see where I am stating that she is shoving her beliefs down our throats. I was merely pointing out something that tends to happen when religion is discussed. On a whole, not necessarily on an individual case. I wasn't trying to say she was pushing religious or other beliefs down our throat. However, her point of view is quite rigid. And is kinda telling us (the ones reading this) that we should feel as she does about porn and the fourth of July. *I just don't feel that way about pornography) < Even for the many years that I felt that pornography was nothing more than an exploitation of women, I still felt the urge to stand up for their right to participate in that industry. Then I found out that the women actually have the most control, and applaud the empowerment of women to take control of that part of our lives as well, instead of merely following like sheep and being the "barefoot, pregnant, in the kitchen as Husband has commanded" way of the past. There is also the point that with or without that fireworks stand there she has walked to the kmart past that adult store many times already. Does she not think that that alone means that the children have already seen it on several occasions without the tent there? Children are very observant, even if we don't give them credit for being so. I'm sure they've seen it already. And just haven't asked questions about it. I would say - take the opportunity that is presented by answering your child's questions based on your own beliefs and what you personally hold dear to your heart as being important to know, and be consistent with that information and your children will turn out fine. Because you will have been honest with them all the time and they will then feel they can come to you with anything that they feel the need to discuss with someone because they know that even if you don't like the subject matter you will be open and honest with your answers. I hope that clears things up a bit. I wasn't trying to attack her in the slightest. I was just trying to get my views on this subject out there.
Devin
6/25/2012 08:55:30 am
Julie, you are right on.
Lois Crombie
6/26/2012 11:02:35 am
I am proud of you Julie, you are right!!! 9/29/2013 10:19:55 pm
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