You may have heard the name Ron Jeremy.I certainly won't judge you if you have; I've been aware of his career since college. Ron was an answer to a trivia video game at the bar my friends and I frequented in college. The guys in our circle thought my BFF and I must be really wild because we knew the answer to that question - but in fact we were merely Christian virgins who just spent too much time at the bar playing video games and had memorized all the answers.
On the off chance you didn't hang out in bars in the 80's playing video trivia, Ron Jeremy is a porn star.
I wanted to link Ron's Wikipedia page to this blog, but even the first paragraph of his bio would put my blog into R-rated territory, so if you opt to Google him on your own, it won't be my fault. Ron has made around 2000 adult films, and has had a career that spans 30 years. He likes porn and is proud of his body of work.
Craig Gross on the other hand, is the pastor of the XXX church and works tirelessly to help people break free of sex and porn addictions, as well as reaching out to people people in the adult entertainment industry.
They make an unlikely duo, and yet they have staged 60+ debates on Pornography asking the question "Is Porn just a harmless hobby, or is it destructive to our society?"
This forum is normally held on college campuses, but last night was held for the first time in a church at the Rock Church in San Diego.
This was not a "church" event. It was raw and
uncensored. People discussed topics that aren't normally discussed in church. Pastor Miles playfully mimicked splashing Ron with Holy Water a few times when the topics got especially graphic.People from the adult entertainment industry sat beside avid churchgoers and had an open discussion about Sex (even the word Sex was displayed on the stage glimmering in neon for emphasis.) People laughed, and gasped and applauded and reacted. It was a passionate event with strong feelings on both sides.
Each man got a set time to make his point and the debate ensued.
Craig Gross told tales of women desperate to leave the industry, the shame and embarrassment they felt after leaving and never being able to shake the reputation, and the destruction of families and marriages due to unrealistic expectations of sex and the rejection and betrayal one spouse felt when another viewed porn.
Ron Jeremy countered with a list of women who have become millionaires making porn and used the money to invest and start their own businesses, and consenting adults and married couples who use porn to enrich their sex lives.
It's clear that these two men agree on very little. (The only topic on which they did agree was their mutual and passionate objection to the sexual explotation of children.)
They are at totally opposite ends of the spectrum and disagreed on 99% of the topics brought before them.
But the thing that struck me and wormed its way into my soul is this: These two men clearly respect one another. They're friends. They travel together on a bus. They told humorous stories about one another. They know each other's families. There was disagreement, but no animosity. There were two opposing lifestyles without any judgment or hatred. They love each other.
In a country with a deep partisan divide and people calling those with opposing beliefs Hitler and accusing opposing viewpoints as unpatriotic and dangerous, Ron Jeremy and Craig Gross are shining examples of what America is all about. Ron is free to his beliefs, Craig is free to his, and they can peacefully co-exist. While I'm sure Craig prays for Ron's salvation, he doesn't condemn him. While Ron doesn't share Craig's beliefs, he respects Craig for standing up for his beliefs and for helping people who do want to get out of the industry.
I walked away from that even with a headful of alarming stats about Pornography and a genuine respect for the two men who disagreed so graciously.
Pay attention America. Play nice. - Tammy Lou Waite © 10.10.10
Follow me on Twitter @tamilu40
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