LETTERS: CHILDREN, PORNOGRAPHY

To the editor:

With the issue of child pornography making waves in the headlines (Calvin Klein ads), we take a close look at how this hot news topic may have relevance to our own backyard. Don't see anything? Let's look closer.

In order to make the point, maybe it would help to break apart these words which are being thrown around in conversation today: child, a word denoting innocence, and pornography, a word conjuring up in our minds lack of innocence, corruption. Perhaps the usual connotation of the coupling of these words isn't in our immediate eyesight, but let's bring these two opposing words close to each other in a situation other than writing. How about the physicality of both words housed under the same roof? Don't understand what I mean?

Let me cut to the chase: a quite popular establishment that is catering to both ends of the spectrum, selling both child entertainment and pornographic videos. By bringing children and pornography into a business place together and marketing off the innocence of children while at the same time marketing off the corruption, degradation and sleaze of pornography, I believe this establishment is committing a crime of morality and a crime against children.

I am not advocating censorship or trying to argue against pornography. My point is that children shouldn't be placed in situations where that form of expression is exposed and marketed. My family, four of whom are young children, is vocally boycotting this establishment.

KATHRYN WELSH

Cape Girardeau