So, it might not be news to any of you, but there is a strip club petitioning to come to Athens. The plan is to move into the old, "New-To-You" building on Stimpson, across from China Fortune. I'm sure Sandy is overwhelmed with joy. (That was sarcasm if you couldn't tell.)
Now, for those of you who know me well, you know I'm not into the, "I'm against this!" brand of Christianity. I think protesting against stuff is easy and shows little creativity. It also doesn't seem to be the primary MO of Jesus. But I have already gotten several phone calls, letters and requests to picket the city building and write letters to important people... bla, bla, bla. And I'm not sure of my reaction to all of that at this point... and some of it may even hold value in this case.
But, just so you know... just to make it clear: I'm against a strip club in Athens.
Totally.
I'm not against it JUST because I'm a pastor, or even because I'm a Christian (although my faith certainly informs my values). I'm against it because I'm human. And I'm a part of the human family. And there is something about objectifying people that makes people (in my opinion) less than fully human.
So, seeing I haven't written a blog post in a while, it's time to let it fly. Here are some of the many reasons I don't think a strip club should move to Athens (or anywhere else for that matter).
1. I don't buy the idea that stripping is somehow "empowering to women."
Okay, so I've heard that line all my adult life... and I just don't buy it, sorry. I don't buy it because I'm a guy, and I know how guys think. I don't buy it because it runs against what history has shown us. I don't buy it because it runs against what I believe it means for us to be made in the image of God. And whether or not a woman or man is a believer, I believe we are all made in God's image... even if we don't acknowledge it.
2. I believe stripping (or pornography) causes a person to compartmentalize another person.
The objectified person is not seen as a whole person. No one, while looking at a stripper, is asking themselves, "Gosh, I wonder what her hopes and dreams are for the future and how can I help her become all that God intends?"
3. I don't buy the "you can't legislate morality" line.
Sorry if this offends you... I'm sure this will offend some... but I think that is stupid, bumper-sticker-logic. (So please don't use that line around me if you are tying to persuade me, as honestly, I will most likely just write you off as someone who doesn't think all that deeply.) Every law is, by definition, a legislation of morality. That's what laws are. Laws say what we will, and will not accept as a community.
Now, I believe it IS true that laws don't change the heart. So, a quick exception to the above "write you off rule" -- if that is what you mean when you use that phrase, than great! Laws don't (necessarily/automatically/always) change people's heart. It may even be true that laws can't change or deter behavior (the anti-capital punishment argument).
But laws DO say what behavior we accept and reject as a society... and that if you are doing that behavior, we find it "unacceptable" (and in that way, "immoral.") They legislate what we see as moral, almost by definition.
4. I don't think strip clubs help make a community the kind of community in which I want to live. Having a daughter, I think about this a lot more than I used to, but I have always found myself asking, "Does a strip club help in the formation of community? When men leave a strip club, do they leave wanting to enter into a fully-orbed relationship with the women around them? Do they really now see them as equal community members? Really?"
5. Honestly (and this is a lame reason) but a strip club just does not seem very "Athens-like." Yes, I know we have college students, but really...come on! Is this what we want? When you think "Athens," do you really think "Ah yes... strip club?" (Well, people often think, "Halloween party!" so maybe.)
POLITICAL ALERT (and I can't believe I'm going to say this on a public forum): For the record, I'm very disappointed at Paul Wiehl's reaction (or non reaction) to this petition. I like Paul. I like him a lot as a person as well. I would go so far as to say I respect him. As our new mayor, I honestly just expected more. At this point, I think he is being spineless and is not acting like the leader I was hoping he would be for Athens. I'm just very disappointed.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS CONTAIN THOUGHTS THAT MAY SURPRISE SOME OF YOU THAT A PASTOR MIGHT ACTUALLY THINK. YOU ARE WARNED. IF YOU WANT TO HOLD TO THE UNREALISTIC IDEAL THAT PASTORS ARE PERFECT, PLEASE STOP READING!
Okay, you've been warned.
Really, it's not too late to turn back!
Okay, too late.
I like naked women. I think (in part) because God wired me that way (and granted, in part, because that wiring has been corrupted by the fall.) I think female bodies are beautiful. And, like most guys (and I know you women don't believe this, but it's true), despite what Hollywood is telling you, I think most men have a very wide range of what we find attractive. Have ANY of those women take off their clothes and dance in front of us... and we will want to look.
Sorry if that disappoints you all. I'm being honest.
4. I don't think strip clubs help make a community the kind of community in which I want to live. Having a daughter, I think about this a lot more than I used to, but I have always found myself asking, "Does a strip club help in the formation of community? When men leave a strip club, do they leave wanting to enter into a fully-orbed relationship with the women around them? Do they really now see them as equal community members? Really?"
5. Honestly (and this is a lame reason) but a strip club just does not seem very "Athens-like." Yes, I know we have college students, but really...come on! Is this what we want? When you think "Athens," do you really think "Ah yes... strip club?" (Well, people often think, "Halloween party!" so maybe.)
POLITICAL ALERT (and I can't believe I'm going to say this on a public forum): For the record, I'm very disappointed at Paul Wiehl's reaction (or non reaction) to this petition. I like Paul. I like him a lot as a person as well. I would go so far as to say I respect him. As our new mayor, I honestly just expected more. At this point, I think he is being spineless and is not acting like the leader I was hoping he would be for Athens. I'm just very disappointed.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS CONTAIN THOUGHTS THAT MAY SURPRISE SOME OF YOU THAT A PASTOR MIGHT ACTUALLY THINK. YOU ARE WARNED. IF YOU WANT TO HOLD TO THE UNREALISTIC IDEAL THAT PASTORS ARE PERFECT, PLEASE STOP READING!
Okay, you've been warned.
Really, it's not too late to turn back!
Okay, too late.
I like naked women. I think (in part) because God wired me that way (and granted, in part, because that wiring has been corrupted by the fall.) I think female bodies are beautiful. And, like most guys (and I know you women don't believe this, but it's true), despite what Hollywood is telling you, I think most men have a very wide range of what we find attractive. Have ANY of those women take off their clothes and dance in front of us... and we will want to look.
Sorry if that disappoints you all. I'm being honest.
I say that because I don't write this post looking down on men who want to go to strip clubs. I certainly don't see them as "evil perverts" (a phrase from a letter I have read). As men, we want to look at naked women. Even if we don't, we want to.
But here are the other truths: truths I have found much more compelling:
But here are the other truths: truths I have found much more compelling:
I have found that whenever I allow myself to objectify a women, I make her into something less than I TRUELY BELIEVE she is in God's eyes. AND, I make her into something less than I truly want her to be in my eyes as well.
I struggled with porn a lot in college. (Okay, there wasn't much of a struggle!) I found that when I looked at women after looking at porn, I saw something less. There is no other way to say it. It took me many years to break free from that bondage. But now, I think I see more in women than I used to see. Sure, I still notice beauty. Sure, I still can notice that a woman is physically attractive... but it is no longer consuming or the first thing I notice. And women are now more to me. They are co-image bearers of the image of God.
I struggled with porn a lot in college. (Okay, there wasn't much of a struggle!) I found that when I looked at women after looking at porn, I saw something less. There is no other way to say it. It took me many years to break free from that bondage. But now, I think I see more in women than I used to see. Sure, I still notice beauty. Sure, I still can notice that a woman is physically attractive... but it is no longer consuming or the first thing I notice. And women are now more to me. They are co-image bearers of the image of God.
As a dad, I want to live in a community that looks at women the way I want men looking at my daughter when she is older.
Most of all, as a husband and dad, I want to love my wife the way Christ loved the Church. I want to "give myself up for her." Part of that "self" I need to give up is the broken, sinful part of me that keeps me from being the kind of man I want to be... that I'm created to be. I want my wife to be the sole receiver of those "looks" (and believe me, she gets a lot of them!). I want to guard my heart and offer her, and only her, that part of me that God created as good... but the enemy wants to exploit and tell us is bad. That part that God created for her and me, but the enemy wants to exploit and say that it is for anyone and everyone.
I think a strip club will make us less human. Less real. Less alive. I think there is a better life available.
9 comments:
lots to say but i'd mostly just be repeating.
i can't imagine this will go through. c'mon, athens: you protest EVERYTHING. for serious. if this isn't protested i'll be hugely disappointed.
good post.
That was honest and brave Paul.
The only thing I would say in opposition in any way is that there are stip clubs pretty much everywhere - there is one next to where i get gas pretty regularly. In a city, it's just a reality. I don't know anyone who goes to them - or maybe they do and they don't mention it. Having strip clubs in Pittsburgh is just a reality. I imagine that most men who don't think they should be doing that kind of thing just don't go there - there is a whole part of town with numerous such establishments that also has plenty of restaurants and stores and clubs and people go to those and walk past the strip clubs and ignore them. I think it's a big deal in Athens because it's a small town. I don't particularly like the idea, and it doesn't, as you said, seem very Athens-like, similar to Walmart. I, myself, had I lived in Athens when it happened, would have been more likely to protest the Walmart thing much more publicly because I think it has a real affect on th ecommunity, whereas a strip club just looks kind of trashy. It probably won't affect jobs or other businesses. Fortunately, people who don't think they should go there, will just have to avoid going there. The people who do go there already look at women in the bars and on the streets the same way - I am not sure it will move them so much further along the continuum of valuing women or not valuing women. That stuff is ingrained in houses and schools and church and families, I think. I guess I just wanted to say - if it happens, it kind of sucks but life will go on.
Paul: very well argued and thoughtful post. Thanks for posting it. I agree with you.
Jesse: but strip clubs aren't everywhere. They aren't in Athens. And I have a feeling that saying "then just don't go in there" is not quite getting the point. . . .
great post/rant. i appreciate your honesty and regarding the strip club, i concur. nothing infuriates me more than people talking about the sex industry "empowering" women. yeah. cuz it's great to be objectified. Idiots.
love the article on the "gentlemen's club" in the A News today. get this: "It was not his first choice to have an adult-oriented gentleman's club go into his building, but Prokos said he only has so many options for the property." i'm hard pressed to believe that this is the only option he can come up with, but it's the one he thinks will bring in the most cash.
You've caught my attention with the third point, so let me add another perspective, which reduces our strip club discussion to an example.
It's not a question of CAN we legislate morality (usually meaning to punish those who do not conform to society's ideals), but should we?
Of course we can, we do it all the time.... What we're not very good at is questioning whether we should (I argue always saying “yes” is the flip-side of the bumper-sticker logic).
I think changing people's motivation is the superior strategy. But we're not keen on this, because usually that involves resources, work and interpersonal “junk,” and possibly sacrifice on our part.
To change the motivation in this case, we'd have to ask, “How do we contribute to changing our culture so that the majority of people neither patronize nor make money from strip clubs?” We may already be there, if a motion to ban strip clubs from the city of Athens were to pass with minimal fuss (or, even better, remain obsolete for lack of need). Or, like Pittsburgh and numerous other cities, those against strip clubs will have to delve deeper into the reasons behind why such places flourish, before improvement can be made.
Allowing that nothing in this world will ever be perfect, the question of the fate of the minority of dissenters then becomes a vital, but separate, issue. (i.e., “Is punishment the best option, or is there an effective alternative?”)
For example, I am happy that the majority of the people in this society (or at least those in a position to affect legislation) don't think murder is an appropriate way to resolve conflict.
I may be unhappy about other issues, however, which is what makes free speech vital. After all, I'm in favor of legislating a LOT of things -- all those things I don't agree with!
Maybe I'll post another comment later with a strip club-related opinion (i heart blogs). Interesting post!
Paul,
Strip clubs are sad. They are a sad, sad substitute for fulfillment and relationships in the same way that drugs and reality TV are a substitute for living. I don't want a strip club in our town either, and I'm not sure what to do about it.
However, I think Jesus was very much into protesting--it just didn't take the form of a picket line or an angry mob. I've been roundly disappointed in the political leadership of the city of late, but encouraged by the leadership of the churches...
It seems like Jesus took on people who got squarely in the way of hurting people getting to know God. I'm not one to judge the stripper, but I think I would be one to have words with the owner of a strip club, and to some degree, maybe it's my job to do so? Aren't the people who know better supposed to try to protect people who don't? I have friends whose lives and relationships with God have been ruined by strip clubs & porn...porn is everywhere, but strip clubs aren't. If I have a way to protect the rest of the horny, sometimes foolish guys I know and care about, shouldn't I?
Im with you friend as a member of the fallen I can tell you any woman feeling empowered after such an event should take some time to get to know me and the men I am around (Who are men after Gods heart and fighting the good fight). I would assume they might quickly discover the empowerment to be mythical.
Sorry it says anonomous It was my comment. I own that.
So this post won't be as eloquent as I like, I'm not good at writing thoughts like this, I'm much better in person, but here goes.
Wow, I had no idea that A-town would welcome a strip club. It seems to help further perpetuate the college culture of too much drink, too much sex, etc.
You've all made great points. My position is in agreement and yet, a slightly different bent. I work with women everyday who are broken and struggling with identity, self-respect, drug/alcohol addiction, and abusive relationships. My heart aches for the women that would choose to work in a strip club environment. I don't care what other women say, the strippers can sense that they are being objectified and have to cope with that somehow. More often than not it will be an unhealthy and potential dangerous way of coping.
I don't know where I fall on the protest vs. no protest thing. I do know that there are real people involved on both sides, often broken people on both sides. Many of you that I know on this post are genuine loving people and may that shine to those in A-town on both sides.
tiff
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