JASON HARWELL TALKS PORN
My friend Jason Harwell runs Rebuilt Records out of Athens, GA. He picked me up from the airport Tuesday and we hung out until the Porn Debate that evening at the University of GA. I don't know if anything Jason heard during the debate will make it's way onto one of Jason's next CD's but the whole night left him thinking. Here is what he posted today on his website.
Enjoy...by the way. The tour is over but now it is back to college campuses with the Porn Debate. We have several dates lined up this school year the next one being in Colorado Springs on the 20th of September.
Craig
It's 1am and Ron Jeremy is sitting in the front seat of my Mazda. This is funny for a couple of reasons - one being the fact that he's really too big to ever sit in a Mazda (I know what you were thinking when you read that last line, and you should be ashamed of yourself) and the other being that when I started driving at the age of 16 I never really thought one of my passengers would be a man considered by many to be the "Michael Jordan of Porn." To be honest, it's kind of blowing my mind. It's kind of a weird feeling to look at him and in my peripheral vision see my daughter's car seat in the back of the car. Don't worry - she wasn't there.
But even if she had been, there would have been no real reason to worry. Ron is not the enemy. This is not to say that I like what Ron does; on the contrary, I think porn is a misrepresentation of sex that is harmful to relationships, objectifies women, and is potentially addictive. That puts my views much more in line with the guy who's sitting in the back seat of my Mazda, my friend Craig, a pastor and one founder of xxxChurch.com, an anti-pornography web community that seeks to spread awareness of porn's harmful potential and to build relationships with those in the adult industry. Earlier in the evening, he and Ron shared a University of Georgia stage and debated pornography's negative effects (or lack there of if you choose to side with Ron), and after a late dinner downtown, I am dropping them off at their hotel.
It's pretty safe to say that Craig and Ron are on opposites of the spectrum ideologically, philosophically, spiritually, etc., and in our culture, it seems that most Christians are content to keep it that way. Sure, we all want Ron and people in the adult industry (as well as all other sorts who fall into the category of "sinners") to accept Christ and become Christians, but we also want to keep those same kinds of people as far away from us as possible as to not risk them dirtying up our own holy whiteness. Rather than engaging our faith, we often choose to keep it under lock and key to prevent someone like Ron from stealing it. We'll talk about loving while we condemn them to hell from across the street. So in this context, it's weird to see two guys such as these get along, much less ride in the same tiny Mazda. But again; Ron is not the enemy (though we often treat him as such). And while I would much rather have my daughter grow up in a world without the kind of movies Ron makes or the industry for which he works, I don't hate him or wish him ill. In fact, I really kind of like the guy.
But then again, Ron is a likeable fellow. Sitting at the table at this diner in Athens over dinner, Ron is very comfortable being the center of attention. And by the way he effortlessly slides into a well-seasoned schtick, I imagine that he is the center of attention just about everywhere he goes. If this were high school, Ron would be that guy who could sit at any table in the lunchroom (and possibly the kind of guy who would take the lunch money from guys like me. But I digress...). Ron is gracious and kind and polite, never complaining when people interrupt his dinner to get pictures or autographs or in the case of one cook from the back of the diner, bow in honor. He seems very genuine, expressing his honest opinions (carefully crafted to maximize storytelling impact) about whatever topic comes up or comes to mind, including Christianity and religion in general. Ultimately, Ron simply wants to have a good time, and he wants you to have a good time, too. In a lot of ways he seems really normal, and you almost forget that his job is to have sex with strangers with a camera crew at the ready.
The debate held earlier was great. It was sold out, and over 800 UGA students showed up, mostly to see Ron and get new photos for their Facebook profiles. Neither Craig nor Ron pulled any punches, both speaking passionately from opposing viewpoints; both guys were also respectful and courteous to each other despite their polar opposite viewpoints. Beyond the pros and cons of looking at porn, and beyond all the statistics both for and against, though, it is this genuine friendship between these two guys that is the most intriguing thing to me about these debates. Both Ron and Craig are unmoving when it comes to how they feel about pornography, but as quickly as the debate is finished they are no longer "opponents" and are simply two guys who will set each other up for jokes while taking any opportunity to make fun of the other. Craig even snatched Ron's pants down a couple of times on tour, a favor Ron has attempted to return. And when asked after the debate where he wants to eat dinner, Ron's response is simply, "Wherever Craig wants to go is where I want to go."
Ron likes what Craig does. He says, "Craig helps the people who shouldn't be in porn get out of porn," but he is also quick to point out that you don't hear any of the big stars in the adult industry talking about how bad it is. It's always the ones at the bottom, the ones who maybe couldn't hack it. I would say that he's partially right about that; thus far, no huge porn star has come forward to agree with Craig or to publicly denounce the industry. At least not yet.
Ron is Jewish, but he says he's not particularly religious. He even has this routine about how he's praying to everyone to keep his bases covered. But it's clear that someone in him there is at least a small, growing desire to know the truth. Unprompted, he brings up some of his questions about Christianity. How can someone who kills someone simply accept Christ minutes before death and enter the gates of Heaven while someone of a different belief who never willfully harms anyone die and spends eternity in hell? Don't we all ask these questions at some point?
And that's why his statement, "Wherever Craig wants to go is where I want to go," sounds more like a prayer of the heart than a declaration of where to eat. Sure, you can say he was just talking about getting some food, but maybe it goes a little deeper than that. Certainly, I'm not going to attempt to play armchair psychologist or take a swing at prophecy. But I will say that when I hear him say that it's hard for him to have long-term relationships or that true love is finding one person and growing old together, I can see that there is a lot more to Ron Jeremy than making porn. He has a Masters degree in Special Education, for crying out loud. But for 29 years he has been the biggest name in porn, and in that time he has become a pop culture icon. Everywhere he goes there are crowds of people who look at him with awe and admiration, and as Craig says, he's probably one of the only 54 year old men in the world who can walk into a club full of women and know with confidence that he could probably sleep with any of them later that night. For someone who is not particularly religious, you can understand why that life would be a hard one to give up.
In the grand scheme of things, I don't think these debates will change a lot of peoples' feelings about porn; if you loved it before you'll probably still love it afterwards. But I really think they might just help change Ron's life. It was really only about porn on the surface anyway; if you dig a little deeper, I think you would see that it's really about being willing to share in the lives of those who don't look like you or believe like you. To see what happens when we become discontented with hanging out at one end of the spectrum and decide to get our hands a little dirty. Not to fear losing our faith but to engage our faith, to put ourselves in a position to see our faith in action in the world around us. Hearing Craig talk about some of these experiences, I can only imagine how hard this is at times. I would also say it matters. It's not about Craig - in this case he an example of someone who is simply willing to be at times uncomfortable so that through that Ron would one day hear God telling him how much he loves him. That's what this debate was about to me - the hope that Ron would know the truth for himself and that the truth would set him free. Seems like a lot of time and resources to spend on something like that, doesn't it? But that's the kind of precedent Christ has set for us - to pursue us at any cost.
But while that's my idea of a happy ending, that's not what today looks like. Today, I would have to say you're right, Ron - right now no big porn stars have left the industry. But still, I'm holding on to the hope that someday one will, and Ron, I really hope it's you. - Jason
Courage.
G.K. Chesterton once wrote, " Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means taking a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. "He that will lose his life, the same shall save it," is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors and mountaineers...A soilder surrounded by enemies, if he is to cut his way out, needs to combine a strong desire for living with a strange carelessness about dying. He must not merely cling to life, for then he will be a coward and not escape. He must not merely wait for death, for then he will be a suicide and not escape. He must seek his life in a spirit of furious indifference to it; he must desire life like water and yet drink death like wine."
Sorry for the length of the quote, but I hope you can see how it is applicable to our fight to be Christian men. We have to love life, but be willing to lose it. We have to have the faith to trust God in ALL areas of our life, even if that means we might lose all areas of our life.
Be strong in the fight brothers. Never give up.
I Peter 2:17
"Show proper respect for everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."
Doug
This is eveangelistic approach towards the adult industry is something characteristic of Jesus. He did it for Ron 2000 years ago,and the long term relationship that he longs for is found only in Christ Jesus. which is the only long term relationship we can ever hope to have in this life.
Rock on guys. Keep up the good work.
This all goes back to the fact that Christians aren't getting out there and putting their feet to their words. Being a Youth Pastor in a middle class congregation, I see people get upset after pot-luck dinners when urban, pant sagging kids from the community who need Christ come to our gym to play ball on Wed nights.
We need people like Craig out there shedding light on REAL ISSUES!!!! Thank you for all you guys are doing for the KINGDOM!
PS I will be taking pictures this week of the WAR-LINE guys in Indiana. I gotta see the deer stand!
Dave
ok, i keep hearing ron say that no big porn stars have left the industry and that they are lead very happy fulfilled lives...but let me just throw this out there : jenna jameson is one of the most well known porn stars in the industry. Financally she has been very successful. on a talk radio show aBOUT year ago she went on and although at the time "happily" married, spent the entire time talking about another women she was into to say the least. She also mentioned her inability to get pregnant. Currently, she is the middle of a bad divorce battle which she attributes to her sickly new appearence. early in her career she battled drug addiction that almost killed her. she also has a new clothing line coming out where, on the website, it states that she is moving on with her life and that jenna the porn star can no longer be found here......yes, she may be worth17 million(granted her ex doesnt take her for all she's worth) but does this story of porn's most successful star's paint the picture of someone who is happy, fulfilled and has come out of the industry unscathed?
In response to Justine's comment I have to say I have never heard of Crissy Moran though a quick Google found her and her website that reads "Hello welcome to my personal site, this is my life what I love to do, and you will see this come through in my pictures and videos! I bare all to my members you will see it detail all aspects of "Crissy Moran" from Glamour Shoots to my candid very personal moments!"
How come she hasn't had that site removed as it would appear to misrepresent her current beliefs.
That aside though, maybe at 31 years old Crissy was at a place where she realised that her porno potential was nearing it's end? Yes yes yes, I'm being a cynic I know. So shoot me, or pray for me, or do whatever it is you all do for folks like me who have a hard time with folks like you.
It was a great blog post though really. I found myself liking Ron a little which I never have before because, well... I've always thought he was a dick which I suppose is exactly what he is, right?
I'm sure that removing the site is easier said than done. I recall reading a comment from Crissy that she tried to have the site removed and she is still trying. But it does not seem like an easy thing to do.
I found the following quote from the Webmaster(s) for the CrissyMoran website:
"Well as I am sure some of you are aware Crissy Moran has decided to leave the adult industry and take up an interest in Religion & Christianity. As shocking as this might be to all of you, we are and are just as equally shocked being we were the last people Crissy told.
So what does this mean for everyone with galleries, free sites and everything else out there promoting Crissy Moran? Well back in 2004 Crissy Moran signed a 5 year contract with Medium Pimpin (Net 227 Inc) entitling us to retain all rights to her Domain name CrissyMoran.com and all content new and old in conjunction with the site. So this is good news for everyone. Medium Pimpin will run the contract until it expires in 2009 leaving us with the rights to the site for just over 3 more years.
I am sure some of you wonder why you should still promote the site and its simple, nothing will change other then Crissy Moran is not involved at all. Her site has thousands of active members but we were lucky to see maybe 30 in her cam shows at a time. So with the departure of Crissy Moran all her personal stuff is now deleted such as her Surfer Forum, Daily Diary, and Cam Shows. As stated we don't see this being an issue for anyones conversions, being research shows people we not all that interested in knowing her or talking with her they were more interested in her stunning smile and smashing good looks."
