In an obscenity first, a U.S. comic book collector has pleaded guilty to importing and possessing Japanese manga books depicting illustrations of child sex abuse and bestiality... Handley's guilty plea makes him the first to be convicted under that law for possessing cartoon art, without any evidence that he also collected or viewed genuine child pornography.
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2009/05...For the focus of this post I will site only the article referenced above, there is plenty of discussion matter within it's scope and vein. Somehow, the idea that graphic illustrations don't constitute a violation, by merely their genre is simply put... ignorant. If an "artist" illustrates the detailed sexual abuse of a child... does it make him any less responsible than someone taking pictures of the same? I think not... both appeal to the deviants that procure that material.
This is a topic that has changed the course of my life, so I may bore you with a few details about how I came to be so emotional over this issue. In 1993 I had worked for a Jim Pattison Group company called Overwaitea Foods, much like their larger Save-On-Foods in British Columbia, Canada. My position as a 8 year employee and department manager availed me of a few weeks paid holidays and a terrific salary. It was near the end of such holidays that I returned early, to catch up on some book-work, and with my own time to spare I cut through the magazine isle towards the warehouse.
It was the Spider Man Comics that first caught my eye, and these didn't seem to be the ones I grew up with. Marvel Comics had taken the innocence off the pages and introduced a form of pornography to the likes of novelty mags. I was shocked! What I saw depicted were the forms of female nudes with the color of clothes painted on... detailed body parts, without getting too descriptive, were brandished on nearly every page. When a fellow manager passed by I showed him the "comics with embarrassment. I soon would take them to the store manager.
The Spiddy line was only one of many "special comics" newly introduced. As I opened them for the Manager's inspection (who was fore-warned of my disdain), the manager closed them... assuring me that they were just comics and I should accept it. I pleaded for them to either send them back, inquire if they were necessary or just put them up out of reach of the smaller children, who frequented the isle to read while their parents shopped the store. ON all accounts I was shut down.
I informed the manager that I could not support a company that would do that to kids, and after he rebutted that the mags were staying... with my hand outstretched in a final handshake, I left that employ. A couple of weeks went by and you could imagine the drama that caused in a small town, I was contacted by the Unemployment Office, who asked me why I failed to apply for unemployment insurance. I told them my story and said I thought my quitting did not fit their required reasons for voluntary termination... but they insisted that I apply and send some pictures showing my reasoning. I did. In 2 weeks they gave me FULL BENEFITS!
SO shocking were the "comic" depictions that they didn't even argue my benefit package, that in itself says volumes. I am not a "protester" with placard and air-horn, I backed my words by my actions... most of which many of my friends called me foolish for. I wrote Jim Pattison personally and didn't receive so much as a letter in return. By me saying that I would not support the company... I didn't shop at the store and pulled all retirement plans from the company as well. I have since returned to shop there... but only since they have removed all magazines that I was in protest.
One can judge for themselves, but I know by experience that actions get results. It may take time and painstaking efforts, and a bit of rejection... but there is nothing like the satisfaction of standing against a giant and seeing it comply. I told Jim Pattison once, when he personally came to our store, to get his hand out of the bulk-food bin that he was sampling from... I said that I thought his hands were clean, but our customers may not; and if he wanted a sample, I would happily oblige him. Things are different now, I no longer think his hands are clean.
All those who promote or profit from this debauchery will be held accountable. If that is the only way one can make a living...
I quote an all American movie character, Dirty Harry...
"Dyin aint much of a livin!"
I am NOT sorry for my decision to leave a good job and great people; nor do I regret not going into seedy detail any more than I have to present my point. But there is one thing that I may miss in my future, and that is the awesome opportunity to do it all again! I do however reserve the right, to live somewhat vicariously through others taking similar stands, against low-grade filth in high-definition color.