Jinxed Universe

A few years ago while I was still attending Weber State, I had to write a paper on a controversial topic for a politics class, yeah I took a politics class, it was way fun.

Anyways, he wouldn't let us do the standard topics of guns, abortion, or the like, so I chose talking about what is called Legislating from the Bench. What this means is when our Judicial System begins creating rules, which is beyond the scope of their branch of government.

One of the prime examples I used to enforce my case was a law Congress passed, it was called the Communications Decency Act. This was passed in 1996 and was overruled in 1997 by the Supreme Court.

This law basically made it a crime for anyone to "knowingly (A)use an interactive computer service to send to a specific person or persons under 18 years of age, or (B) uses any interactive computer service to display in a manner available to a person under 18 years of age, any comment, request, suggestion, proposal, image, or other communication that, in context, depicts or describes, in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards, sexual or excretory activities or organs." In other words, I can't push my porn on you, but you have to seek it out.

The Supreme Court overturned this ruling stating that it stepped on others' right to Freedom of Speech. Basically the porno industry has a right to search out people and send them porn even if they don't want it.

Let me give you some first hand experience. I'm a computer guy, my business is to keep computers working. I'm always cleaning up "messes" of pornography and such deceptive programs they use to get one addicted. There are also malicious programs out there that will install themselves on unknowing people's computers that will pop-up with pornographic pictures. But, of course according to the Supreme Court, these makers have a right to infect and distribute their programs/images.

It doesn't take much to realize that pornography is very addictive. We have been counciled time and time again that pornography is destructive and will ruin us. But, with the Porn Industry free to use deception and lies to expose themselves to us, how do you keep it out of your homes?

Well, the Supreme Court has made it our responsibility to keep their garbage out of our homes. Now, this applies to all who have the internet coming into their homes.

Get a firewall!! This doesn't include the router that came from Qwest and Comcast, they are not firewalls. Even those cheap Netgear firewalls won't do the trick. You must make an investment!! Get a professional firewall.

Now, I personally love Sonicwall firewalls. I am biased, I work with them all day long, but it is a fantastic product. It will allow you to block sites according to categories that the manufacturer places on all internet sites, or even create a list of approved, or disapproved sites. The newest ones allow you to use only a "Safe Search" on search engines, meaning the results of a search are safe from garbage and not hidden porn. In addition to keeping the unwanted internet sites out, it also cleans up any viruses, malware, and other intrusive programs and hackers from getting into your home network.

Now, let me make one thing clear, just because you are married, or you are a bishop, or whoever. You aren't immune to this porn and can go without. I've have had stories shared to me about Bishops, Stake Presidents and everyone else that have fallen victim to pornography.

It is not a question, now days, if someone has seen porn, but when they have seen it. By implementing a firewall into your home/business, will reduce the exposure we will experience in our lifetime and eliminate the chances from our homes. Just like any addictive substance, the less we are exposed to it, the less likely we will get addicted to it.

For many it comes down to money. I agree a firewall isn't cheap, I won't lie to you. But, you have to realize that buy putting down $100 a year to keep your home clean, you will have less computer problems and less spiritual problems. Can you really put a price on your children's salvation? We can repair computer problems, and it will cost you more than the cost of the firewall's yearly subscription, but the damage made on an individual by pornography will forever be etched upon their minds and that we cannot totally repair!!!