we're worth more...

i dragged myself to my art history class this morning, despite only having about five hours of sleep. i was sitting there quietly in blank-stare mode when a classmate's copy of "the red & black" grabbed my attention. the bold headline stood out on a purple page: " how to pole-dance like a pro!"

wait. i could have sworn that was the red & black they just pulled out. and yes. it was.

simply appalled, i decided that i would not pick up a copy today. but then, i really wanted to vent on here about it and i can't shred it to pieces if i don't even know what i'm shredding.

the article is titled: "my first trip to a strip club." a picture of the writer is directly below; aviator sunglasses sit atop of a smirk, his left hand sits on his hip as he holds up a wad of bills in his right. i can already tell i'm not going to like what he has to say. and i don't: "even though i have a girlfriend and am usually rational enough not to pay for what i can get for free, it was my idea in the first place since i had never been before, was curious and thought it would make an interesting story." there are so many things wrong with that statement. he is neither a virtuous boyfriend, nor a true friend. he goes on to narrate his "maiden voyage," explaining how it was an "uphill battle" to get his eight friends to go with him. for the sake of what he claims to be "an interesting story," he drags his friends down with him.

there is a diagram to the left of this article, mapping out different features of a female figure's body posing on a pole. the subtitle is "helpful tips and tricks" and each numbered arrow gives "advice." its so vulgar. for instance, the first arrow points to her face (and the 5 other arrows follow suite): "if used correctly, the face can be a devastating force capapble of rending cash from your victims. make the poor sap you're grinding on feel 'special:' a sexy wink, an equally sexy nod and holding back stares of disgust are all useful tactics."

so basically, a face is nothing but a tool to get into the "victim's" wallet. they claim that its primary purpose is to manipulate others...if this elicits unwanted attention, bite the bullet. they couldn't be more wrong. this is not at all what our faces were created for...or our bodies, for that matter. we were made in God's image to glorify Him in everything we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). objectifying ourselves in order to gain money and immoral attention takes away the very existence of our own humanity and, at the same time, both condones and even promotes the mistreatment of women. this is not only devaluing our own self-worth, but devaluing God's image. we are worth so much more than a few dollars that someone tips for a "sexy wink." God has given us His Son...we were bought at a price and need to honor God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20).

so for some reason, "the red & black" has tried to become a sort of cosmo. next thing you know, our student newspapers will be wrapped in plastic with little flyers blocking the front page and you'll have to show your i.d. to prove you're 18 to pick one up.