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PORN NATION NO-TELL MOTELS

Date published: 8/10/2007

BETHESDA, Md.--Robert Peters, president of Morality in Media, recently wrote a letter to J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr., a prominent Mormon, to protest the availability of hardcore pornography in Marriott Hotels. If more of us would follow his example, there would be less pornography.

He wrote that he avoided staying at Marriott Hotels, "despite their quality and affordability, because Marriott Hotels is a major distributor of hardcore pornography on its pay-TV channels." However, when visiting a family member, she reserved a Marriott room for him.

While checking in, he noticed that four types of movies were available: comedy, drama, action, and adventure. "Hallelujah," he thought, "no porn." He made a mental note to write Bill Marriott to thank him.

However, before checking out, he clicked on "menu options." There he found not only a link to "Hollywood Movies" but also an "Adults Only" link touting such titles as "Horny Housewife Auditions," etc.

Peters wrote, "You should be aware that distribution of such materials contributes to the breakup of marriages, to prostitution, to sexual assaults against both children and adults, to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and to the erosion of decency.

"You should also be aware that in the 1973 Miller v. California obscenity case the Supreme Court said that persons who traffic in materials that 'depict or describe patently offensive "hardcore" sexual conduct are "subject to prosecution for the sale or exposure of obscene materials."'"

Ironically, Morality in Media once gave an award to Bill Marriott's father for his efforts to fight pornography. His son, however, decided to accept the income that porn channels pay. Similarly, General Motors, whose car sales have faltered, has a new revenue stream from its Direct TV that carries obscenity.

Therefore, Peters warned Marriott, "Morality In Media is of the opinion that a criminal prosecution of a 'mainstream' corporation that is in the business of distributing hardcore porno-graphy is long overdue."

To drive his point home, Robert Peters released his letter to the press.

A Marriott PR man called Peters to say that the decision was a corporate one, not a personal decision by Bill Marriott. Nonsense. Surely he has influence. What if readers of this column added their voices by writing Bill Marriott (Marriott Drive, Washington, D.C. 20058)? You could say, as did Peters:

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Date published: 8/10/2007