I am not so much of a Pollyanna that I don't know wickedness existed in my innocent youth of the fifties. But at least everyone knew what was considered acceptable behavior and what was not. Watching the lowering of standards over the decades has been heartbreaking. I look at my grandchildren and think of the innocence that has been stolen from them. A year ago I judged some YA novels (published), and I was sickened by what our society considers acceptable literature for teens and tweens.
It seems to me, based upon this news article, that we have reached rock bottom (although I'm afraid there is almost always another rock bottom awaiting after a shock wears off):
A student who is auctioning her virginity to pay for a masters degree in Family and Marriage therapy has seen bidding hit £2.5million ($3.7m).
Natalie Dylan, 22, claims her offer of a one-night stand has persuaded 10,000 men to bid for sex with her.
Last September, when her auction came to light, she had received bids up to £162,000 ($243,000) but since then interest in her has rocketed.
The student who has a degree in Women's Studies insisted she was not demeaning herself.
Miss Dylan, from San Diego, California, USA, said she was persuaded to offer herself to the highest bidder after her sister Avia, 23, paid for her own degree after working as a prostitute for three weeks.
You can, if you wish, read the remainder of the article here.
Oh God, have mercy on this nation that makes something like this nothing more than an interesting piece of news instead of the tragedy that it is. We have strayed so far from what is right. Raise up a remnant to stand in the gap. And please, change this broken world filled with broken hearts.
-rlh-
Update (1/13/09, 10:09 am): A writer friend of mine also blogged about this, asking if this isn't prostitution and if prostitution isn't illegal. Good thoughts.
