CAN A CHRISTIAN BE GOTHIC?

Can a Christian Be Gothic?
by Pastor Ed Carter of Sanctuary
This is a personal question to me, so I will address what being "gothic" means to me and why I have chosen to embrace this lifestyle. Let me start by explaining how and why I became a "goth." I jokingly say that my dear friend Chase sired me to the "dark side," because he was the first one to introduce me to this culture. I became "gothic" during a time of extreme sadness in my life. I was surrounded by others who were telling me to just be happy and I could not. I found solace in the dark sounds of Love and Rockets and Bauhaus. In the Cure, I found honesty of emotion, something I desperately needed.
When I became "saved" I noticed that while I had the "light of the world" in my life, I was still an outsider. I could not adapt to the cookie-cutter Christian model. Eventually, I discovered Sanctuary and truly found it the right place for my soul. Now I am a Shadow Dweller, lurking with a candle, holding it out to others, sharing the light and the love of God to those who are also living in the shadows.
It is hard to understand the real meaning of who/what a goth is if you are not a part of this scene. To me gothic is more than a fashion choice or a music preference. It is an attitude of how one views the world we live in. Some choose to look at life from a very shallow point of view, i.e., "life is one big party and fun is the big goal in life." Others see it from a "yuppie" perspective, looking for their identity in their work, money, possessions, etc.
Life from a "gothic" point of view is one that is bleak and somber, thus the dark appearance and style of dress. The world is dark to me, because it's so far from God's holy plan and design, that it saddens me greatly. I express my somberness to the world by my style of dress and demeanor. I relate to the prophet Jeremiah regarded by most as the Weeping Prophet.
Being gothic to me is also being real real with myself, real with others, and real with God. I do not hide behind a mask to hide who I am and how I truly feel. When I am happy I express it fully, and when I am sad I express that as well. Most goths express their bleak sadness openly and I see that as an honesty of humanity.
I admire the culture for it's open and honest expression of self, no matter how perverse or strange, because this is how God sees us. We cannot hide our sins from Him and it is foolish to think we can. In "normal society," people seem so concerned with appearances, they hide their true selves in order to gain the favor of others. This mask-wearing is accepted, yet stark honesty is often shunned, even by those in the church. This is truly sad.
You see, being gothic is more than a fashion statement or a certain style of music. It is a reflection of how one chooses to see the world. This world is lost, hell- bound, and full of people in complete denial, seeking to fill that God-shaped void within them with everything except the Cross. It is a wo

CHRISTIAN GOTH

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN GOTH?

This article is an exerpt from "What is Christian Goth"
by Joseph J. kopnick
SOURCE 1 - Thomas Woodroofe - The Eternal Chapter
Christian Goth?
Goth has about as many definitions as it has adherents. You will find that everyone has their own subjective opinion as to what Goth is all about. For me Goth is something that has always been with me. I equate it with having a darker, and perhaps more serious view of life and the world. It is far more than just a musical subculture. It is a way of life. Once I received Christ, I never lost my culture. There were certain things that had to go, certain things that didn't glorify God. But I still loved Siouxsie and Bauhaus along with my new found faith in the Lord Jesus. I found that, contrary to popular 'Christian' opinion, I could still wear lace and velvet (and, God forbid- eyeliner?) and worship Christ. At first I thought I was the only one- Surely there weren't other Christians that shared my passion for Goth and served Jesus? God soon brought me into contact with others just like me. When I first found Saviour Machine's debut album, I was amazed and excited. Here were a group of Christians that perceived things in a similar fashion to me, yet they professed the Christian faith. There is a need for Christians to be a witness in every single culture on the face of this planet. God can use all of us right where we are. There is a tendency amongst Christians to shun that which is different from the norm. Some Christians tend to view white, mainstream, western culture as Christian. This leads to a complete disregard of the valid expressions of other subcultures and cultures. This is entirely wrong. The Bible is clear that all cultures will have their place in the kingdom of heaven. My sincere hope is that all Christians will become as accepting of others as our Lord Jesus was.
SOURCE 2 - Joseph J. Kopnick - Killingtheoldman
The Christian Gothic Aesthetic
As you have already read, there are a myriad of views as to what Gothic is and is not. The truth is, there is no really accurate or definitive answer as  to exactly what Goth is. The same can be said about the Christian Gothic aesthetic. But suffice to say that Christians that are gothic have an understanding and appreciation for things artistically dark, stunning and dramatic. One MUST NOT equate dark artistic aesthetic with evil. When the bible talks about darkness, it is NOT the same as dark artistic aesthetic.
Justifying the Conundrum
Let me first begin by saying that I cannot speak for the masses. I can only tell you how I believe Gothic and Christianity relate to and complement one another in my own life. Many may or may not agree with what I believe. Please do not approach this as a be all end all definition of Christian Gothica. Goths on the whole are fiercely independent and eclectic, so my personal opinion will not be shared by all (or even the majority of) other Goths.
Gothic in its general essence is expression of a dark aesthetic through various medium including Art, Music, Literature, Architecture, Lifestyle, Attitude and Outlook. I use the word dark here for lack of a better term, perhaps it may should be modified with words like "dramatic" or "high contrast", but for simplicity's sake, we'll use the term dark.
I personally feel that of all the sub-cultures that exists, Gothic has some of the most startling ties with Christianity. Below are a few examples.
Drink from me and forever live
Centerpiece of many a gothic tale is an eternal creature who has eluded the claws of death and exists outside the realm of the natural, haunting the land of the living in search of people willing to partake in that death in order to live on in eternity. The entire idea of receiving eternal life through partaking in the death of another is about as gothic as one can get. Christ, the undead, fulfills for those who seek him, their dreams of eternal paradise through partaking in his death, drinking from his cup the blood of the crucifixion.
And Jesus wept
Life is tragic. Christ as a person was a tragic being. He is very often misleadingly pictured as an always smiling person of overwhelming giddiness and jocularity. When in reality, suffering was his contribution to the world. His individual acts of healing and teaching pale in comparison to t he salvation he instituted through his suffering, abandonment and death. Only through an intimate understanding of the suffering Christ underwent can we completely understand the magnitude of what he saved us from. That is the true Joy of life.
Melancholy but happy
Contrary to popular belief, a happy outward appearance does not mean a happy inward person. I am melancholy because I understand who I am and what I have done. I crucified Christ. It was because of me that he was broken. I am pensive out of the ocean of respect and fear I hold of the Almighty One. I am happy through my security in Christ, but I am also deliberate to measure my steps. I don't feel the necessity to play the game of smiling to make others feel comfortable around me, so I am often misunderstood as being unfriendly. In that manner I am guilty of pretension and callousness. This is by no means peculiar or uncommon in the gothic scene and is a very well understood thing between Goths when they first meet each other, an unspoken quietness of mutual understanding. Though to an outsider this is a sign of depression, I see it as a sign of respect in the form of honesty toward a fellow person.
In remembrance of me
For centuries, black has had its connotations in one form or another. Not because it is uncommon by any means, but because it strikes chords of the unknown. Black has symbolized death, deity, mourning, humility, mystery, and evil.  People at a funeral wear black in remembrance of the deceased. We are commanded in the book to perform the communion in order to remember Christ's death until his return. Instead of doing it in church as a blank ceremony once every blue moon, why not live the remembrance?
A Lucid, yet taboo truth
One important truth that is often ignored is that many of us really like the look. Its not all about fashion, but it fashion has a lot to do with it for some. I am the last person in the world to deny that I absolutely adore the look and the music. But I will be the first to point out that Goth is an amalgamation of many, many things and for each Goth, its a different combination.
Deconstruction for Reconstruction
Adherents of hardcore Gothica have an understanding and appreciation of the ideas of self-destructive behavior such as cutting, mutilation and self deprivation out of feelings, often times, of severe inadequacy. The Christian Gothic expression of this same feeling is to die to ones self, because we in truth are NOT adequate, only through the death of ones self can we learn to trust God. Deconstruction of self for reconstruction by God to preservation of our souls.
There really is no single sentence that can sum up in complete the tie between Gothic and Christianity. But If I was forced to try, I suppose this is what I would come up with: Christian Gothica is a physical manifestation of the fact that only through death can life be gained, only by knowing what darkness is can we fully enjoy the light, only by understanding suffering can we completely appreciate salvation.

BLACKLISTED

 
It’s quite likely you have seen and been disgusted by the media portayal of the goth underground. Frequently, sound bytes accompany sensationalist headlines of Vampire and Satanic children out to coerce the unsuspecting innocents of our society. For added punch, these same programs masquerading as news will cue the horror music and provide a nano-second shot of the most outlandish photo of someone within the goth subculture.
This propaganda is certainly not new. In fact, we built our entire country on it with the Inquisition alone. In today’s day and age, the media uses goths and gays as the fiends that soccer parents must be ever vigilant for. After all, if these people look so different from everyone else, couldn’t they be construed as the monsters next door who are out to murder the little cloned Ken and Barbie children?
The dark clothes, make-up and misanthropic stares tend to leave Mundania a little shaken. Many suburban parents believe that if their innocent children were to don one of those mysterious “mind-altering” black trench coats, it would clearly cause a disturbance within their children. It is as though their children would be driven to acts of hideous carnal depravity because of the clothes they wear or the music they listen to rather than a less-than-perfect home life and lack of parental involvement.
It would seem easier to blame the external fashion trends than delve deeper into the psychological heart of the matter. Unfortunately the dark image brands those in the Goth subculture with a stigma. Most are viewed with malice and contempt because it is erroneously felt that there is a hidden agenda which will be imposed upon the world. While it is neither fair nor accurate, media fear-mongers often marginalize and scapegoat a sliver of the population for atrocities committed by irresponsible people. After all, someone has to be blamed, so why not blame the ones so different from everyone else?
The reality is that most Goths would actually prefer to smoke a clove cigarette at a Bohemian Coffee shop. The most violent action taken by most goths is to shake the ashes from their cigarette butts. In spite of the reality, the majority continue to be maligned and viewed with suspicious caution.
Black is viewed as the color of evil by western perception, yet in nature it is most often donned by creatures as their own form of natural armor. They link the Goth world with “Satanists” because it’s easier to assume that the cut of one’s clothing determines ones mindset. While a very small minority may be Satanists, and respectful, loving contributing members of the underground community, the stereotype persists that Goths can only be of one type of faith. Yet, respected members of our tribe have made definite statements about the diversity within our community.
Vocalist and Graphic artist, Voltaire, states:
“There are some who may very well be Satanists. But there are Farmers and CEO’ls who are Satanists. There isn’t any real direct correlation between Goth and Satanism. Most of the Goths I’ve met have been Christians, Jewish... I’ve met a few Muslim Goths... I’ve met a few Born Again Goths, and probably to a large degree most are Secular”. (Fox News Interview, Oct 22, 2005. used by permission from Voltaire)
Many in America vehemently decree that modern Christianity, which is often associated with the wealthy and the Republican Party, holds the high moral ground of the Conservative Right Wing. Because of this, a certain “Christian Culture” and rhetoric has been imposed on the image of what a good and proper American Christian should be like. Our western society often tends to impose this image as proper for our citizens regardless of whether one follows the precepts of this perceived State/Faith-based ideology or not. Subcultures created themselves out of rejection of this imposed belief. One could hardly fault them if the image of total love and acceptance comes with the cost of total abuse and ridicule.
In the past, Punk rockers declared, “I refuse to dress as you would have me dress because you refuse to act the way you claim to be in your image.” While this may seem like an oversimplification, one need only look at the Goth world for an ideological morphing of a similar route. Rather than appear angry, ready to lash out at everyone within striking distance, they put on the image of melancholy and dejection. The question remained for those of on the inside of the community, “did rejection of the image of the State/Faith really mean rejection of faith altogether?”
Faith is not found nor necessarily represented by a particular image in clothing and common dialect. There currently exists a sub-community within the Goth subculture of Christians who view the world in every detail exactly as our fellow tribe members do, through coffin colored glasses. Our world is not by and large a happy place, nor is it altogether safe or wholesome as Western society would have us believe. In brief, we hold to our faith because it gives us hope in a hopeless world of seething anger and darkness. From its foundation, Christianity was never intended to be an institution of Totalitarianism and Abuse. It was never intended to be something that abused the weak, nor subjected people under its thumb or imposed a set of dogmatic theologies on people destroying their culture. It was the opposite as demonstrated in the earliest Gospel writings and most Christians in the Goth community rely on the notion that their faith is so much more than stereotypical dogma and proselytizing.
Rick Joyce, guitarist for The Last Dance succinctly states,
“You asked about my experience with faith and my walk with Christ. How I would respond to that is, it is a continuing path that is never the same, but always growing. Being a new Christian many years ago, I was one of those unfortunate stereotyped people who thought very narrow mindedly about the idea of God. Yes I will admit it, everyone who thought differently than I was, was wrong. But that idea changed as I continued my path of life and grew up a bit both as a person individually and as a Christian. I came to realize that God is much bigger than anyone, anyone, can define, being an infinite creature by definition, and that having a relationship with God is truly an individualistic type thing which is awesome.
You asked about faith; my life is based on two things and those are faith and hope. And well, they do go together truthfully. Because of situations, hard times, good times, etc., that have happened throughout my life and my always believing in hope through them; I have established a faith that well, to me has proven itself.
“Some of my friends, well, they say I am just way too lucky. Fair enough, but to me it is trusting in God with everything no matter how hard life seems to get and having faith based on the fact that I have seen the fruits of believing and trusting this way.”
The assumption in the past was that Christians attempting to infiltrate the Goth community had only intended to convert the Goth community to Western Christianity, and therefore purge the “heathen Satanists” of their “wicked” image. It was supposed that Christian Goth missionaries would coerce them into cutting their hair, cleaning up their faces and start dressing like sweet innocent children again.
In actuality, Goth bands have existed since early on in the Christian entertainment industry. It was found that a great many of these groups who designed their acts to look more dark, more mysterious than the Non-Christian acts really weren’t interested in creating well dressed, calm and collected church-goers. They were signed and promoted by Christian marketers as “Christian musicians,” and even filed in with, and assumed to be, the same category and genre as Stryper and its many clones, often labeled as just another form of Heavy Metal. If the mission (read: record sales) failed, it was because the bands had no intentions of following through with the contemporary Christian music marketing plan. They were only looking for a record deal to make music, nothing more.
A great many of the early 90s Christian Goth acts began to cross into the secular Goth markets to break away from their designer knock off marketing plans. They never wanted to be an active conversion force, rather, they had a gift they believe given by their creator to make music well and wanted to pursue it. If their music of choice happened to reflect their world view, the better equipped to perform they felt. Their goal was not to win hearts and minds to a political image of faith, nor to be knock-offs of other talented Non-Christian artists. Rather, by using their talents well, they could finally make a living at something they enjoyed in a community where they truly felt they belonged.
Today, Christian Goths exist in all facets of the underground community: clothing design, music, literature, community activism, coffee shop entrepreneurs, and nightclub owners. Today, as many members of the Goth community will report to have a faith in Christ as will claim faith in the Goddess. Our community is not as stagnant as to believe the lies that society imposes that Goths can only be of one variety of faith or one belief structure.
Critics of the Goth subculture exist within both the Conservative Right and they felt even within the Goth community itself. Today, there are conservative Christians who still impose the idea that God only wants the people in his Kingdom that look and act like our modern view of clean and pure people. Only those who don’t need Heaven or Salvation it seems can afford to get it. Neither a comforting notion nor exactly “Good News” as the Gospel would state. We all know them; we see their judgmental stares and turned up noses in disgust at everyone underneath them, failing to see the notion of Paul in his writings “All my righteousness is as Filthy Rags to the Lord”.
The Goth community however in its study of all faiths and in keeping a great many trappings of faith, often finds the concept of accepting the faith of Christianity in total to be repugnant and delusional. It isn’t that the initial message or messenger are at fault, but those who claim a faith while harshly judging and rejecting anyone outside of their myopic view as disposable simply because some see the world for what it is and refuse to buy into the Disney vision that happy endings always exist.
Those Goths that have accepted Christianity as their own personal faith view the concept of abusive faith to be a far cry from the comfort and peace they personally have found. While their faith is something they hold in high regard, they are not above sharing it on a personal basis with other artists. Respect is given where respect is due within the Goth community, and Christian Goths are no different. Regardless of faith, a musician’s talent carries them much further in the eyes of the community than their personal spiritual journey. However, one of the key tenants of Christian faith is building strong communities through personal relationships, which is how many best share their faith in respect to their fellow darkly minded peers; building something personal with respect to the larger community out of respect and understanding.
Regardless of how the world views the Goth subculture or how the Goth community views itself, there remains a broad and diverse community built up of many faiths from within the darkly lit tribe. To settle on one vision of faith or one stereotype that must be upheld is to limit the ability to maintain a community. Respect for all walks and creeds are paramount, for after all, disrespect is what so many have endured in this cold, vacant world. Without common respect from ones’ fellow tribe members, it would be appropriate use the pagan epithet: “How very ‘Christian’ we’ve become.”
On a final note, I’d like to quote from the ever introspective and lovely Monica Richards from Faith and the Muse:
“I wouldn’t think any differently about whether a fan of Goth music happens to be Christian, Jewish, Catholic, Wiccan or Atheist. We have fans of all faiths and no faith. It’s a style of music like any other, it has fans of kinds.”

AN OPEN LETTER TO PASTORS FROM A PAGAN

An Open Letter to Pastors from a Pagan
I Have A Question To Ask You


Please allow this letter to speak to your heart. This letter was not written in anger. This letter was Annie's experience as she searched for Jesus Christ. Posting this letter is not intended to harm any one in any way. The purpose for posting this letter is to give insight into someone else's experience...and an opportunity for you to care.

Dear Pastors,

I am a Witch. I know that many of you think that I believe what I do because of a rebellious nature, but in reality, I follow this path because I have found something real. I have committed years to developing a spirituality that I can base my life on. However, I am beginning to realize that although it is real, it is not always fulfilling.

So, I have begun asking some tough questions, and I am giving this God of yours a second look. I have heard some amazing things about Him, and I have to wonder if they are true.

In search of answers, I have visited your churches. I have to admit that I am puzzled by what I have found there. I have sat in the pews hoping to gain knowledge, and instead I have walked away with only more questions.

In the first church I visited, I was met with shock and horror when you realized I am a Witch. Yes, I serve other entities, but what you failed to see was the fact that I was looking for your God. I did not come to your place of worship to disturb you. I came because, though you may not have been able to tell, I myself am disturbed. I have taken a great risk in entering your church, and I did not make that choice casually.

I’ve heard you teach that your God will accept anyone, but you yourselves looked on me with disdain. You told me that you could not speak with me because light is to have no fellowship with darkness. But unless I see this light, how would I ever be able to leave the darkness? If you cannot show it to me, then who will?

So I continued my search, in hope of finding those answers I crave. I was relieved to find a church that did not stare in horror when I entered. Your service was lovely, and I thought I had finally found a place where my questions could be voiced. Afterwards I listened as you spoke to your congregation of the building project and the goals that you have. You talked of donating your time to God’s work, but when I approached you later and asked if we could talk, you said that you had urgent plans elsewhere. As I watched you walk away, I heard you mention to a friend that you were in a hurry to leave for vacation.

I am impressed with your commitment to build a place of beauty for the worship of your God. But who will fill that building? The potluck dinners you mentioned are certain to draw a crowd, but what about those of us who are hungry for something more? I won’t be there, because your vacation was more important than taking the time to have a short conversation.

My next church experience was a bit different than the first two. I was able to slip into my seat unnoticed. Your sermon was about the fires of hell, and how all of those who God cannot accept will meet that horrific fate. Many others were moved to action by pure fear, but I felt nothing.

Your passion was obvious, but I found nothing helpful in the words you spoke. I believe there are consequences for our actions, but you have to realize that the threat of hell does not affect me as it does others. I live a hell on earth every day of my life. Even if that were not the case, I refuse to be forced into such an important decision by fear. So amid the terrified prayers of other seekers, I slipped out the door.

Eventually I found a church that seemed open and friendly. It was a little place, and I was immediately greeted with warm handshakes and several people introduced themselves. You knew what I was, and you were still kind. Quite honestly, I don’t remember what your sermon was about because I was still shocked due to the welcome I had received. So I came back the next Sunday, and again everyone was friendly. Each person I talked to was more friendly than the last, and a few gave me their phone numbers urging me to call if I ever needed anything.

Later in that week, the pain of my situation began playing it’s cruel games. I was desperate for some peace, but I didn’t know where to turn. So I picked up one of those phone numbers I had been given and made the call. I introduced myself, and was puzzled when the church member on the other end of the line seemed distant and detached. I plowed forward, hoping to connect with a fellow human being, but it was obvious the other person was disinterested in the conversation.

The situation repeated itself during two more phone calls, and it became apparent what was taking place. Your church people were more than willing to act concerned when there were others watching. It had been a contest of who could seem most Godly. But when the rubber met the road, and no one else was around to see, their true nature showed through. Helping the poor Pagan had become a sort of power struggle, a way to show who was the most pious. I am offended by this lack of respect and consideration.

So I have gone back to those entities that I serve, and they answered my call. It is a world where I know the rules, and they don’t change from day to day. They offer power and knowledge, but there is no offer of love. I possess strength and power and all the material possessions I could ever want; yet I have to admit that it is love that my soul craves. For a time, I can lock that desire away, but it haunts me. I still wrestle between wanting to know more about a God who claims to be All-Loving, and cursing Him for what I found in your places of worship.

If the people I have met there are His representatives, I want no part of Him. I am not naïve enough to believe that Christians are above being human, but your God inhabits your hearts, shouldn’t that be obvious?

It is likely that I visit one of your churches again someday. I have shared my experiences for your consideration, not so that you can offer an explanation, but because I wonder if you are even aware that your church has been presented in such a manner. I am looking to you for an example of your God, because I don’t know where else to look. If my search continues to turn up the same results, then I can only assume that your claims of God are false and I will look no further. I am prepared to accept that my questions have no answers, and that my search has been a failure… but I am still haunted by the thought that there must be something more to life than this. Will I find it at your church?

*based on journal excerpts of Annie Fintan, Refuge Ministries, while she was still a Pagan.

WALKING DEAD

They're in the malls, the restaurants, at work, at school, NEXT DOOR, you've even talked to them unaware.
NO, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ZOMBIES, VAMPIRE WANNABE'S OR EVEN GOTHS.  I'm talking about one hundred percent certified walking dead people.
WHO ARE THEY?
Some would label them as "CHRISTIANS", but don't let the ignorant mislead you, they are far from being like your TYPICAL CHRISTIANS of today.
A TYPICAL CHRISTIAN of today is someone who claims to be RELIGIOUS or Christian just because they acknowledge someone named Jesus or chant prayers to a statue of Mary or some other dead person, or who has some AFFILIATION with a certain religion just because they have gone thru confirmation classes or have been ceremonially baptized, or because they have gone to a certain church all there life, or who goes to a "TOKEN"  church service on Easter or Christmas just to ease there tormented conscience and leave in the same tormented condition.
There is something extremely different about THE WALKING DEAD that sets them apart from your TYPICAL CHRISTIAN of today and those of other religions.
THE WALKING DEAD have an unshakable, unwavering confidence that God knows them personally and takes a personal interest in there every need and no matter how big or tuff the trial or hardship that they may go through it won't separate them from there personal relationship with God.
UNLIKE OTHER RELIGIONS.
In other religions you have to physically die, I MEAN NO PULSE, NO HEART BEAT, NO MORE BRAIN WAVES, YOUR BODY ROTS AND TURNS TO DUST.  That kind of die, in the HOPES, not guarantee but the hopes to meet god or some kind of "HIGHER POWER" or "COSMIC ENERGY".  Yet while you're still alive on this planet you're miserable because of all the man-made rules, restrictions, traditions and rituals each particular religion says you have to live by in order to get a slim chance to meet with your god or cosmic force.  So you're constantly suffering to please your particular god.  Yet there still isn't any guarantee that your particular god  or cosmic force will even take notice of you and give you some kind of relief from your current sufferings just because you obey man-made teachings of religion.
RELIGION TEACHES THAT YOU HAVE TO SUFFER AND WORK YOUR WAY INTO HEAVEN, WHICH IS A CROCK!!!
HOPELESS RELIGION IS NOT THE WAY OF LIFE FOR THE WALKING DEAD.
THE WALKING DEAD ARE UNWAVERINGLY CONFIDENT THAT THEY HAVE A VERY REAL AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ONLY TRUE GOD,

What is it that makes them so confident to even think that God knows them personally?
THE WALKING DEAD DAILY EXPERIENCE THE TRUTH AND POWER BEHIND THE REALITY OF BEING COVERED IN BLOOD.
The walking dead have been set free from the lies and complexities of hopeless religion by choosing to be covered from head to toe in BLOOD.
It is only by being covered in blood that you can escape the pain, misery and hopelessness of this life and walk in the reality of a personal relationship with BLOOD GOD.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT BECOMING ONE OF THE WALKING DEAD AND LIVING A LIFE WITHOUT BEING COVERED IN BLOOD?
You will continue to live your life filled with hopelessness and despair.  Seeking to fill the emptiness in the pit of your soul with things that cannot ever completely satisfy that emptiness.  EDUCATION, CAREER, FAMILY, FRIENDS, DRUGS, SEX, ALTERNATIVE LIFE STYLE, and even RELIGION will never completely satisfy that inner emptiness of your soul, but more than likely they will even cause you GREATER EMPTINESS.
Is this miserable existence of a  life, a life without Blood, a life filled with torment what you want?
YOUR LIFE CAN BE CHANGED FOR EVER, INSTANTLY.  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CHOOSE TO BE COVERED IN BLOOD AND EXPERIENCE A LIFE FILLED WITH HOPE, PEACE AND PURPOSE, A LIFE WITHOUT EMPTINESS.
THIS IS THE LIFE OF THE WALKING DEAD.
END THE CYCLE OF THAT IS IN YOUR LIFE.
BATHE IN BLOOD TODAY

SUBCULTURE

SUBCULTURE
We have made a choice to be different from the main stream.
We live contrary to how your world lives
Your world can only offer you death.
We are dead to the things of your world.
We live in the shadows, we do not want to be acknowledged.
We live and work amongst you but yet we are separate from you.
We are made fun of because we are so different from you, but we don't mind because that's what makes us stronger.
We are rejected by your world so we have made our own.
We are a powerful unseen influence to your world.
If it weren't for us YOUR WORLD would have collapsed long ago.
Some day you will want to be like us and we won't reject you like you have rejected us but rather we will embrace you with an eternal love that has no prejudice and no barriers  and we will help you to become like us, for we will one day rule the world,
and there is nothing you can do about it.
We are THE WALKING DEAD

BLOOD LUST

BLOOD LUST

LET'S BE HONEST, SHALL WE?
FORGET THE ANN RICE FAIRYTALES.
THIS IS WHAT YOUR LIFE IS REALLY LIKE AFTER YOU HAVE AWAKENED.
 Your lust for blood becomes so strong that you can no longer control it but rather it takes control of you and becomes your MASTER and you become its mindless SLAVE, no longer are you an individual but you are a numberless clone in an enslaved army. Your own individuality is forever gone as you become one with the driving force from within and it will not let you go.
 It's the first to greet you when you wake from your death like slumber and it will not let you have any peace until it's been sated and then the peace is only temporary and after you have been in IT for a while there is no peace at all. 
Why doesn't the hollow emptiness in the pit of your soul go away?
Does  the reality of your tormented souls lust for blood  meet the expectations of  the romantic fantasies that you had from when before you were awakened?
Have you not yet realized that your romance with blood has imprisoned you into your own personal nightmare?
Is the brief time of fulfillment worth the torment of the endless yearning and need to feed again and again? 
You have become the ultimate donor and your master is sucking the life from you and you don't even see it. He has lied to you, making you think that just because you have a few "special gifts" that you are above everyone else but in reality you have become the Main Course of your masters food.
Your ultimate end is death and an eternity of torment for your  soul.
Why doesn't the hollow emptiness in the pit of your soul go away?
Do you still feel that special romance even now that your body is racked with pain and you realize that you are trapped?
One day your eyes will be opened and you will look back with heart felt longing and envy on those that are not enslaved in blood, was it worth it all to be awakened?
Why doesn't the hollow emptiness in the pit of your soul go away?
The life that you have chosen cannot fill that empty spot in the center of your soul and it never will.
Have you ever longed to be NORMAL again?
Have you been told that once  you've awakened you can never go back?
THAT'S NOT TRUE.
You can have a normal life again and be set free from the nightmare that you now live in.
TAKE A BLOOD BATH.
The TRUE BLOOD GOD has provided a way for you to be set free from the lie and trap of your sanguine lifestyle and that is by bathing in the Blood of His ONLY SON who willingly sacrificed his blood for you.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY BUT BY THE BLOOD.

BATHE IN BLOOD

BATHE IN BLOOD
AS I FEEL THE GLORIOUS WARMTH OF YOUR  BLOOD FLOWING OVER ME, I AM FILLED WITH SENSATIONS THAT ARE FOREIGN TO ME AND HAVE ELUDED ME ALL MY LIFE.
NEVER HAVE I FELT SUCH PEACE  AND JOY AS I DO RIGHT NOW AS I FEEL YOUR BLOOD FLOWING OVER ME.   ALL THE GUILT, SHAME AND REGRETS.  ALL THE CARES AND WORRIES, ALL THE  TORMENTS AND AGONIES OF MY LIFE FADE AWAY INTO THE SEA OF FORGETFULNESS.  FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE MY MIND IS AT EASE AND MY HEART IS AT REST. THE EMPTINESS THAT ATE AWAY AT MY HEART AND SOUL LIKE A CANCER IS GONE.
WHAT IS THIS BLOOD, THAT IT CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS TO ME? 
This blood that your soul has been secretly craving all your life is a special blood that only comes from  one source.
JESUS, THE SON OF BLOOD GOD.
FORGET THE JESUS THAT IS STEEPED IN RELIGION, that Jesus is used by the religions of man to keep people under bondage and in suffering.
THE REAL JESUS, THE SON OF BLOOD GOD, can set you free from your current misery right now at this very moment with his blood.  And NO you won't turn into one of those religious hypocrites that turns everyone off, that's religion and that is not what Jesus the son of Blood God offers.  But what will happen is that instantly your heart and mind will have a peace and joy that  you will not be able to explain to others in mere mortal words.
 
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ACCEPT THE TRUTH.
FIRST:  Accept and believe the fact that Jesus is the son of BLOOD GOD and that he came to earth to become a man so that he could relate with and experience the pain and regrets of life that you and I have to deal with every day. 
Accept and believe the fact that Jesus willingly allowed himself to be beaten, tortured and nailed to a wooden instrument of death (a cross) so that his blood would flow from his body so that you and I could take a bath and be covered in Blood.
SECOND:  Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins (sins are the bad things that you have done, the wrong decision and choices that you have made and you knew they were wrong when you did them, but you did them anyway and you have been carrying around the guilt and shame of them ever sense.) and wash you in His BLOOD (take a blood bath).
THIRD: Ask Jesus to come into your heart (your life force) and be the Lord (to have complete control) of your life.
 
IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE!
 
 
DOESN'T IT FEEL GOOD TO BE COVERED IN BLOOD?

BLOOD FETISH

BLOOD FETISH

ALL OF US desperately seek to be covered in blood.
But you my friend, are more hungry  than the rest. If you weren't, you wouldn't be this far into this site.
THE BLOOD that is offered here on this site is not the blood of animals, nor the blood of mere mortals, 
BUT THE BLOOD OF GOD.
Every person on this planet was born with the desire to be covered in Gods blood, they just don't realize it, they dismiss it as a dumb or bizarre urge, they live in denial, or they suppress the desire, but the desire is still there, eating away at us. WE WERE BORN WITH THIS NEED TO BE COVERED IN GODS BLOOD.
 
WHY DO WE NEED TO BE COVERED IN GODS BLOOD?
It restores a broken relationship between you and God.
It heals you of the hurts and torments in your mind, heart and  soul from the consequences of bad choices you made in your life, your past, present and future.
  It gives you a peace and comfort like nothing you have ever experienced before.
  It gives you a new beginning in life, no matter how messed up you think it is.
  It makes you a new person and gives you new eyes to see the world around you.
IT TRANSFORMS YOU FROM THE INSIDE OUT, and you are forever COVERED IN BLOOD.
 
If this sounds like something you want to experience, then click on the  BATHE IN BLOOD link below and you will be instructed on how to be COVERED IN BLOOD.
 

DIMANA ANAK-ANAK KITA BERMAIN?

Di Mana Anak-anak Kita Bermain? 
Jess...jess...jess....pom pom! 
Empat bocah lelaki itu tak terpengaruh akan suara kereta api yang akan singgah di Stasiun Cikudapateuh Bandung, tepat di seberang lokasi mereka bermain. Belasan kelereng dikumpulkan. Lalu, mereka bersiap melemparkan kojo.
”Ber! maneheun ayeuna!” sergah seorang bocah.
”Ah, maneh mah licik. Pan urang enggeus tadi,” jawab temannya.
Tempat bocah-bocah itu bermain hanyalah ”jalan setapak” berukuran tak lebih dari 1,5 meter yang berada beberapa centimeter saja dari bantalan rel kereta api. Setiap siang, sepulang sekolah, bocah-bocah itu bermain di sana. Kalau tak bermain kelereng, mereka bermain pedang-pedangan.
**
Apa yang berlangsung di sana, di seberang Stasiun Cikudapateuh itu hanyalah sebuah contoh. Betapa Bandung, sebagaimana kota besar lainnya di Indonesia, sudah tak sedemikian ”ramah” terhadap anak. Soal ini, sebenarnya, sudah diprediksi oleh badan PBB yang khusus mengurus anak, yakni UNICEF. Bahwa lebih dari separuh anak di kota kehilangan tempat bermain. Anak-anak itu bermain di lahan-lahan ”tak resmi”, seperti jalan, bantaran kali, dan itu tadi...bantalan rel kereta api.
Pakar planologi Merina Burhan mencatat semakin hilangnya lahan bermain anak sebagai salah satu sebab dari economic booming. Arus urbanisasi meningkat pesat. Ia mencatat, penduduk urban sudah mencapai angka 34,4% dari seluruh penduduk Indonesia, dengan tingkat pertumbuhan 4,7% per tahun. Bandingkan dengan angka pertumbuhan penduduk Indonesia yang rata-rata 1,5% per tahun.
Berdasarkan penelitiannya, rata-rata, anak Indonesia bermain selama 2 jam setiap hari--sama dengan kebanyakan anak di negara-negara Asia lainnya--. Satu jam lebih singkat dari kebanyakan anak di Amerika dan Eropa Barat.
Soal bermain ini, anak Indonesia (bersekolah SD- red.) dapat dibagi menjadi dua kelompok. Pertama, anak dari kalangan menengah-atas dan bersekolah bonafide. Kedua, anak dari kelas menengah-bawah, kebanyakan bersekolah negeri. Kelompok pertama cenderung bermain di dalam rumah (sendirian), sementara kelompok kedua cenderung bermain di luar rumah (bersama teman).
Anak pada kelompok pertama cenderung bermain dengan teman seusia dalam kelompok kecil (biasanya teman di sekolah). Sementara, anak kelompok kedua cenderung bermain dengan teman berbeda usia dalam kelompok yang lebih besar, kebanyakan tetangga.
Anak-anak pada kelompok pertama cenderung memilih permainan video/computer game di dalam rumah. Sementara, anak-anak dari kelompok kedua cenderung memilih permainan bersifat physically active, seperti sepak bola, selain juga karena fasilitas permainan elektronik yang tidak terjangkau.
Di sinilah masalahnya. Berdasarkan catatan, lebih dari 60% anak Indonesia justru tergolong ke dalam kelompok kedua. Memang, kebanyakan anak, berada di pinggiran kota dan pedesaan. Di situ, masih tersedia cukup lahan bermain buat mereka. Pada akhir dekade 1990-an, berdasarkan catatan, anak-anak di perkotaan masih memiliki lahan untuk bermain seluas 2.000 meter persegi per anak. Kondisi tersebut sebenarnya masih sangat jauh jika dibandingkan dengan anak-anak di Barat dengan 10.000 meter persegi per anak. Saat ini, entah berapa luas lahan yang masih tersisa buat anak bermain?
Tak terwujudnya sebuah taman bermain di setiap wilayah atau sebatas RT tak lepas dari ketidakpedulian terhadap hak-hak anak. Padahal, seyogianya anak memiliki suara pada setiap keputusan yang dilakukan para pengambil kebijakan. Dari jumlah keseluruhan penduduk Kota Bandung yang mencapai 2 juta orang, jumlah anak mencapai sepertiganya. Klasifikasi anak berdasarkan badan PBB, UNICEF merupakan penduduk yang berusia 0-18 tahun, termasuk janin di dalam kandungan.
Jumlah sepertiga tak dapat dipandang sebelah mata. Jika saja mereka dapat menduduki posisi dewan yang mewakili rakyat, sepertiga kursi DPRD di Kota Bandung seharusnya diisi anak-anak.
Keadaan tersebut sangat kontras dengan berbagai kebijakan yang dibuat oleh para pengambil kebijakan selama ini. Hak-hak anak—yang dilindungi undang-undang—seakan terpinggirkan. ”Berbagai produk hukum di Kota Bandung seakan tak pernah berpihak kepada anak. Sebagai contoh, revisi perda RTRW yang baru saja disahkan sama sekali tak berpihak kepada anak-anak,” protes Eko Kriswanto, aktivis anak dari Yayasan Bahtera.
Sebuah rencana aksi kota yang jelas dan berpihak untuk anak, menurut Eko, seharusnya menjadi pertimbangan utama. ”Apa salahnya dalam setiap perencanaan kota dirumuskan dibangunnya lahan bermain baru untuk anak. Jangan hanya berpatokan pada sisi ekonomi maupun bisnis,” ucapnya lagi.
Pendapat Eko mungkin saja benar. Saat ini, akan sangat sulit menemukan tempat bermain di Kota Bandung. Data Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup RI pada 2003 lalu mencatat bahwa luas taman kota di Kota Bandung mencapai 114 hektare saja atau sekira 0,68% dari luas wilayah Kota Bandung yang mencapai 16.729 hektare.
Halaman sekolah juga seharusnya dapat digunakan anak-anak untuk bermain. Namun, tak sedikit sekolah di kota ini yang tak memiliki lahan bermain. Anak-anak pun kemudian bermain pada tempat di mana keselamatan dan keamanan terabaikan.
Sempitnya lahan bermain anak juga diduga memicu kenaikan anak jalanan. Data Dinas Sosial Prov. Jabar 2003 menyebutkan, anak jalanan di Kota Bandung mencapai 4.626 orang, sementara di Jawa Barat 20.665 orang. ”Berdasarkan penelitian, sekira 80% darianak jalanan di Kota Bandung merupakan anak rumahan. Dalam artian, mereka memiliki rumah dan orang tua, dan menjadikan jalanan sebagai tempat bermain,” tutur Eko Kriswanto dari Yayasan Bahtera.
Ironisnya, fenomena sempitnya lahan bermain di Kota Bandung menjadi lahan bisnis. Ada uang, ada lahan bermain. Kenyataan ini dapat dilihat dengan maraknya jenis permainan yang ditawarkan mal, misalnya.
Selain soal lahan, Merina Burhan menduga bahwa sistem pendidikan di sekolah dasar dan tingkat persaingan mengakibatkan waktu bermain semakin berkurang. Anak usia sekolah dasar (bahkan sejak di TK) telah dibebani berbagai pelajaran tambahan dan kursus-kursus privat lainnya. Alhasil, waktu anak untuk bermain hanya terbatas dengan teman sekolah dan pada jam istirahat. Kenyataan di atas mengakibatkan anak Indonesia tak saja kehilangan tempat, tetapi juga kehilangan waktu bermain mereka.
Wakil Ketua Lembaga Perlindungan Anak (LPA) Jabar, Ny. S. Roediono, S.H. dan praktisi perlindungan anak, Prof. H. Sambas Wiradisuria, dr., menegaskan, aktivitas bermain dapat sekaligus berfungsi untuk belajar.Faktor kreativitas dan kecerdasan anak akan terangsang dengan aktivitas bermain.
Hilangnya kesempatan bermain telah mengucilkan anak dari interaksi sosial dalam masyarakat. Jika anak-anak menjadi lebih egois dan individualis, itu bisa menunjukkan rendahnya kualitas dan kuantitas lingkungan bermain anak.
Kapan ya Bandung menjadi kota yang ”ramah anak”? (Hazmirullah/Deni Yudiawan/”PR”)***

ANTARA PROBLEMATIKA DAN STIGMATISASI ANAK JALANAN

Antara Problematika dan Stigmatisasi Anak Jalanan
Oleh: Sodiq Permana
PERKEMBANGAN sosial budaya Perkembangan sosial budaya,

politik, ekonomi, teknologi, serta pertumbuhan

penduduk yang cukup cepat, langsung atau tidak

langsung, telah mempengaruhi tatanan nilai dan budaya

suatu bangsa. Secara material arus pertumbuhan dan

perkembangan tersebut seolah-olah berjalan dengan

mulus dan menjadi kebanggaan suatu bangsa. Kenyatanan

sebenarnya telah terjadi kesenjangan yang sangat

mencolok. Disuatu sisi terdapat banyak bangunan megah

dan mewah tetapi disisi lain dalam kehidupan

masyarakat perkotaan terdapat celah kehidupan yang

sangat memprihatinkan yakni dengan munculnya kehidupan

anak jalanan yang berkeliaran di persimpangan jalan,

dikeramaian lalulintas yang tidak memperhatikan

keselamatan dirinya. Perbedaan yang sangat menonjol

pembangunan secara fisik tidak diimbangi dengan

pembangunan moral bangsa akan berakibat rusaknya

fundamen tatanan kehidupan di dalam masyarakat itu

sendiri. Pendidikan di lintas sektoral perlu

ditingkatkan guna mengangkat citra bangsa di dunia

Internasional bahwa kebangkitan suatu bangsa ditandai

dengan pedulinya masyarakat terhadap kehidupan anak

jalanan.

Jumlah anak jalanan di Indonesia mengalami peningkatan

pesat dalam beberapa tahun belakangan. Krisis ekonomi

yang terjadi diyakini berpengaruh besar terhadap

peningkatan jumlah ini walaupun bukan satu-satunya

faktor pencipta anak-anak jalanan tetapi kondisi

ekonomi terus menerus memburuk dengan tingginya

tingkat inflasi sehingga menyebabkan daya tahan

komunitas masyarakat, terutama anak-anak menjadi

korban pergolakan kehidupan yang kejam. Anak yang

seharusnya masih berada dalam lingkungan bermain dan

belajar, sekarang malah berada atau bahkan tinggal di

jalan, maka terbayangkah kehidupan yang mereka jalani?

Sepintas penglihatan kita ketika bertemu di jalanan,

kegiatan-kegiatan yang mereka lakukan di perempatan

jalan misalnya, sudah mengandung beragam resiko

seperti rawan akan kecelakaan atau resiko terkena

penyakit akibat kerapkali menghirup racun-racun

kendaraan bermotor.

Menelusuri lebih jauh menyaksikan kehidupan malam

mereka di taman kota, pasar, gedung-gedung kosong,

emperan toko, mereka bisa terlelap tanpa alas. Bahaya

apa yang membayang-bayangi? Terlebih bila anak

perempuan juga dijumpai di sana? Beranjak lebih dalam

berintegrasi dengan mereka, akan kita ketahui

bagaimana pola hubungan antar mereka, dengan

orang-orang jalanan, dengan masyarakat umum, aparat

negara, Sudah menjadi rahasia umum bahwa dunia jalanan

adalah dunia yang penuh dengan kekerasan dan

eksploitasi. Pertarungan demi pertarungan selalu

berakhir dengan kekalahan tanpa ada kemenangan dari

pihak manapun. Namun ini terus saja berlangsung.

Seorang dewasa-pun belum tentu mampu mengarunginya

dengan baik. Apalagi bagi anak-anak! Sekarang

terbayangkah posisi mereka?

Anak jalanan adalah bagian dari warga bangsa untuk itu

perlu perlindungan, karena keberadaan anak-anak

tersebut bukan dari kemauannya akan tetapi disebabkan

oleh kondisi yang disebabkan kehidupan ekonomi orang

tuanya yang tidak cukup untuk kehidupan keluarganya,

sebagai jaminan kelangsungan hidupnya negara harus

membantu mengentaskan kemiskinan sesuai pada bunyi

pasal 34 menjelaskan bahwa "Fakir miskin dan anak-anak

yang terlantar dipelihara oleh Negara " serta

seperangkat kebijakan lain seperti Peraturan

Perundang-Undangan tentang Perlindungan dan

Kesejahteraan Anak dalam Pasal 37. pasal 39 ayat 4,

Pasal 43 ayat 2 Undang-undang Republik Indonesia Nomor

23 Tahun 2002 tentang Perlindungan Anak, tetapi dalam

prakteknya teori hanyalah teori tak akan ada perubahan

jika perangkat hukum tersebut tidak direalisasikan.

Contoh dari sektor pendidikan yang merupakan sektor

yang paling krusial, anak jalanan yang seharusnya

menghabiskan waktu mereka untuk belajar di sekolah

harus merasa "minder" melihat teman-teman sebaya

mereka pergi sekolah. Padahal pendidikan di usia

anak-anak merupakan kegiatan yang diharapkan oleh

semua orang tua, bangsa maupun negara sebagaimana

tercantum dalam Pasal 31 Undang-Undang Dasar 1945

yang menjelaskan bahwa "tiap-tiap warga negara berhak

mendapat pengajaran". Belum lagi masalah kekerasan

yang sering terjadi terhadap anak jalanan, terutama

anak perempuan yang rentan terhadap eksploitasi seperti

pelecehan sexual, pornografi, pemerkosaan, Porstitusi,

etc.

Tantangan terbesar dari upaya agar berbagai pihak

perduli dengan anak jalanan adalah Stigmatisasi.

Pandangan dominan masih memvonis Anak jalanan sebagai

"anak liar", "kotor" "biang keributan", dan "pelaku

kriminal". Adanya stigmatisasi ini tentu saja akan

melahirkan tindakan-tindakan yang penuh prasangka dan

cenderung akan mengesahkan jalan kekerasan di dalam

menghadapi anak jalanan. Seandainya-pun terjadi

berbagai bentuk kekerasan yang keji dan tidak

manusiawi atau sampai menghilangkan nyawa, peristiwa

tersebut belum tentu menjadi kegelisahan dan

menggelitik hati nurani publik. Atau bisa jadi ada

pihak yang justru mensyukuri dan menilai bahwa

peristiwa tersebut memang layak diterima oleh

anak-anak jalanan.

Perlunya penggalangan sosial swadaya pendidikan guna

menanggulangi perkembangan populasi kehidupan anak

jalanan yang kian hari makin bertambah. Dilingkungan

masyarakat ekonomi ke bawah pada umumnya melibatkan

anak-anaknya untuk hidup di jalanan kondisi ini sangat

memprihatinkan bila tidak diperhatikan nantinya banyak

menimbulkan permasalahan baru, karena anak jalan

seharusnya menjadi beban sosial khususnya bagi

pemerintah. Pandangan hidup dikemudian hari bagi anak

jalanan tidak jelas keberadaannya baik dalam segi

status sosial anak itu sendiri. Banyaknya komunitas dikelompok masyarakat mampu dan berpendidikan dan

kelompok selibritis kurang peduli dengan kehadiran

anak jalanan berpotensial rawan.

Usia anak adalah usia pendidikan dan usia belajar dan

bermain, perlunya kasih sayang dan perhatian dalam

kehidupannya, anak jalanan merupakan bagian dari

masyarakat atau warga negara juga mempunyai hak yang

sama dengan anak-anak lainnya, mereka anak jalanan

berhak mendapat hak atas pendidikan dan kesejahteraan

untuk hidup layak sebagai anggota masyarakat maka

janganlah sia-siakan mereka, mari kita bantu mereka

dengan segala upaya agar bangsa ini terlepas dari

cengkraman kebodohan dan kemiskinan.



Penulis: Pengurus LPP Lingkar Ilmiah Studi

Mahasiswa [LISMA UNTAN]. Mahasiswa Fak. Ekonomi UNTAN.

MENDESAK UU ANTI TRAFFICKING !!!!!!!

Mendesak, UU Anti Trafficking
PERDAGANGAN anak merupakan salah satu bentuk terburuk dari eksploitasi manusia. Meski tidak diketahui angka persisnya, Organisasi Buruh Internasional (ILO) memperkirakan sekitar 1,2 juta anak, perempuan dan laki-laki menjadi korban perdagangan orang setiap tahun.
Tenaga anak-anak itu, perempuan dan laki-laki, dieksploitasi di perkebunan, di jalanan menjadi pengemis, di pertambangan, di pabrik, dijadikan serdadu di wilayah-wilayah konflik, dan sebagai pekerja seks komersial.
Di Indonesia, jumlah perempuan dan anak yang menjadi korban jaringan perdagangan perempuan tidak diketahui secara pasti. Laporan Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Anak (Komnas Perlindungan Anak) tahun 2005 menyatakan, fenomena perdagangan orang semakin mengerikan terutama setelah krisis ekonomi dan bencana alam di berbagai wilayah di Indonesia. Modusnya pun semakin beragam.
Misalnya, dari 6.750 perempuan yang dilacurkan di Malaysia, 62,7 persennya atau sekitar 4.200 perempuan berasal dari Indonesia. Dari jumlah itu, 40 persennya berusia di bawah 18 tahun, batas usia untuk kriteria anak menurut ILO.
Dalam Rancangan Undang-Undang Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang, istilah trafficking tidak terbatas pada mereka yang dibawa untuk dieksploitasi secara seksual, tetapi secara lebih luas, juga dieksploitasi tenaganya.
Daerah yang memiliki kasus trafficking tertinggi di Indonesia menurut catatan Kantor Menteri Negara Pemberdayaan Perempuan adalah Jawa Barat, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, dan Nusa Tenggara Barat. Namun tak berarti wilayah lain ”bersih”.
Jaringan kriminal itu mempunyai sejuta mata untuk mencari korban baru dan menciptakan kebutuhan akan itu. Jawa Tengah, Lampung, Sumatera Utara, dan Nusa Tenggara Timur adalah wilayah lain yang potensial. Sementara itu, Jakarta, Riau, Batam, Bali, Balikpapan, dan Papua dikenal sebagai daerah tujuan perdagangan orang, khususnya untuk keperluan eksploitasi seksual.
Data Dari Komnas Perlindungan Anak bulan Maret tahun 2005 menunjukkan peningkatan penjualan anak balita yang melibatkan sindikat internasional. Kalau pada tahun 2003 terdapat 102 kasus yang terbongkar, setahun kemudian menjadi 192 kasus. Jumlah anak yang menjadi korban perdagangan orang untuk dilacurkan di berbagai rumah bordil sekitar 30 persen atau 200.000-300.000 adalah perempuan di bawah usia 18 tahun.
Catatan Komisi Nasional Anti Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan (Komnas Perempuan) menyatakan, dari 14.020 kasus yang teridentifikasi tahun 2004, 562 kasus di antaranya merupakan kasus-kasus perdagangan orang.
KARENA itu, UU Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang seharusnya menjadi prioritas DPR untuk diselesaikan tahun ini.
”Mudah-mudahan RUU itu diselesaikan lebih dulu dibandingkan RUU Pornografi dan Pornoaksi,” ujar Valentina R Sagala dari Institut Perempuan, Bandung. Dari 55 RUU yang dalam Program Legislasi Nasional (Prolegnas) tahun 2005, RUU Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan Orang berada di urutan kesembilan.
Valentina menjelaskan, RUU itu merupakan inisiatif pemerintah melalui Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan pada tahun 2002. Pada tahun yang sama, Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri mengeluarkan Keputusan Presiden RI Nomor 88 Tahun 2002 tentang Rencana Aksi Nasional Penghapusan Perdagangan Perempuan dan Anak. Presiden Megawati waktu itu juga telah menerbitkan Amanat Presiden untuk mengajukan rancangan itu ke DPR.
Dua kebijakan yang muncul secara hampir bersamaan itu, menurut Valentina, dapat dilihat sebagai tanggapan yang reaktif karena dalam laporan tahunan Trafficking in Persons yang dikeluarkan Departemen Luar Negeri AS sejak tahun 2000, Indonesia dimasukkan ke dalam Tier-3, artinya tidak berusaha keras mencegah perdagangan manusia. Padahal tanpa itu pun, isu perdagangan orang seharusnya mendapat perhatian serius dari pemerintah.
Pada tanggal 7 Maret tahun 2005, Komisi VIII DPR mengadakan Rapat Dengar Pendapat Umum dengan Komnas Perempuan, Komnas Perlindungan Anak, Aisyah, Muslimat NU, Yayasan Kesejahteraan Anak Indonesia dan Solidaritas Perempuan untuk memperoleh masukan dalam Pembahasan Penyusunan RUU mengenai trafficking.
Banyak hal dibicarakan dalam pertemuan itu, termasuk upaya sejumlah organisasi perempuan memerangi perdagangan orang itu. Di situ pula didorong lahirnya UU Anti Trafficking, yang kini disebut RUU Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Penjualan Orang. (mh)