Republican Rep Wants to Ban Playboy on Military PX's as "Pornography" Damaging to Families

Andrew Stuttaford rips him, and K-Lo defends:

But I like the idea of the american military having nothing official to do with porn. We train our servicemen to protect and defend, in situations in which they often have to face perilous choices as who to protect and defend. Pornography is a grave indignity and degradation of the human person. If a soldier wants to view pornography, it's his right, but the U.S. military need not provide it to him.

And continues...

I honestly don't know that a congressional action is appropriate (I naturally hesitate), but I do know that I don't think that a congressman is a clown to broach the subject and offer a solution. Porn is a problem. Is Playboy less of one than the world wide web of hardcore porn we all have access to right now? Yes. But it's all dehumanizing. And we should talk about it. It's not just something people look at privately. It has consequences for honor and integrity.

In short, Paul Broun, whom I don't know, is no clown for addressing the topic. I applaud him.

The back and forth continues.

Whether or not pornography is "degrading" as K-Lo insists seems pretty immaterial. Troops can decide for themselves whether or not they're in need of such degredation, and just because someone has the power to impose their notions of what is Good and Right on someone else sure the hell doesn't mean they ought to.

Troops have signed up for enough damn hardship and deprivation without having to worry that Congressmen and busybodies, in the interests of assisting them to live hygenic and non-degrading lives, will make life even more of a hassle for them then it already is.

These are largely men, and largely young men, separated from female company for months at a time. As much as some might wish they spent all their off-hours reading the Bible, they have the right to choose spicier fare on occasion.

Incidentally, in warzones and when based in Muslim countries, where else can they get this sort of thing? I'm sure there's some of it available in the black market but why should they deal with the hassle, not to say very real danger, of leaving the base every time they might want to look at dirty pictures?

Good God. As Stuttaford says, let's get rid of cigarettes at the PX too; those are unhealthy. And then we can get rid of alcohol too, and any sports magazines that carry bettors' lines; mustn't encourage gambling either, nor give such a thing official military approval.

Better yet, let's just cut to the chase and mandate they spend all non-working hours sewing pillows for orphans. That should build sound moral character in our fighting men, who quite frankly are getting a little soft enjoying the voluptuary hedonism of military life.

These Good-Time-Charlie joyboys have had it too good for too long.

posted by Ace at 11:01 PM

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