Soldiers Fight More Than One Destructive Force
- Mar 17, 2008 - 1
According to some at the U.S. Department of Defense, Playboy and Penthouse, as well as a host of other so-called adult magazines, are harmless and suitable entertainment for our soldiers.
A decade-old law officially bars military exchanges from selling or renting videos or printed material with “the dominant theme of which depicts or describes nudity” or sexual activities “in a lascivious way.” But the Defense Department has deemed it appropriate to sell many sexually-charged publications to soldiers stationed throughout the country and around the world.
A board under the Defense Department’s jurisdiction reviews questionable content to determine whether the material falls into the “sexually explicit” category. Last year, the Pentagon sought to reassure concerned individuals that such publications are neither acceptable under that definition nor would be made accessible to the military.
It is hardly comforting, though, to know that publications such as Celebrity Skin, Playboy’s College Girls, and Playmates In Bed made the cut as approved fare. If names are any indication, these magazines can hardly be considered wholesome leisure reading.
The pornographic industry has become a societal threat of monumental proportions. Its primary targets are men and boys, but families and society as a whole cannot escape its destructive impact. It leads men to adopt unrealistic expectations of their wives and demeaning views of women in general. It rips apart marriages and destroys families.
Rep. Paul Broun, a former jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and later a medical officer in the U.S. Navy, intends to do something about it. He will soon introduce the Military Honor and Decency Act, which would close a loophole that permits access to sexually explicit material at military exchange stores.
Our soldiers are already encountering the unfortunate but necessary images of war as they honorably fight to preserve our liberty and extend its reach abroad. They do not need the government to “reward” them for their courageous service through the allurement of pornography. It’s time for Congress to revisit the law and clean out pornographic material on all military premises.
Congress just began a two-week recess, making it an ideal time for you to reach out to your congressman while he is in your district. If you think our soldiers should be focused on defending our country rather than feeding on pornographic filth, please tell your congressman to cosponsor the Military Honor and Decency Act.
The U.S. Department of Defense may be contacted here or at 703-428-0711.
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission works to fight the battle against pornography in America. If your church would like to purchase materials on this important issue, bulletin inserts are available at our online bookstore.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Addictions, Sexual Purity, Pornography, Citizenship, Legislation, War
1 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Jun 18th, 2008, at 1:14pm, Brian wrote:
I do believe this unConstitutional, unChristian, and self-righteous attempt to control has been beaten back. Once again, while I and 200,000 or so of my closest friends are over here in the sand getting blown up and shot at, we are served up more personal visions of sexual ethics masquerading as morals. (1) We are adults and as such are completely capable of making moral judgements...more so than a lot of people in the rear. (2) If you’re really concerned about immorality in our society and what you might do about it, drop me a line, I have some suggestions.
(3) Please stop attempting to exhibit your “moral superiority” and attempting to restrict our freedom while myself and my colleagues while we are fighting and dying for yours.