You can take my porn from my cold dead hands

[Enforcer Talen]

Targeting porn on military bases
Posted April 25th, 2008 at 8:30 am

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Some very strange conservative activists, apparently with far too much time on their hands, launched an initiative last November to limit U.S. troops’ access to adult materials. It never occurred to me that policy makers would take this seriously, but apparently, they are.

To quickly recap for those just joining us, Congress banned sales of sexually explicit materials on military bases 11 years ago, but the Pentagon continues to allow base stores to sell magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse, which officials don’t consider explicit enough to prohibit.

The American Family Association and the Alliance Defense Fund, two religious right groups, demanded the Congress and Defense Secretary Robert Gates takes steps to scrutinize materials, including magazines and films, sold to the troops and their families.

Defense officials “don’t want to take porn away from soldiers,” ADF attorney Patrick Trueman said. “They say, ‘well, 40% of this magazine is sexually explicit pictures, but 60% is writing or advertising, so the totality is not sexually explicit.’ That’s ridiculous.”

Oddly enough, the activists actually found a far-right member of Congress to take their demands seriously.

U.S. Congressman Paul C. Broun, M.D. announced today the introduction of legislation designed to stem the sale of pornography on military installations. Broun’s legislation, the “Military Honor and Decency Act,” closes a loophole in current law that is allowing the sale of sexually explicit material on American military installations located both within the United States and around the world.

Upon unveiling his bill, Broun, a retired Marine, said, “Allowing the sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by: escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes; feeding a base addiction; eroding the family as the primary building block of society; and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad.”

The right is apparently lining up behind Broun’s bill.

National Review’s Kathryn Jean Lopez took up the cause yesterday.

The last thing I’d ever want is a feminizing of our military. But military bases are family affairs and therefore this is worth a discussion.

I love men. I love men being men. I love military men. And I thank God they are military men. But I find it hard to believe that all military men are “drinking and whoring Saturday night,” and if they are in any kind of majority, yeah, that bears scrutiny.

Like I said yesterday, I don’t know that Broun’s legislation is a good idea. But I know what he’s thinking: Porn is bad. Why is the military peddling it? It’s a good question. Not the biggest question of our day; it’s not the hill to die on, as many readers have put it to me. But porn in our culture does need to be addressed and discussed. And if that indicates a feminization of anything, maybe that’s what women are here for — to, every once in awhile, stand athwart history and yell, “Stop. What are we doing to our men?”

Let me get this straight. U.S. troops are fighting two wars, neither of which are going well, and Republicans believe we should spend time and energy considering what kind of magazines U.S. troops can purchase on base? Here’s a radical idea: maybe those who wear the uniform and put their lives on the line for their country should be able to read whatever they want.

Source

[Stormin]

Now that's what I call supporting the troops!
Are they still complaining about having a hard time getting to enlist as well?

[Kanastrous]

If the Christian-activist infiltration of other services has been as effective as it has reportedly been in the USAF, maybe there won't be much complaining.

[Stuart Mackey]

Remember everyone, the armed forces and their families must be treated like children, to set a good christian example to society and because they cannot be trusted to do the right thing.
Next, sale of condoms must be prohibited as they cause impure thoughts, prevent conception, and may even encourage soldiers to visit prostitutes!

[Kanastrous]

In A Soldier's Story Charles Willeford writes about his (1920s) military service, and mentions that when he was stationed in the PI, if you went to visit a prostitute, you afterwards were expected to sign a form stating that you had used a condom, and if you later broke with VD, you could be dishonorably discharged.

How times apparently change.

[Adrian Laguna]

During the Civil War, the US Army even allowed prostitutes to hang out in the camps. They just had to submit to regular health check-ups.

[Darth Wong]

I can't think of a more perfect way to describe the twisted mentality of the right-wing than this story.

[Lonestar]

Reminds me of the Chaplain who nuked out MWR computers because the games on them(Doom3, Neverwinter Nights) were "anti-family" and "attacked religion".

He did this when the rest of the ship was busting their ass during thee Tsunami relief, so there were long stretches of time when the classroom was empty. Rather than go ashore and help with the camps,like everyone else(or standing some of the watches set up), he chose to take the opportunity think of our "moral well-being."

[Kanastrous]

I can't think of a more perfect way to describe the twisted mentality of the right-wing than this story.

We train young men to drop fire on people. But their commanders won't allow them to write "fuck" on their airplanes because it's obscene.

[consequences]

Next, sale of condoms must be prohibited as they cause impure thoughts, prevent conception, and may even encourage soldiers to visit prostitutes!

Sale? You mean some soldiers actually have to buy them?

If your unit isn't complete crap, and maybe even if it is as mine was, they should be available gratis in the orderly room.

[Hawkwings]

I interviewed a marine a few months ago, and one of the questions was "What are the most-wanted items for soldiers in the field?"

Topping the list was batteries. #2 was porn.

[Darth Wong]

I still remember back when Crown was in basic training and I sent him a shipment of porn. If I did the same thing for somebody serving in the US armed forces, would the shipment be intercepted and confiscated?

[Stile]

I almost got busted down on my first ship for showing a porno on a private channel on the CCTV. It cost me about $550. bastards!

[Cecelia5578]

I still remember back when Crown was in basic training and I sent him a shipment of porn. If I did the same thing for somebody serving in the US armed forces, would the shipment be intercepted and confiscated?

Probably for what in the Army are called Initial Entry Training soldiers-people who've yet to graduate from AIT. They still go through all the drill sergeant bullshit. But for Joe Schmoe soldier out in the real military, it shouldn't be a problem. Unless its something like gay porn, the soldier keeps it in his barracks (if he lives on post) and there is a room inspection. Then you're looking at trouble.

[Raxmei]

I still remember back when Crown was in basic training and I sent him a shipment of porn. If I did the same thing for somebody serving in the US armed forces, would the shipment be intercepted and confiscated?

In basic training the drill sergeants have soldiers open all packages (but not letters) in front of them. Pornography would definitely be confiscated, though I don't know if it would be returned or not. Harmless stuff that soldiers in training aren't allowed to have, such as snacks, would be returned after completion of basic training. The soldier who received the package would probably be in for some pushups, but soldiers in basic training get smoked for all sorts of stupid things anyway.

The real army? They don't check. The only thing I know that does get checked is outgoing mail overseas.

[Warsie]

Well there's the internet. And the government can't regulate that (or have a hard time doing it).

[Resinence]

They can when your using a government computer, I'm pretty sure the military monitors most of their net traffic, all they have to do is start looking for porn. I love the mental disconnect though, it's ok to riddle some poor fucker in iraq with bullet holes, but looking at naked people OH SHIT GET TO THE CHOPPER. Though everyone already knows that violence is not considered anywhere near as bad as sex to conservative fucktards.

[RogueIce]

I still remember back when Crown was in basic training and I sent him a shipment of porn. If I did the same thing for somebody serving in the US armed forces, would the shipment be intercepted and confiscated?

As some have said, in basic training yes, but then I'm pretty sure they'd do that to any magazine you sent, even if it was Christian Life Monthly or something. So it's not because it was porn.

After basic, it should be a different story.

[Jadeite]

Perhaps someone should email the jackass pictures of B-29 nose art.

[Stuart Mackey]

Next, sale of condoms must be prohibited as they cause impure thoughts, prevent conception, and may even encourage soldiers to visit prostitutes!

Sale? You mean some soldiers actually have to buy them?

If your unit isn't complete crap, and maybe even if it is as mine was, they should be available gratis in the orderly room.

New Zealand: User Pays, iirc.

[Tsyroc]

I almost got busted down on my first ship for showing a porno on a private channel on the CCTV. It cost me about $550. bastards!

That's for showing it on the CCTV though. Would they have fined you if all you were doing was watching it in a room full of people who wanted to see it?

Are they more hardass about porn on ship now because there are women on board?

[Eulogy]

That's for showing it on the CCTV though. Would they have fined you if all you were doing was watching it in a room full of people who wanted to see it?

Are they more hardass about porn on ship now because there are women on board?

Pfft. If anything, the women should have had the opportunity to enjoy the porn as well.

[Oskuro]

This story reminds me of the following quote from Heartbreak Ridge:



[quote="Gunnery Sergeant Thomas "Gunny" Highway"]I been pumping pussy since Christ was a corporal. I can tell you, the best damned poontang I ever paid for was in Da Nang. The girls where checked out daily. And we got ourself laid in a safe, orderly, proficient, military manner. That is until some suckhead writes home mama and says he dipped his wick in the Republic of South Vietnam. Then the shit hits the fan. A committee of congressmen who asshole to asshole couldn't make a beer fart in a whirlwind, start telling your basic-ass-in-the-grass Marine "No more shore time". We responed in true Marine Corps fashion. We salute, do an about face, double time back to the boom-boom garbage dump where we get the clap, and the drip, and the crabs and a generally poor attitude towards the female of the species. War is hell, boy. That's a fact![/quote]

[Tsyroc]

In A Soldier's Story Charles Willeford writes about his (1920s) military service, and mentions that when he was stationed in the PI, if you went to visit a prostitute, you afterwards were expected to sign a form stating that you had used a condom, and if you later broke with VD, you could be dishonorably discharged.

How times apparently change.

About 17-18 years ago they'd treat VD once and make note of it. The next time they were writing you up.

Incidently, when my ship left the PI there were long lines* in front of medical. Lots of people getting treated for the clap. Apparently there were lots of condom breakages.

*When I say long lines I mean long for an aircraft carrier.

[Zixinus]

Yes because we can't have soldiers ,who are occasionally getting shot at and have to worry about bombs going off in any corner, have any form of luxury and are expected to behave like perfect gentlemen while their life is endangered. They are not only to be DYING for their country but also each and every one must be a prime role model that adhears to some assholes who make decisions like this at home in a comfy chair and are themselves excused from military service. They are allowed to do so because they always know better.

[/sarcasm]

Upon unveiling his bill, Broun, a retired Marine, said, “Allowing the sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by: escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes; feeding a base addiction; eroding the family as the primary building block of society; and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad.”

And they do so because he says so, rather then provide evidence for such a statement, but then again this is a right winger we are talking about.