our representatives are bored

[sdbrit68]

since there is not enought to do with trying to get better education,health care, prescription drugs to the elderly..........and of course dealing with the gas crisis and that pesky budget

our politicians are going after playboy and penthouse.

Soldiers Say Porn Ban May Hurt Morale
Stars and Stripes | Seth Robson | May 05, 2008
GRAFENWOHR, Germany -- Legislation that would restrict the sale of certain men's magazines on U.S. military bases around the world would be bad for morale, according to soldiers at Grafenwöhr.

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., has introduced legislation that would close a loophole in the current law that allows the sale of some sexually explicit material on military bases by lowering the threshold required to deem material "sexually explicit."

A Department of Defense committee that reviews materials sold on bases ruled last year that magazines such as Playboy and Penthouse are not pornographic. But Broun's Military Honor and Decency Act includes language that could make those magazines eligible for the ban.

The prospect of missing out on men's magazines was not welcomed by soldiers at Grafenwöhr.

"We all read 'em," said Pfc. Paul Rubio, 31, of Bakersfield, Calif. "There are times we just read 'em for the technological parts like the new gadgets that come out. They have good stories sometimes too."

Sgt. Simon Brown, 34, of Daytona Beach, Fla., said men's magazines build morale. "It's not all about the pictures, although 80 percent of it is," he said.

Pfc. Greg Smith, 21, of Northboro, Mass., a regular Playboy reader, said soldiers should be allowed to buy nudie magazines at the exchange.

"Playboy is good entertainment while you are on the can. They have jokes and good stories," he said.

Broun, a Marine veteran, told Newsweek recently that the magazines sold in military exchanges are partly responsible for a rise in sexual assaults in the military and other problems.

"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," Broun says on his Web site.

The legislation would require the DOD to annually review material that is not currently deemed sexually explicit to determine if it should be prohibited, according to the Web site.

Some soldiers say magazines that could be banned are particularly important downrange.

Brown deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 and 2005 and is preparing to go to Iraq with the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade this summer. When he was in Afghanistan he was one of the first to pick up a new copy of Maxim or FHM when it came out, he said.

"It would suck if they ban it," he said. "It's bad enough we are down there to begin with. Taking that away would be like a knife in the chest. I'm not saying I'm depending on Maxim to keep me alive over there, but it helps."

Publications such as Maxim and FHM are not named by Broun, but lowering the threshold of the sexually explicit definition might mean such magazines would be targeted for a ban.

Some troops in the Pacific region said the proposed legislation would impinge upon their personal freedoms.

"They're making it a point of undermining soldiers to almost make them feel like we're back in elementary school," Pfc. Nickolas Sears said Friday at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea. "We're all adults here, and if it's something we want to do, we should feel free to choose as we please."

Other than on base, there's no place in South Korea to buy magazines like Playboy, he said.

"I believe it's a breach of freedom of speech," said Senior Airman Garrett Deese, 25, of Elk Grove, Calif., who just completed a tour with the 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.

He said he wonders whether such a ban would lead to barring other types of magazines lawmakers chose to challenge. He also questioned whether Broun's link between magazines and sexual assaults within the military would stand close scrutiny.

At Yokota Air Base, Japan, military spouse Roberta Woolley said she understands the need for balance between rules and individual rights, but said the military has tougher standards than the rest of American society.

"It's a good idea," she said of the proposed ban. "I think there's better literature out there.... In the military, we sell cigarettes and alcohol legally. But it's also questionable whether they promote a healthy lifestyle.

"I've seen all these magazines, and they don't make men or women intelligent or beautiful. And even though they're hidden, there is still exposure to children as well. It's the parents' responsibility to give ideas about body awareness to their children. I don't think Mr. Hefner presents a positive image of men or women in his magazine."

A female soldier at Grafenwöhr -- Sgt. Pou McCall, 23, of Riverside, Calif. -- said men's magazines don't bother her a lot, but she'd support a ban.

"What if it was their (soldiers') sisters (in the magazines)? It doesn't take a magazine for sexual harassment to happen but it increases it," she said.

Army and Air Force Exchange service public relations manager Judd Anstey said AAFES sold $231,000 worth of Penthouse, Playboy and Playgirl magazines in Europe last year.

"Sales of these three titles account for 2.7 percent of total European magazine sales ($8.5 million) at AAFES facilities," he said.

The sales accounted for 0.5 percent of worldwide AAFES magazine sales of $46.4 million, he said.

[kartshan]

Half the politicians are rainbow warriors like the guy who solicited a cop in the airport restroom. So they want the army to be like them! Effing idiots. Banning porn is bad for morale everywhere not just the army.

[Svetlana]

This must have been from the How can we make it any worse for our military Department.

And here I thought they were concerned about ways to keep our soldiers, not give them yet another reason to leave. Give me a break.

[antiq]

Like our military personnel need more controls! Seems many in politics need to find other vocations. I'll vote for that.

[V2K_CCTX]

maybe we can convince Bonnie to get some good shots for us with her camera, for BTK morale and all...

[Guitar7272]

I bet Rep Paul Broun will be the next one we hear about soliciting a cop in the bathroom or buying child porn. These moral crusaders always have skeletons in their closet. Americas supposed to be the land of the free right? How about you let us decide for ourselves whats indecent!?

Like Rage Against the Machine said, "What, the land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy!"

[kawnine]

And we wonder why we are the most sexually repressed country in the world.

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Guitar7272

I bet Rep Paul Broun will be the next one we hear about soliciting a cop in the bathroom or buying child porn. These moral crusaders always have skeletons in their closet. Americas supposed to be the land of the free right? How about you let us decide for ourselves whats indecent!?
Like Rage Against the Machine said, "What, the land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy!"

I agree with you and with the above posts. But even on this forum we can't seem to behave ourselves and must legislated in the form of moderators. I understand that...it's just unfortunate. What should be simple sometimes is apparently not. Politicians will always feel they know what is best for us, anxious to make a name for themselves no matter the cost to those who put them there. It's embarassing. Why do they work so hard to make it a little harder each day for this American to hold his head high?

[trikebubble]

I'm still waiting for legislation which requires all politicians that are in favour of war to send either themselves...or their kids over first.

As far as the nudity thing goes, having been raised in a very socially liberal country it makes me wonder what legislators in the USA are so very afraid of.
A network can show cartoons that depict violence, or terrible accounts of war footage.......but dare they show a boob....and the world comes ot an end. Show a boob at the SuperBowl and the Government convenes meetings, and committees to no end...........

Somebody sitting up on their Hill down there really has their priorities all messed up if you ask me.

Now i'm going to go home and watch boobies on regular cable tv...........

[sl3slinger]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

I'm still waiting for legislation which requires all politicians that are in favour of war to send either themselves...or their kids over first.

As far as the nudity thing goes, having been raised in a very socially liberal country it makes me wonder what legislators in the USA are so very afraid of.
A network can show cartoons that depict violence, or terrible accounts of war footage.......but dare they show a boob....and the world comes ot an end. Show a boob at the SuperBowl and the Government convenes meetings, and committees to no end...........

Somebody sitting up on their Hill down there really has their priorities all messed up if you ask me.

Now i'm going to go home and watch boobies on regular cable tv...........

ya nailed that one!! but you forgot how they cleaned up baseball, thank god for that!!

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by sl3slinger

ya nailed that one!! but you forgot how they cleaned up baseball, thank god for that!!

Whats baseball? (When you have boobies on tv, you don't watch much baseball........... )

[Spok]

somebody say boobies?

[sl3slinger]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Whats baseball? (When you have boobies on tv, you don't watch much baseball........... )

lmao, baseballs a cover, when the wife leaves the room the boobies return!

[CTRider]

Originally Posted by Idaho

I agree with you and with the above posts. But even on this forum we can't seem to behave ourselves and must legislated in the form of moderators. I understand that...it's just unfortunate. What should be simple sometimes is apparently not. Politicians will always feel they know what is best for us, anxious to make a name for themselves no matter the cost to those who put them there. It's embarassing. Why do they work so hard to make it a little harder each day for this American to hold his head high?

Except moderators on the forum punish bad behavior - they don't prevent you from posting on the off chance you might abuse the privilage. Banning the magazines implies they feel they are the cause of bad acts, not the actions of the individual.

I can understand not allow that stuff to be displayed in places where people have to see it that don't want to. I can understand not allowing adult material to be viewed on the company equipment. However, in your barracks, the bathroom or your own bunk you should be able to do as you please.

Next they'll be stealing even the slightest sexy pictures of soldiers wives out of their mail on the off chance it might incite a sexual assult. Then it might be pictures of their kids since their might be pedophiles in the ranks that might get riled up by them.

Let's be real - these people shoot and blow other people up for a living. You're telling me they can't look at naked women?

[SilverEagle]

Absolutely the last signs of moronic and stupid actions by politicians before the revolution is bound to happen.

[sdbrit68]

It just seems weird that with everything else.....they are worried that young guys will look at a naked chick.

whoever said america was repressed hit the nail on the head

[Nate]

I vote that the soldiers and the idiot politicians exchange jobs. Who's with me?

[Guitar7272]

Originally Posted by Idaho

I agree with you and with the above posts. But even on this forum we can't seem to behave ourselves and must legislated in the form of moderators. I understand that...it's just unfortunate. What should be simple sometimes is apparently not. Politicians will always feel they know what is best for us, anxious to make a name for themselves no matter the cost to those who put them there. It's embarassing. Why do they work so hard to make it a little harder each day for this American to hold his head high?

This forum is a privately owned entity - thats a completely different circumstance. The owners of this board have the right to moderate it as they see fit but that does not give the legislators the right to police our thoughts or to say what we can and cant have access to.

[Idaho]

Originally Posted by Guitar7272

This forum is a privately owned entity - thats a completely different circumstance. The owners of this board have the right to moderate it as they see fit but that does not give the legislators the right to police our thoughts or to say what we can and cant have access to.

I agree completely. I understand how this forum is run, I was just making a comparison.