That’s Just Frickin’ Cruel

I have long been of the opinion that “the troops” function more as plaster saints in the minds of most conservatives than as fully fleshed-out human beings. And now arrives an exceedingly elegant confirmation of my suspicion:

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.

I never thought this would go anywhere, but it looks like some Republicans, even in Congress, are actually starting to take this issue seriously.

“Support the troops” is a vacuous phrase, but nevertheless I’m fairly certain that taking away their Playboys falls outside its sphere of meaning. If anyone deserves the right to enjoy a dirty mag in peace, it’s our men in Iraq.

~ by Jeff on April 25, 2008.