There are a lot of things out there that worry me. Terrorism, Avian flu (or at least, the version of it that finally turns up in humans), the melting of the polar ice cap (no ice at the North Pole within the century? Why aren't people running around like headless chickens shouting 'oh crap, oh crap'? I guess we have to be ankle-deep in water before people worry these days.) Anyway, oddly enough, I don't feel particularly threatened by the sight of, well, boobs. Really. Not something that keeps me up at night worrying.
So I'm irritated that the feds have decided to form a special task force within the FBI to go after porn. After all, it's not like they have so many people sat around doing nothing that they need to make work for them. "Gee, we've pretty much solved everything else, let's go after people who feed the squirrels in the park."
What on earth are they thinking? I was reading (on law.com) how little enthusiasm there is for this new 'smash the naughty pictures' initiative amongst actual FBI officers. Especially since there are still lingering problems like, well, organized crime, terrorism, child abuse and rampant drug use to name but a few. The idea of diverting agents and funds to start closing down adult bookstores just seems to them, and well, to me, utterly pointless. Worse, actually, since it will have a negative affect on their other duties.
It's not like we live in a society where we're actually subjected to much in the way of offensive images (unless you count any film starring Ben Affleck.) Try living in Europe for a while. Or even the UK. Think American TV is prurient? Hah! On English TV I've seen ads for carpet cleaners that would have to be shown on Cinemax over here (and no, I'm not kidding.)
Of course, everyone knows it's just a sop to right-wing religious organizations by Mr. Gonzales. OK, yes, right-wing "Christian" religious organizations. That's what galls me. Firstly, it's a cynical sop, and one that everyone knows will achieve zip in the way of actually making the world a better place. (Remember, they're not targeting anything that involves minors in this case, they're going after images of consenting adults, made for other consenting adults.)
Secondly, what the hell are these people thinking? I have a message for the so-called "Christian" right on this: when you've worn yourself into an early grave ending poverty and injustice, and when kids don't get sold into slavery or orphaned by crack cocaine, and when inner cities aren't rank with hopelessness and crime, and when half the world isn't living under tyranny, and the other half couldn't care less as long as they get to watch Big Brother, when you've fixed all that, feel free to stand tall before the Almighty and ask for a few more years on earth to deal with porn. Until then, shut up.
Sigh.
OK. Drunk tea. Feel better now.
So, I had a second run-in with someone worried about my moral fiber and doing their best to protect me from temptation. This was less irritating, but made me every bit as uncomfortable.
I was in Chuck-E-Cheese enjoying a pizza and doing the things one does in Chuck-E-Cheese (eat, play video games, um, eat again, etc,) when in came a family who, I would hazard a guess, were from the Middle East. Now I'm going out on a limb here, because I'm opening myself up to charges of religious intolerance, but the wife / mother in this family was wearing a full Burkha, and frankly, I didn't like it. Sure, it's their religion, and if they believe that, I guess it's a free country. But there are some things that go against the grain. Had, for example, the man of the house also been heavily robed, I would have felt less troubled. But, obviously, he wasn't. He was dressed like, well, everyone else.
Now I didn't stride over and demand he free his wife from spiritual bondage, mostly because I'm far too polite, and also because that would be silly. She may well be perfectly Ok with wearing a Burkha for all I know. Still, it rankled. I don't like to see outward manifestations of a belief system in which women (or any group) are essentially second-class citizens at best, and chattel at worst. And that's what this is, make no mistake.
It made me uncomfortable, and the fact that it made me uncomfortable made me uncomfortable. I hate to be judgmental, loathe it, distrust it implicitly. Yet, in the end, that's what I believe, and that's the effect it had on me. Didn't like, don't like it, doubt I'll ever be convinced it's ok.
I doubt our God (and He is, after all, the same God,) really cares about whether this middle-aged woman was visible to the rest of us while we chomped our overly salty pepperoni. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm just some big ol' right-wing intollerant Christian zealot, but in my defense I'll say this: if wearing that thing makes her feel closer to God, then I'm all for it. But somewhere, deep inside, it just made me a little sad.
And hey, who wants to be sad at Chuck-E-Cheeses? So, um, in conclusion: Boobs! Dangerous! Stay away!