Our family was assaulted today…
by the contents in our LOCKED (ie., supposedly secure) mailbox. My son innocently went to the mailbox (one of his daily duties) to grab the predictable armful of junkmail, bills and assorted papers. As he transferred the load to me at the front door, my eye caught the latest Nordstrom’s ‘catalog’ - “April 2008 Lingerie Book”.
I lept into defense mode as I spied the sultry-looking bleached blonde beauty on the cover with the ‘come get me’ look on her face, her black lace almost-bra peeking out for the whole world to see. She was the least of my worries. When I opened this tool of hell, I was aghast that this little magazine hadn’t come in a secrecy envelope with a clear parental warning label across the front to protect the men in my household. I began to shred this 52-page packet of smut with a vengeance, as, page-by-page, I became more and more incensed by the presumptuous, greedy group of marketing execs who conceived this ‘catalog’. I immediately Googled Nordstrom’s contact information, dialed their customer service number:
1-888-282-6060 and graciously, calmly removed myself from their mailing list, asking the operator to note specifically that this publication is in actual fact Softcore Pornography and is inappropriate for the men in our household, was unrequested, unmarked and UNWELCOME in our home, thank you very much. She kindly informed me that this was not the first such call she had received, which was somewhat of an encouragement…if perhaps a flood of protest calls came in, incapacitating their system and threatening their profits, we would see change.
Along with this overt strike at our family, at least 5 obscene SPAM messages popped into my ‘inbox’ - a daily occurrence is 5-10 of these nasty devils - and that with strong filters downloaded onto my computer. Then, after installing a computer camera for the purpose of talking for free via the internet, face-to-face with various friends across the earth, we were greeted with this pop-up message “Catherine has some sexy photos to show you - click here!” All in one day. Not to mention the alluring billboards we drive by on the interstate, the suggestive commercials we dodge on T.V. and the half-dressed strumpets strutting their stuff in our neighborhoods, coffee shops and grocery stores. This is exhausting.
This is NOT O.K. I won’t cry ‘peace’ when Sodom and Gomorrah are beating down my door for access to the godly men of my household and the millions of households in this nation! As I see it, this is a direct assault - a blow leveled against the purity of our lives, the strength and solidarity of our marriages, with the intent of corrupting the innocence of our children. I am angry. This is war of another kind, and the enemy never plays fair.
What man can stand against the deluge of smut thrown at him day and night in all its forms?! Only a man fortified by close godly friendships, filled by God’s Spirit, marinating in God’s Word. Plain and simple. I will sound the alarm until change comes. I invite you to join me. TO BE SILENT AT SUCH A CRUCIAL TIME IN OUR NATION IS TO INVITE DISASTER.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Denise, thanks for this heads up. I routinely send my teenage sons to the mailbox (ours is 1/2 mile from our house since we live on a dirt road) to pick up the mail. Please pray for all the mailmen (my husband is a letter carrier) - he is assaulted continually on a daily basis. The catalogs and store sale circulars regularly feature lingerie on the front cover.
I ordered some garments from “Just My Size” and am now receiving their soft-porn catalog - YIKES! I have, from time to time, casually turned the tabloids over at Walmart so that the soft-porn covers are facing the rack and I have called the manager over to complain (she agreed with me and took them all off the display - yeah!!). I also canceled by subscription to Family Fun magazine when they began advertising Calvin Klein clothes for the preteen set showing these youngsters posing in very suggestive ways with “come hither” looks.
Well, I am rambling, but I wanted to let you know I am on your team!
Onward Christian Soldiers!
April 26th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Thank you for your encouragment, Kathleen! Great to have you visiting the blog.
All the best to you and yours,
In His love,
Denise