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To: joyful1
Why are we proud that our women dress like prostitutes, adulterers, and fornatcators? Why are we happy to introduce it to other cultures?

Who said we are proud? I'm just a bit over 40. I've pissed off more than one female friend by asking why they let their teenage daughters dress like sluts. Of course I know why. I know what's on MTV (even though I can't stand watching that crap myself).

What I AM proud of, however, is living in a free society where people can make these choices, and I can tell them those choices are stupid, and even sick, and they can tell me to take my opinion and shove it.

I DON'T want to live in a society were the popular culture is inhibited, other than by free speech and free association. As ugly as it (often) is, it is also a source and manifestation of both our freedom and our cultural creativity.

Yeah, I know, many will say that the popular culture is not only invidious, but useless and trivial as well. This is a very short sighted view, which fails to take into account how many of the important advances of our civilization ultimately stem from such "trivia". This is pointed out in Virginia Postrel's book The Future And It's Enemies (pgs 182-83, citing research by historian of science and technology Cyril Stanely Smith): The whole of our modern, industrial chemical industry began with the manufacture of synthetic dyes, at a time when colorful clothing was widely denounced as frivilous and decadent. Glass was first blown to make decorative beads, long before it was employed for any utilitarian purpose. Metallurgy began with molding statues, welding with joining parts of statues together, and alloys were first created in the interest of the pleasing colors and textures they lent to decorative items.

In a free society lots of people are going to do things you don't like, say things you don't like, and wear things you don't like. Deal with it. Yes, you can (and even should) deal with it, in part, by speaking or demonstrating against the elements you find most offensive, but you should not forget that these negative things are only among the consequences of a much greater good; that of freedom.

103 posted on 10/27/2003 4:59:23 PM PST by Stultis
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To: Stultis
Who the heck said anything about forcing anyone to do anything? One can merely express opinion about immodesty.
107 posted on 10/27/2003 5:03:10 PM PST by Unam Sanctam
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To: Stultis
In a free society lots of people are going to do things you don't like, say things you don't like, and wear things you don't like. Deal with it. Yes, you can (and even should) deal with it, in part, by speaking or demonstrating against the elements you find most offensive, but you should not forget that these negative things are only among the consequences of a much greater good; that of freedom.

You don't need to convince me, I'm not worth it, I have no power. The One you need to convince is the Holy One. He is power. He controls all. He exists.

128 posted on 10/27/2003 6:22:08 PM PST by joyful1
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