P.S.

By the way, I'd like to follow up on my letter to Reader's Digest and Dove. I did hear back from Dove and they just sent me a coupon and justified their ads. So I wrote back and reiterated why I can't support them and that I won't be purchasing their products until the nude ads stop. On a more positive note...READER'S DIGEST has continued to run Dove ads but NONE OF THEM ARE NUDE!! Hooray for RD!! Way to go!

Also, I did have an experience in the last year where I saw a magazine cover with a strategically posed nude model, I expressed my concerns to the grocery store manager, and he PROMPTLY REMOVED THE OFFENDING MAGAZINE! Hooray for Sentry Foods!! Woo-hoo!

Also my bishop sent me this great link for anyone who may be interested in finding out more about what can be done on this issue: http://www.strengthenthefamily.net/ It is an excellent resource and well worth checking out! I especially like where it gives the federal law on this issue, which is, that it is illegal for them to display these items IF the average person finds it against community standards. In other words, it's illegal IF we complain!

I feel very optimistic. There are so many women who want to protect their families and children. I'm really excited about the possibilities!

Dear Walgreens

By popular request (well, Erin's anyway) I'm posting a copy of my letter to Walgreens. She probably just couldn't believe it when I told her it was polite. But it is, thanks to the help of Heidi and Dana. [Actually, I later learned how to do this even better. See my blog entry "Sometimes You're the Windsheild, Sometimes You're the Bug" for a better approach]. By the way, feel free to plagerize if you want to:

Walgreen Company Consumer Relations
200 Wilmot Road, Mail Stop #2273
Deerfield, IL 60015

RE: Inappropriate Display of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

To Whom It May Concern:

I love the convenience of having my corner Walgreens. I fill my family’s prescriptions there. I get my pictures developed there. The customer service in the pharmacy, at the photo processing, and at the checkout is exemplary. I run to my Walgreens if I need anything because I know I can find whatever I’m looking for.

Unfortunately, a week ago I found something that I was not looking for. As I passed the magazine display, I was shocked to see the soft porn cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Thank heavens I didn’t have my young children with me! But I was not happy to see it myself! As I went down the aisle I heard a group of teenage girls pass the same rack and exclaim, “She’s not wearing any clothes!” Apparently I wasn’t the only one who noticed. As I checked out, I left a comment for the manager, requesting that the magazine cover be removed, or at least displayed with the offensive picture covered. A few days later I went back to my Walgreens and was disappointed to see that no changes had been made. This time the manager was on-site so I spoke to him directly. He told me that he could not do anything to change the display of the magazine because men’s shaving companies had given Walgreens quite a bit of money so that Walgreens would run a coupon promotion of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

I was disappointed enough to see such inappropriate material on public display, but to find out that Walgreens would actually promote the distribution of soft porn absolutely horrified me. I’m sure that there must be a mistake. Maybe the information I received from the manager was incorrect. Maybe those who make these decisions at Walgreens are unaware that seeing these sexual swimsuit images are often springboards into harder pornography. Maybe those same decision-makers are unaware of how much damage pornography causes to relationships and families, not to mention to the men who view it. I have read enough academic literature on the subject and seen too much personal heartache of friends whose families have had to deal with the fall-out of porn in their homes. If the information I received from the store manager is correct, I would ask you to please reconsider and stop promoting all such material. I understand that Walgreens is involved in many worthwhile projects, and that you have a tradition of being a trusted community presence. The current display and promotion of soft-porn material seems to undermine your good reputation. It certainly has with my friends, all of my extended family, and me.

I have been a consistent customer and want to continue to shop at my Walgreens. However, I cannot feel comfortable bringing my family into a place where they may be confronted with inappropriate images. I look forward to receiving news from you that (1) you will remove the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues and all similar material from public display, (2) that you will discontinue your promotion of such material, and (3) that I can expect the same family-friendly actions from Walgreens to continue in the future. Once I have been assured of those changes, I will happily resume my status as Walgreens biggest fan.

Sincerely,

I am Woman, Hear me Roar

I am really irate right now, and this post will definitely NOT include pictures. I will probably have to go back and edit this post later to make it calmer. But this is my blog and so I can throw a tantrum if I want to (which I almost did at Walgreen's today).

Last week I went to the corner Walgreen's and as I was there, I passed by the current Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. I hope and pray that your eyes have not been thus offended. It is HORRENDOUS!! Let's just say that the model looks more like she's wearing a strategically placed necklace than a swimsuit top. I was just so grateful that I didn't have my kids with me. So, as I checked out I talked to the cashier, asked for the manager, no one was on site, so I left my message that it was absolutely NOT appropriate and that they should remove it from the shelf, or at least cover the picture. He promised he'd pass along the message.

Today I had to pop in again at Walgreen's so I decided to check out what they had done about the offensive mag. No change. This time a manager was in, so I spoke with him. I started pretty calmly and expressed the same feelings I had before. The manager told me that he had checked with his boss but they said he could not remove the mags. I asked about covering the picture, but he dismissed that option. He said that they had to sell them because this year Walgreen's received a bunch of money from the men's shaving products for this promotion where, if someone buys a men's shaving product they get a coupon for a buck off the Sports Illustrated. "Any Sport's Illustrated? Or just the swimsuit edition?" The swimsuit edition. WHAT? That's where I just flipped. Not only are they carrying the swimsuit issue, and displaying it in all it's slime, they are actually promoting it!! I could just see my little K. (15 years down the road), going in innocently enough to buy shave cream and getting just another temptation thrown at him in the process. At this point my voice was probably a tad loud and I started saying things like "disgusting, absolutely inappropriate, Walgreen's is supporting porn, disrepect of and degradation of women" and such. I calmed down enough at the end to say, "Please pass my comments onward and upward." But then I got out in the car and I continued my private tirade: This is NOT the kind of world that I belong in!! This is NOT OKAY with me!! Porn, hardcore or soft, is as President Hinckley called it, A Tragic Evil Among Us .

Of course I'll write letters to Walgreen's and every shaving company I can think of. But I was thinking of something and I want to ask if any of you have seen this idea in action in your LDS wards. We do all kinds of Relief Society groups: book groups, quilting groups, playgroups, whatever. What better place for there to be a group for the promotion of moral values? There's always more power in multiple voices. I know that most of us share these same values. The world may be slipping into the quagmire, but I don't want it to happen without me fighting back the best I can. I want to make a stand and say "THIS IS NOT OKAY!"

I am reminded of an article Pres. Hinckley wrote in the September 2004 Ensign called In Opposition to Evil wherein he says: "I am one who believes that the situation is far from hopeless. I am satisfied that there is no need to stand still and let the filth and violence overwhelm us or to run in despair. The tide, high and menacing as it is, can be turned back if enough [moral and good people] will add their strength to the strength of the few who are now effectively working. I believe the challenge to oppose this evil is one from which members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as citizens, cannot shrink." Then he mentions 4 ways to start the fight:
1. Start with yourself.
2. Teach the rising generation.
3. Let your voices be heard. Not shrill voices (oops!), but voices of conviction and sincerity. "Remarkable consequences often flow from a well-written letter and a postage stamp."
4. Enlist the strength of God in doing battle.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could rally around as women in Relief Society and do what we can to make a difference in this world of ours? It's our world! Are we going to just let it go? I love President Hinckley's optimism! I had a random thought the other day: What if this "final battle" prior to the Second Coming of Christ includes a battle of morals not just a battle of artillary? It seems like the war of evil is already upon us, folks, but the promise is that we can have God's help and power in this fight! But it is a fight. If any of you have seen RS groups such as this, let me know. I would be very interested in getting more ideas!

Never Squat With Your Spurs On

As my ol' grandmammy used ta say, "Neva squat wich yer spurs on." Ya kent git any wiser than that.

Oh, wait, this ain't...er...isn't my ol' grandmammy. This is my very young and vibrant Gram Carol. Hello there, Grandma! I'm pretty sure you can consider this the send-off for your future modeling career.

I was fortunate enough to go down to Arizona some weeks ago to introduce this beautiful creature to her newest great-grandson, K. I thought it was a great excuse, ahem, reason to leave this here January northern climate for some desert sun. It was just him and me while the lovely daughters stayed home for some quality Daddy-Daughter time. Funny, I called them one day as I was about ready to go swimming outdoors and they were about ready to go build snowmen. Funny.

Well, Gram and Ernie showed us a wonderful weekend. Spoiled us rotten really. We had some spectacular pizza, experienced prickley pear ice cream, heard a super harmonica band, went on lots and lots of walks, worshiped the sun, had great philosophical discussions, and I got to enjoy watching the happy couple. Aren't they so cute?

Living In a Material World...Am I a Material Girl?

Sorry about the relapse into the 80s music scene, but Holy Cow! I just read the best article in the most current issue of the BYU Magazine! It's called Enjoy a Richer Life and it looks at the attitudes of materialism and how it affects our relationships. I mean, who are we kidding? Materialism is everywhere, and every one of is affected by it to one degree or another. Gotta get our kid certain brand clothing, send them to the right preschool, take the vacation to the right place, buy the latest gizmo. Media and society are constantly telling us what we have to have in order to have "the good life". But frankly, I haven't noticed a correlation between a happier life and whitened teeth.

Anyway, I highly suggest clicking on the above link, or if you don't have time you could read the following "executive summary," (you will miss some good insights though) because this is seriously good stuff. I am seeing personally in my extended family how focusing on material goods is seriously harming some relationships.

Carroll, the researcher, defines materialism as placing a high importance on material possessions as the means to achieving personal happiness and a sense of well-being. Several studies have shown that people who have a materialistic orientation report lower levels of happiness and feel less connection in relationships. The income is not important, it's the attitude that matters.

Are you a material girl? The article gives us these 5 questions to ask ourselves:

1. Am I looking up the economic ladder or down?

2. How much is my mood impacted by either the lack or the attainment of a physical possession?

3. Do I discard or stop using perfectly good items because they’re not the latest style or technology?

4. Do I confuse needs and wants?

5. Do I value and judge people based on material distinctions?

And ways to change:

1. Be aware of your benchmark and comparison points. If you’re looking up, work on changing that perspective so that you’re focusing—with humility and compassion—on those who have less than you do, not more. Savor the material things you enjoy, be grateful for them, and share what you have with those less fortunate.

2. Resist “parental peer pressure.” Many parents compare themselves to their peers just as their children do. If they can stand up to the pressure of seeing other parents giving their children material things and excessive “experience” (being involved with everything under the sun), they will cultivate less materialistic attitudes.

3. Realize there is a price to be paid for living the gospel, and some of it is financial. We tend to think we can have large families, pay tithing, keep up our food storage, make charitable contributions, and send children on missions without settling for a lower standard of living. “We have expectations based on an American standard of living that’s largely driven by smaller, two-income families. We want to replicate that standard of living on a single income and all these additional expenses,” says Carroll.

4. Refresh your gospel perspective about material possessions. Review the Savior’s teachings, such as his warning against covetousness in Luke 12:15, “for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Reread the Book of Mormon for its warnings about how the trappings of prosperity can destroy individual souls and entire nations.

One insight I hadn't thought of before is that he addresses the "experience consumer." This is the person who insists their children have violin lessons, martial arts training, and compete in soccer leagues. If we take this too far, we have another form of materialism--the experiences that money and resources can buy. Hmmm. Never thought about it like that.