Proactive or reactive?

By: American Decency Staff

Proactive or reactive? "Evil triumphs when good people do nothing." Edmund Burke Counsel from a concerned reader — First their counsel followed by my response We seem to be doing a lot of reactive responses these days. In regards to the "when good people do nothing" statement why don't we, just as the liberal group has, become proactive. When we are in a store and they are playing Christmas music personally contact the manager of the store and say thank you. The wheel that squeaks the most gets the oil. We must become forward thinkers instead of responsive thinkers. Let's speak BEFORE something happens. We must be doing this to protect marriage, the family and many other things as well. Let's remember What Would Jesus Do? gls ADA Response: While I agree that supporting those who are doing good and upholding traditional values is of great importance, where does proactive begin and where does it end? When a company discontinues the use of the word Christmas – substituting holiday – is that reactive or proactive to speak out? Is that negative? I don't think so. I suppose it could be in terms of how you communicate your concern, but it is positive in the sense that it is taking a step forward letting the corporation know that you were happy with how they referred to Christmas in their marketing in the past and you are one that is now offended when the term Christmas, the holdiay celebrated by the vast majority of shoppers, is not even mentioned. In a similar way, is speaking up in regard to indecency at the mall typified by Victoria's Secret a reactive approach or proactive? A new mall comes into an area. People get excited. They go spend their money showing support for the mall. Then, they see a Victoria's Secret assaulting their moral sensibilities. The concerned shopper then tries to tell the local VS store manager and she says they have nothing to do with display decisions so contact corporate. They contact corporate and corporate says thank you for your expression of concern. We don't want to displease you and hope you realize there are many different shoppers each with different opinions about how their wares should or shouldn't be displayed. One thing is rather clear: One of the tactics of some affiliated with Victoria's Secret is that when you go to the store manager and express your concern some will say "That's interesting. You're the first person to complain." Some will say "Come on get a life. There are more important things to worry about than a lingerie store displaying their lingerie in a provocative fashion." What a ridiculous statement. So are we to timidly accept their response? Is standing for decency just not important in the grand scheme of things? No. It is important. As many have emailed to me "We try to instill in our children a high sense of morality, modesty and decency and yet when we go out to the mainstream shopping mall what is peddled as normal are women publicly displayed as prostitutes." Below I have a photo of a display at a local mall. This display has been permitted to exist for over a year. There are several others display that are similarly inappropriate. Why do the community shoppers just allow this display to continue? With a few voices of concern exerting a campaign over a few months – a proactive involvement would send the message to the VS store and to this local mall that this is far below their community standard. This trash sends the message to the thousands upon thousands of young people walking by that this is acceptable. Corporate neighbors too will see that this is acceptable and will little by little show greater daring in what they display. ============================================= Here is the erotic display. "Warning! The photo is graphic and offensive.) https://americandecency.org/main.php?f=updates_new/2007/december/12.14a.07 ============================================== This display has been at the Lakes Mall in Muskegon, Michigan for over a year. This smaller mall located in west Michigan permits Victoria's Secret to use displays like this. Where are the voices of indignation from the greater Muskegon community? This is an outrage. There are a few others similar to this that month after month face directly out into the main walk way of this general shopping mall. Express your concern: Lakes Mall Michael Hagen, General Manager 5600 Harvey Street Muskegon,MI ph: 231.798.7154 fax: 231.798.7129 email: michael_hagen@cblproperties.com I will keep you up-to-date on this. This and the other similar displays need to come down! Your few moments to comment WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Also contact the Limited: (owners of Victoria's Secret) VICTORIA'S SECRET IS AN ATTACK UPON THE SOUL OF AMERICA. Take Action: (1) Don't spend a single dollar with Victoria's Secret or its subsidiaries (2) Urge others to do the same. Contact us for a Victoria's Secret bumper sticker and display it in a prominent place. "Victoria's Dirty Secret: PORNOGRAPHY" "Victoria: Keep Your Secrets Covered" Call or email us at: 1-888-733-2326 or email: kimberly@americandecency.org (3) CONTACT VICTORIA'S SECRET and speak out locally where concerns exist — Victoria's Secret Grace A. Nichols 4 Limited Pkwy. East Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: 614-577-7000 Fax: 614-577-7047 email: http://www2.victoriassecret.com/html/custsrvc/contact/comments/ Email service@victoriassecret.com The Limited (owns Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, White Barn Candle Company) Leslie Wexner, CEO Three Limited Parkway Columbus, OH 43230 800-756-4449 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org

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