Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition at Walmart

By: American Decency Staff

Express your indignation to Walmart below. http://americandecency.org/take_action_form.php These comments and thoughts from a few others Email #1:  Another expression of concern regarding Walmart and their sale of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Thank you Bill for the good reminder for us to “hang in thereâ€Â in our little corners to continue to make a stand for decency.  I just finished a letter I wrote today to the Walmart manager where I shop regularly to express my concerns about the Sports Illustrated magazine being put at the checkout lanes in his store – at the eye level of an elementary school age child. I asked last week that they be moved to at least the magazine section with a cover – they were only moved up slightly in the checkout lanes – now they are at adult, teenager and preteen eye level – that helped a lot, huh?  The manager has been out of town, so I just wrote him a letter, and I’ll be interested in his reply and if the magazines will indeed be moved.  I told him they were “soft pornâ€Â and most people do not want to be confronted with inappropriate material like this while they are checking out of the store with their kids every week. Then – later today – I received your email.  Thank you. C.M. Colorado Springs, CO  80905 Email #2: Walmart is a far greater concern than Walgreen Hi Bill, I did send in my petition to Walgreens, however, a much bigger offender is Walmart!  Thousands more people shop at Walmart than at Walgreens.  I have complained at my local store, and they only moved the magazine out of the front checkout aisles to the magazine section.  Walmart as a corporation should not even sell this magazine. [SI Swimsuit] Can you get a petition going for Walmart that we can sign?  And, Cosmopolitan magazine is not much better. Thanks, Bill, for what you do. ADA note:  We agree!!! Cosmopolitan is of major concern as well.  Please see the letter to Walmart below. Email #3: We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that one person can make a difference!!! Hello, I wanted to pass along a good note.  Our Harris Teeter was carrying the SI Swimsuit magazine on display. I emailed the corporate office and expressed how offensive that was to me that my children were exposed to this at the grocery store – at child's eye level.  I told them I expected a call.  I received an email from corporate telling me a manager was going to call me.  He did and he told me the magazine was removed completely.  (It was removed as I checked several times). He also expressed his apology for any problems it caused me. I have had to do this several years as the sales rep for the magazine is usually the one that sets up the display.  Apparently; however, it will remain in place unless they receive a complaint. At least Harris Teeter has responded appropriately. Thought this was worth passing along … High Point, NC Email #4: This from my friend Dr. Judith A. Reisman who writes: Virulent pornography will continue to spread until people understand erotic displays in their proper context. Any PUBLIC display of PRIVATE erotic behavior endangers the life, health and welfare of the person displaying as well as the life, health and welfare of the "set" or group that person represents (commonly women). This is both historically and cross culturally established — and it is common sense. Still, millions of ninnies are regularly conned by the fantasy that private,  intimate space conduct–safe only with ones beloved or trusted other–can be casually displayed in public space to millions of strangers, including potential predators-without dire consequences. The "celebrate" sharing your  naked body with predatory strangers is a continued effort to legitimize pornography and prostitution, always pandered by PP.  Judith Reisman, PhD Email #5: An effective email to Walgreens CEO. Mr. Wasson – I was in the Walgreens in Muscle Shoals, AL a few weeks ago and was appalled to see the Sports Illustrated Magazine on display at eye level on the front (and only open) register.  Thankfully, my 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter were not with me.  I  spoke with the assistant manager about my concerns of protecting my children and husband from this defrauding and damaging pornography.  I shared with him how demeaning and offensive it was for me as a woman, wife and mother to find this type of magazine on display in what I have heretofore considered a "family friendly business."  I made the argument that I , as a customer, would not be allowed to come into his store dressed as the woman on the cover.  He was nice and courteous and said he understood where I was coming from, but 1) he could not do anything about Walgreens carrying the magazine or where it was displayed and 2)  she (the woman on the cover) was just doing her job.  My question in reply was to ask if Walgreens would allow prostitutes to sell their bodies in front of their stores.  If not, why?  They too are just "doing their jobs."  In fact, most prostitutes would have more clothes on than the woman on the cover of SI. It was a rare occassion for me to not have all 4 of my children with me and I will not shop at Walgreens until I feel it is a safe place for my family.  I will also encourage everyone I know to do the same. Click on the link below to express your concern to Walmart http://americandecency.org/take_action_form.php Contact information for WalMart: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Michael T. Duke – President, CEO, and Director 702 SW Eighth Street Bentonville, AR 72716-8611 Phone: 479-273-4000 Fax: 479-277-1830 email link:  http://walmartstores.com/contactus/feedback.aspx Michael T. Duke – President, CEO, and Director Email: Michael.Duke@wal-mart.com Stephen Quinn – Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, Wal-Mart U.S. Email:  Stephen.Quinn@wal-mart.com William Simon – Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Wal-Mart U.S. Email:  Bill.Simon@wal-mart.com ======================================================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference: donate online at: http://www.americandecency.org/folder.php?f=donate American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 http://www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

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