Please Don't Squeeze The Charmin

From: WashingtonPost.com

Two uniformed men strolled into the main room of the Little Falls library in Bethesda one day last week and demanded the attention of all patrons using the computers. Then they made their announcement: The viewing of Internet pornography was forbidden.

The men looked stern and wore baseball caps emblazoned with the words "Homeland Security." The bizarre scene unfolded Feb. 9, leaving some residents confused and forcing county officials to explain how employees assigned to protect county buildings against terrorists came to see it as their job to police the viewing of pornography.

After the two men made their announcement, one of them challenged an Internet user's choice of viewing material and asked him to step outside, according to a witness. A librarian intervened, and the two men went into the library's work area to discuss the matter. A police officer arrived. In the end, no one had to step outside except the uniformed men.

They were officers of the security division of Montgomery County's Homeland Security Department, an unarmed force that patrols about 300 county buildings -- but is not responsible for enforcing obscenity laws.

Oh sweet Jesus, in our fight against crazed Islamofascists, we now have our very own morality police. What's next, letting little girls burn to death because they aren't wearing headscarves? This smacks of the first step toward a slightly different style of "Dhimmitude."

At most public libraries in the Washington area, an adult can view pornography on a library computer more or less unfettered. Montgomery asks customers to be considerate of others when viewing Web sites. If others are put off, librarians will provide the viewer of the offending material with a "privacy screen."

This I'm not crazy about and I'll tell you why. A library is a public place, with, you know, kids, and do we really want guys whacking off behind 'privacy screens' in a public library? We have more than our fair share of pervos who want to do inappropriate things to our kids.

We have a friend who is a living breathing example of the problems of Libertarianism. He fervently believes hard core pornography should be on broadcast television and that bosses should be free to demand sexual favors from their more comely employees. You know what? I think the problem is less with libertarianism than that our friend might just be a nut!

But haven't we agreed that we don't and shouldn't do certain things in the public square? I think we have.

However, what I don't think any of us signed up for in the GWOT is to have over zealous goobers in khaki looking over our shoulders as we go about our business. Even if that business is porn.

Again, considering the relative cheapness of a computer and an internet connection, if you really have a need to spend some quality time with Jenna Jameson or the porn star of your choice, just get a goddamn computer or go to a conveniently located "adult" shop and do your business.

Let's keep an even keel as we fight for 'freedom' guys. Whenever a freedom goes poof, it never comes all the way back.

H/T The Gun Totin Liberal

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