Mindful Michiganders Take On Indecent Mall Window Displays
by Ed Thomas
December 15, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Concerned citizens near Green Oak Township, Michigan, say despite some success already, they plan to continue their letter-writing campaign concerning window displays featuring scantily-clad mannequins at Victoria's Secret in the town mall. The campaign is one part of a two-pronged effort to stem exposure to indecency in the area. Letters have been written to the store, Victoria's Secret's parent company, mall management, community officials, and business leaders. The letters object to what concerned citizens have labeled "unnecessary exposure to indecent sexual imagery" -- such as mannequins sporting G-strings, bras, nylons, and stiletto high heels. The correspondence also requests a meeting with corporate officials to explain that area citizens feel more modest standards should be reflected in the displays.
Hamburg Township's Patrick Flynn, who along with several of his church members has been part of the grassroots effort, says they are pleased that the letters have yielded more toned-down displays recently.
"Victoria's Secret has changed [the displays] twice since the mall manager asked them to do that," says Flynn. "But knowing Victoria's Secret and their willingness to always press the envelope, it's better than it was -- but it's still unacceptable."
Flynn says their goal is to convince Victoria's Secret to market only morally neutral products, rather than sexually provocative items, in their mall window displays. "And if they feel that they have to display such things, keep it inside your store," he suggests to the retailer. "Don't assault the public with it; it's not fair. It's not right."
Some members of the same group have also extended their objection to indecency to walking protests at an adult "novelty" shop about a mile from the Green Oak Village Place Mall. They say it is another part of an overall effort to educate the public about the violations of humanity and dignity that surround pseudo-pornographic imagery.
Ed Thomas, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
