Editorial

Something that has bothered me since I've been in Southwest Asia is the issue of bootleg movies. Yes, the troops do not have access to the new movies and television shows they want to watch, but that does not give them permission to purchase bootleg copies of the DVDs. Since I'm from Southern California and I do have friends in the entertainment industry, I may be somewhat sensative, but I cannot get over the fact that purchasing bootleg DVDs is stealing.

It seems worse at KAF than it was at Camp Virginia. There is a bazaar at KAF every Saturday. The local merchants sell beautiful rugs, tapestry, wooden chests, jewelry, trinkets and antiques. They also sell "copies" of designer handbags, "reproductions" of expensive watches, and "replicas" of fashionable scarves and pashminas. However, the biggest sellers are the thousands and thousands of DVDs of televison shows, concerts and movies --- all pirated copies. Of course everyone who's ever worked on, been involved with or contributed to these movies and TV shows is stinkin' rich, but that doesn't give us permission to steal their product. I understand that it's more expensive and takes more time to obtain these titles from Amazon, NetFlix or a legitimate distributor; it's a bother to open the security sealed package and a nuisance to watch the trailers and FBI warning. But lack of convenience doesn't give us permission to take what is not ours.

I've been bitching about this situation since I arrived. I've refused to show, buy or watch a pirated movie (altough I did watch one before I knew it was an illegal copy). It seems no one else thinks buying pirated DVDs (purses, watches or scarves) is stealing. I'll no more meddle and judge the issue; this editorial is written and from here on I'll keep my mouth shut.

Stepping down off the soapbox now.