During their rule in Afghanistan, the Taliban ordered everyone to get rid of TVs and video players. The Taliban Department for Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue claimed that watching these is damaging to morals. The Taliban also banned the use of the Internet in order to prevent access to what they deemed "obscene and immoral material."
      In June 2007, the Ralston Taliban Department for Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue, better known as the Ralston City Council and Ralston Mayor Don Groesser, also banned what they deem immoral. The Ralston City Council unanimously approved a law suggested by Mayor Don Groesser. This law is intended "to regulate sexually oriented businesses to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare" of the public. The law bans XXX shops from locating in typical commercial zones. It also bans these stores from locating within 1,000 feet of any church, school, park, hospital, community center, or library. Although Ralston currently has no such businesses, this law essentially bans them from ever opening in Ralston. Even though the law is technically not a ban, it is strict enough that it makes it unlikely that a XXX shop could find a place to legally operate within Ralston. (Ralston Recorder, 5/15/2007, Omaha World Herald, 6/4/2007, 6/6/2007, & 6/20/2007.) Just like the Taliban did in Afghanistan, Ralston is denying its residents free speech rights in order to promote its idea of morals.
      Support for these types of laws is often based on claims made by censors that sexually oriented businesses cause crime in surrounding areas. Research has found that these claims are not true. This is discussed here in the last four paragraphs of Section II.
     Below is the contact information for Ralston Mayor Don Groesser and members of the Ralston City Council. If you live in Ralston, write them and let them know you oppose this censorship.

Mayor Donald Groesser or City Council Member Ralston City Hall 5500 S. 77th St. Ralston, NE 68127 www.cityofralston.com/citycouncil.htm

What’s 15 inches long and hangs in front of an asshole? Ralston Mayor Don Groesser’s tie.