Off the clock with The Checkout Girl: All hands on deck*
U.S. Navy Capt. Owen Honors made news this weekend over a series of videos he produced and showed to the 6,000 sailors aboard the Enterprise, an aircraft carrier based in Norfolk. The issue? The videos include gay slurs and overtly sexual themes (among other things). The Checkout Girl has some thoughts about it — you probably will as well.
(*Bleeding hearts need not apply.)
Our friends over at the Virginian-Pilot recently broke a story about a series of videos produced and shown aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise which, like the newspaper, is based in Norfolk. The videos, which star a man named Capt. Owen Honors, are titled “XO Movie Night” (XO is short for Executive Officer, the person second in command of a ship, after the Commanding Officer). They offer a “humorous” take on issues that sailors deal with on a regular basis (think those awful workplace harassment or diversity training videos you’re made to sit through when you start a new job), and were shown to the 6,000 sailors and Marines once a week for about two years.
One of the videos was posted on the Virginia-Pilot website (after being edited for language and to protect some of the sailors involved). From what I can discern, it’s the last in the series and a sort of bittersweet homage to the whole project. It features clips from previous videos and a rockin’ soundtrack that includes Starship’s “We Built This City” because, well, why not? Also, in a twist that made me rewind twice to be sure, Glenn Close appears in one of the videos, sitting in the XO’s chair. The military is so Hollywood.
Highlights of the video include: two female sailors in the shower together; two male sailors in the shower together; (simulated) rectal exams, masturbation, and gay sex; eating and drinking from the toilet bowl; and the XO dressed in drag, more than once (*clears throat*). It’s like a night with Andy Dick, caught on tape.
The video project looks to be one long ego fuck for Capt. Honors, who seems to fancy himself quite the comedian. One sailor interviewed said that “He was the one coming up with scripts and the jokes. He was the one planning it.” Well, duh. But it’s not funny. At all. The material is presented with the message that if you don’t laugh at or are offended by it, you are a homosexual. He also uses the terms “gutless” and “bleeding hearts” to describe the people who have complained in the past about the videos. He also states that “The Captain or the Admiral don’t know about the contents of this video, and should not be held accountable”, indicating that he has been made aware that some people are uncomfortable with the videos and he knows what he is doing is wrong. And, if it’s true that the Commanding Officer didn’t know about the contents of the video, what else didn’t he know was happening on his ship? Capt. Honors was cultivating a culture that promotes aggressive sexual behavior and bullying with the videos. How many incidents of such things went unreported during his time as XO for fear of retribution (some sailors are refusing to speak about the videos, stating just that) or just plain lack of response?
Isn’t it time that the military move into the 21st century? How dated is this angry frat boy attitude that boobs are awesome, dicks are funny, potty humor rules, and, if you don’t think so, you are gay or weak? If these videos were to surface from any other place of employment, heads would roll. Lawsuits would be filed. Boycotts would be organized. Gloria Allred would be in front of an army of cameras within minutes. Why, then, can the military get away with these things?
As a military ex-wife, I have a hard time believing that the Commanding Officer had no knowledge of the videos. In my experience, there isn’t anything that happens on a base or ship that the CO is not privy to. I’ve also seen people broken by the attitudes demonstrated by Capt. Honors. I’ve nursed more than one woman bruised by an angry soldier. I’ve held the hands of sailors affected by friend’s suicides. But who can you talk to when having any kind of feelings about anything at all is seen as a weakness? When being human is mocked and treated with disdain?
Oh, and why was it the last video of the series? Because Capt. Honors has been promoted to Commanding Officer of that ship. That’s right, he’s the man in charge now. That’s like making a notorious murderer the sheriff, because he’s been in town the longest and knows how to shoot a gun. The Navy has launched an investigation into the videos, but the ship is weeks away from deploying. Let’s hope something is done before these people are stuck at sea with this man as Commander. And that all he gets is that wild night with Andy Dick that he so rightly deserves.
(Image released by the U.S. Navy)
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The Checkout Girl
The Checkout Girl is Jennifer Lemons. She’s a storyteller, comedian, and musician. If you don’t see her sitting behind her laptop, check the streets of Richmond for a dark-haired girl with a big smile running very, very slowly.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Captain Michael Scott, I presume.
Celebration Life is a moment to celebrate, to enjoy. Make it fun, a celebration, and then you will enter the temple.
Until you live the military life… you will never understand from behind your little lap top or blackberry. Spend 7-10 months at sea with someone you rely on to have your back. It’s good to know that the XO even tried to communicate with his crew and to engage them. Comparing him to a murderer is just irresponsible “Journalism” and is more akin to sensationalism. Stop hugging your tree and join the real world.
I also wonder how “Fuckyeahmotherhood” is not sophmoric at all… to each their own i suppose.
I understand where you’re coming from Sailor Joe, but surely there were other ways for Capt. Honors to communicate with his crew.
Military ex-wife?? From a woman who spent 25 years on active duty, including an aircraft carrier tour, you haven’t got a f’n clue, lady. Quit yapping about $@^% you’ll never understand. You must be smoking crack if you think “there’s nothing a CO is not privy to.”
For those who have served in our military, if your commanding officer were to engage in this behavior, would you find it acceptable? I think that’s really the issue here.
First, let me state I am not in the military, never have been, never will be… it’s just not my life’s calling.
Having said that, I think that, put in perspective, this video is less than appalling. Viewing the video was not a requirement, but, rather a part of XO night in which people would go to specified areas to watch them.
Second, while the guy’s humor may be regarded as crass and offensive, isn’t any funny standup worth watching the same? I giggle endlessly with Southpark, Drawn Together, Always Sunny in PA, etc. because the more politically incorrect the humor, the funnier it is!
Lastly, I would only be concerned if this commander actually did bully or harass those under him, and, from what many of those have stated on his Facebook page, that does not seem to be the case. It appears that he was able, unlike many in the military, to make fun of himself. The worst kind of leader/manager is the one who takes him/herself seriously and cannot look beyond his/her own worldview for perspective.
Checkout Girl/Valerie – if you are concerned with military misdeeds, why not rant about the group of men who raped and killed the Iraqi family a few years ago? The military court cleared all but one man who took part in that action. Now, there’s a real example of injustice and disregard for the sanctity of human life. That tragedy makes this SNL-wannabe video look like peanuts, no?
Chasing the wrong goose, obviously a series of offensive of videos will seem like nothing compared to the situation you brought up. But just because this scenario is less serious doesn’t make it ok.
I gave more than one reason as to why the commander, by making a video that uses crass and insensitive humor, is not wrong in his action.
1. The video was optional to watch.
2. All humor is incorrect. If it weren’t, it wouldn’t be humor.
3. The military should be punishing those who actually commit abuse (I realize this may be the point on which we disagree). Those who have humor and can make light of themselves in the military should be commended. If this commander has not actually committed abuse, as he makes fun of himself doing in the video, then he has not committed a punishable action. Do you assume that just because a comedian/comic group makes insensitive jokes that s/he/they commit those actions?
I don’t think Dave Chapelle and Wayne Brady are actually going to choke a *itch, or that Matt Stone and Trey Parker are serial killers of children named Kenny, or that SNL condones spousal abuse with their portrayal of Tiger Woods. But, I could be wrong!
come on boys! in the navy, you can set your mind at ease, in the navy…..
I get humor! Humor is great! And I totally appreciate when people don’t take themselves too seriously.
Do I think he should be punished to the extent that someone actually commits abuse should be punished? No. But he acted inappropriately in a work setting and should be held accountable (which as of now he has been).
Interesting that Checkout Girl is so offended when her columns typically are stories that scream, “Watch me push the envelope to be funny.”
This just in… Breaking news from the Washington Post: “The Navy is expected to relieve Capt. Owen Honors as commander of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on Tuesday afternoon, a Defense Department official said, part of an investigation into a series of videos made by Honors that use anti-gay slurs and mimic masturbation. “
So, these men, who are deployed for months/years at a time are never allowed to crack a joke because they are technically in the workplace for that entire span of time?
I’m inclined to favor a long record of service over some instances of questionable humor. The stresses of long deployments are well documented, well known. We’ve got to cut those boys and girls some slack.
At the same time, being reasonable people, though, we recognize a limit to what can be said to be okay, not a big deal, etc…
Must say I really hate to see this divide here between service members and civilians–not to sound idealistic, but we really should identify ourselves as all on the same side, here, whether we’re conservatives, liberals, active duty, housewives, bored copywriters reading this at work, etc.
That kid in uniform is my little brother. Your neighbor’s daughter. A guy you went to high school with. Not mindless meatheads.
All that said, jokes about homosexuals coming from down from what is literally an “official” channel? Let’s just never have that again, okay?
“That kid in uniform is my little brother. Your neighbor’s daughter. A guy you went to high school with. Not mindless meatheads.”
Except that sometimes your little brother *is* a mindless meathead. God knows mine is.
I’ve been in some pretty stressful situations in my life-perhaps if I’d only thought to make some “fag” jokes, I’d have gotten through it easier!
Hugh, I take your point. My little brother, who is on active duty in Afghanistan, can be a little bit of a meathead. Sometimes. Mostly, though, he’s great.
I find jokes about “fags” are horrifying, truly. But I think we need to also worry about alienating members of the military.
Maybe the public should take a hardline on the incidence of these videos. I just don’t want the average kid in uniform to be the target. We really need to avoid us vs. them thinking.
As someone who identifies as one of the LGBT categories, I don’t see how any jokes should be off-limits. They are jokes. That’s the point. I’m sure everyone laughs at/tells jokes that would be offensive to somebody.
To answer the question regarding 7 months deployment = 7 months, round the clock, in the workplace: YES! Absolutely. I was overseas in the early 90’s in the Middle East stationed with my family. While there, I was at a rugby club where a Commander, not in uniform, not on base, got drunk as a monkey and ran around making lewd comments about his talley whacker (I mean penis) using a balloon through the zipper on his pants. Running up to people, asking them to look at it, touch his balloon, etc. Word got out and we were all called to testify as to his behavior and he was seriously reprimanded and sent to another country for conduct unbecoming an officer. So yes, you are ALWAYS at the office when you are in the Navy. Again, this guy was out of uniform, not on base, and around Navy colleagues, American civilians (dependants) and local civilians.
Bottom line is this guy should’ve known better. It was only a matter of time before those videos hit YouTube or otherwise got attention and only a matter of numbers to figure out he was going to seriously offend someone. I don’t think he’s a bad person– I also laugh at “blue” humor (Chapelle, South Park, etc)– but he did do a very dumb thing. I would never think to come in and quote South Park at work and I work (I am sure) in a much more informal environment than the military.
Also laughing my ass off @ Huge Jarse– “i’ve been in some pretty stressful situations in my life-perhaps if I’d only thought to make some “fag” jokes, I’d have gotten through it easier!” Hilarous.
Also, for the record, yes, civilians are allowed to have an opinion. It’s a total cop out in an argument to say one can’t have an opinion because “you don’t know about X,Y,Z.” That’s why it’s called an OPINION in a DISCUSSION. We’re reflecting on the situation and how we’d react if the shoe was on the other foot.
To have an opinion you must have a bit of knowledge of what you are being opinionated about. If you know nothing of what you are having an opinion about, then you are just making snap judgments on something you have no knowledge about.
Being in for 19 years… I don’t find the videos offensive at all. It is a way of blowing off stress. I was just horrified that in her article she drew a direct line between this humor, and a serviceperson beating their spouse..
To Quote : “I’ve also seen people broken by the attitudes demonstrated by Capt. Honors. I’ve nursed more than one woman bruised by an angry soldier.”
Like angry soldiers are the only ones who fall prey to this stupid act. Cops, Firemen, Politicians, Clergy, and hell I bet even a few Bloggers have fallen prey to striking their spouses. So please do NOT make the correlation between crude humor and wife beating. It is just ignorant.
I’m an Army wife. My husband is a total meathead, often, and especially in company with his fellow meatheads. I think they are proud of it. Certain behavior is kinda part of being male in a group of males and some jokes are to be expected, due to the stressful nature of the job…whatever. It’s cool. My sons like fart jokes too. I don’t care. The military is a weird culture where standards of conduct are fussed over, then outrageous acts go unpunished, the whole thing is mental. I generally have no particular desire to be in the middle of it. I avoid the “Army family” farce with everything I’ve got. He signed, not me. But believe me I hear plenty, ’cause listening to one another rant about our daily work life is part of the marriage. One thing here…if it were a matter of any soldier making such “jokes” among friends it would be business as usual…but the military really is different and held to different standards than the civilian world and workplace. These guys can face imprisonment for no show no call. Infidelity can (and still is) punished if put in the spotlight. And officers are absolutely held to higher standards of conduct on and off duty. An officer had better think very carefully about what he says and who is around. The military makes a big show about being “correct” and “innoffensive” (to wit: many of the “Jody’s”–marching cadences–my husband chanted in the 80’s would NOT fly today) and I cannot comprehend the sheer stupidity of any OFFICER committing inflammatory talk or acts to video, showing them to others, and thinking there won’t be negative consequences sooner or later. Even if it was hilarious. Y’know?