Movie ratings furor

So the Daily Universe published a very well-written defense of the viewing of R-rated movies (which is generally frowned upon by LDS culture at large); naturally, there was considerable backlash, as people with access to lds.org scrambled to find any and all articles they could condemning the viewing of movies with such a rating. Here is my response (although I've pretty much been black-listed by the editors and therefore don't hold out much hope of it being published):

A quick thought about R-rated movies and the counsel given against them: some counsel given by Church leaders can become outdated. Bruce R. McConkie said that blacks would never have the priesthood; President Benson said that you can't be a Democrat and a faithful member of the Church. None of the addresses quoted by those opposed to watching R-rated movies - who base that opposition on such addresses - were given in the last ten years. Some counsel and admonition spans generations and holds meaning over a long period of time; other counsel is given for a specific reason at a specific time. We as Church members have to recognize this difference. R-rated movies can be infinitely more empowering, enlightening, and inspiring than PG-13 movies, the many of which are filled with senseless and idiotic behavior that appeals only to the basest in our natures. If the counsel against R-rated movies has been removed from the "For the Strength of Youth" pamphlet, it simply means that, as in everything else in our lives, we should let the Holy Spirit guide our decisions and remember that the revelation and inspiration we receive applies to us only.

If I could have made it longer, I would have pointed out that film and other liberal arts classes here at BYU routinely show R-rated movies as part of their curricula; either self-righteous people have to get a firmer grip on life, or I, along with other liberal arts majors, must be going straight to hell.