WWII documentary may incur indecency fines

Reuters ^ | 07-27-06 | WestVirginiaRebel

[WestVirginiaRebel]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)-The U.S. government's crackdown on media indecency could prevent World War Two veterans from sharing their stories in an upcoming TV documentary series by Ken Burns, the head of the Public Broadcasting Service said on Wednesday.

Noted filmaker Burns' highly anticipated seven-part series "The War" features salty language used by servicemen and others. If the explecitives make it to air, they could lead to crippling fines for the offencing stations as a result of a new law signed last month by President George W. Bush.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

The Law of Unintended Consequences at work again.

[Uriah_lost]

Of course this is from Al-Reuters with the obligatory Bush mention....I'm sure bleeping some freaking words would ruin, just ruin the entire program.

[freepatriot32]

you know what i like. the fact that we have more freedom and a smaller less intrusive government under bush with a repub senate and congress then we did under clinton with a dem controlled congress and senate. yep it does my heart good to see it

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[carumba]

....I'm sure bleeping some freaking words would ruin, just ruin the entire program.

You beat me to it.

[freepatriot32]

possible nanny state ping

[Darkwolf377]

Hate to admit it, but the facts don't lie.

[mugs99]

I'm sure bleeping some freaking words would ruin, just ruin the entire program.

Or just have them use words like caca, doodoo and poopoo!
.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Regardless of the source, I think it could be argued that one man's defender of morality is another man's Christian Socialist Nannystater...

[balch3]

exactly. They can tell the story without resorting to foul language. I for one am glad we have people in office who are finally standing up for morality and decencey.

[the_Watchman]

I think the question should be posed to Ken Burns as to whether he wants our children to be able to watch this documentary.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

They should just show it on cable or another pay to play service.

The pols are just gonna legislate them mean old dirty words away.

[Anti-Bubba182]

I bet they get around this.

[Darkwolf377]

They can tell the story without resorting to foul language.

But the point is, they didn't do that--this is a documentary, and that's what happened.

Is someone who's watching a documentary about our brave soldiers who fought a guy who tossed people into ovens going to be harmed by the F word?

[ByDesign]

"They should just show it on cable or another pay to play service.
The pols are just gonna legislate them mean old dirty words away."

This is going to destroy non-cable tv.

Not that it's a bad thing.

This is a confusing time. We want the media to stop censoring the pictures and video of 9-11, to not sanitize it, yet we want to stop Johnny from hearing a couple salty words.

Very confusing.

[jwparkerjr]

One of my most vivid childhood memories is that of being told by Mom, "sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you!" She made it a point to teach my sister and me that letting someone else's words be a source of offense was giving them a power over you that they could get only if you gave it to them. Her approach was that all through life we would encounter people who would try to upset us with their language and the only sure way to avoid that trap was to understand that it's the listener that decides what effect someone else's speech will have on their feelings.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Yeah, 'cause we all know sailors, soldiers and Marines never, ever cussed in real life!

[vimto]

My mom did the same and I reach that to our children - just don't repeat the words.

My lad said, "heck dad", said my son, " I hear worse in the schoolyard everyday".

wise kid, - you cannot censor life.

[Zhang Fei]

Yeah, 'cause we all know sailors, soldiers and Marines never, ever cussed in real life!

This is kinda silly. We've watched any number of classic war documentaries without four-letter words and swearing. Some of the classic movies were made without the use of in-your-face expletives. I understand that soldiers also go to the bathroom, utilize the local whorehouses and splatter both guts and brains with bullets and bayonets. Should the camera follow them there? You may swear and curse on a reflexive basis in front of your wife, your kids, your parents and your friends. Not everyone does. And not everyone wants to hear it.

[sbelew]

"And not everyone wants to hear it."

So don't watch it.

And as for the "Would Ken Burns want our children watching it?" question posed by another poster - given the subject matter...probably not. If a kid hasn't heard the F-bomb before, he's too young to watch what an A-Bomb does. That's not an anti-nuke sentiment, btw...just common sense.

[Zhang Fei]

So don't watch it.

These are public airwaves. Ken Burns has no more of a right to pollute the public airwaves with expletives any more than he has a right to show X-rated clips of soldiers patronizing prostitutes, bashing the enemies' brains out with their butt stocks or crapping in a hole in the ground. If the lack of these depictions on the public airwaves offends you, I recommend that you avoid watching it - there's always cable.