PBS Wages War On Pro-Lifers

PBS already DOES sell commercial time. What do you think those “informative blurbs” between programs are?

“Sponsored by”/ “broadcast with the help of a grant from”/ etc. means what to you?

Then there is the outright fraud perpetrated by some PBS stations. “To keep quality programs like this on the air, donate!” Then they play that program ONCE in the three months following, at 3 in the morning.

Jed, it doesn’t matter if commercial time is sold or not. It is a PUBLIC TV station on the PUBLIC airwaves. The Constitution specifically grants free speech to religious persons, BECAUSE they were the most likely to have their speech rights taken away by coercion or force, whether by a secular or theocratic state. Check that history, and you’ll see I’m correct.

That, incidentally, is why RELIGION precedes SPEECH in the 1st Amendment.

These ALL are about EXPRESSION: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Public TV on Public airwaves constitutes a Public Forum, and government cannot forbid free expression of religion while allowing free expression of everything else.

That is WHY kids in schools are permitted to pray, have bible clubs, share their faith, etc.

Now, if President Obama stands up and begins declaring that Islam is special with special rights and we’ll all be visited by gov’t agents if we don’t start following sharia law, then you have the GOVERNMENT advocating religion.

Having Billy Graham get airtime on PBS to broadcast a crusade is not government advocating religion. It’s allowing all viewpoints within a public forum.

Surely you see the difference.

That means that opinions about secular things — both those with which I agree and those that go against my beliefs — belong on a secular forum....
I’m a very conservative voter and committed evangelical Christian who knows history....

What aspects of your life as a Christian are "secular"?

It’s another thing entirely to use my secular tax money to air religious programs that go counter to my understanding and love of God and His Word.

So you are not opposed to using taxpayer money to undermine your Christian beliefs and values as long as it is done from a "secular" perspective?

So you are OK with using taxpayer money to produce "secular" shows that ridicule Christian beliefs and mock God and everything you, as a Christian, hold dear and wish to preserve for your children, but if someone were to use taxpayer money to do a show that actually promoted the very religious values and beliefs that you hold dear, that you would be opposed to that?

Am I correctly stating your position?

No. You are not correctly stating my position, and you know that. You’re just trying to be argumentative.

Read what I wrote.

I don’t want my tax money being used to promote false religions.

Government will always spend tax money in ways taxpayers may not like. You think the Romans spent Jewish tax receipts for godly purposes? No. Yet Jesus said to pay up.

Following your argument, I don’t approve of using my federal taxes to build roads into Las Vegas, but there’s not much I can do about it.

I don’t really think the government has any business funding PBS, either. I’d rather PBS just sell commercials or make people subscribe like other networks do. But I can’t do much about that, either.

And I do enjoy many PBS shows, like Masterpiece Theatre, as one example. And lots of the music. Frankly, PBS programming is a cut above most offered on commercial networks.

If some religious organization wants air time, they can buy it. I don’t want them using my tax money to spread their views.

As for secular things with which I agree as a Christian, how about cooking? Or enjoying classical music? Or sports? Or buying a sofa? Anything not directly tied to religious expression is considered, by definition, “secular.” It’s not a dirty word.

PBS is airing Pavarotti and Josh Groban concerts tonight. You’d probably enjoy that more than Big 0’s Socialist Healthcare infomercial.

Xzins, it’s not about seeing the difference. It’s about equal access.

Of course I wouldn’t mind PBS airing Billy Graham — except that if PBS airs Billy Graham, then Ayatollah Badguy gets access, too. And any other nutjob who spreads Satan’s lies under the guise of religion. “Allowing all viewpoints within a public forum,” as you put it, can be dangerous business.

You really want to give “reverend” Wright airtime on your dime?

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