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.
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?