Posted on 12/16/2004 11:14:18 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell has recommended the agency ignore indecency complaints filed against ABC television stations that aired the film "Saving Private Ryan" that included at least 20 uses of the "f" word during prime time viewing hours.
Many of those complaints were generated by American Family Association members.
According to Donald Wildmon, American Family Association Chairman, Powell's reason for taking no action opens the door for broadcasters to air anything. Powell stated that the use of profanity was part of an accurate representation of the events making them acceptable. "Using Powell's reasoning, there would be no limits regarding what could be shown and the law regarding indecent material would be null and void, " Wildmon said.
"If Powell can get only two other Commissioners to agree with him, then the networks and local broadcasters will be free to show anything. Everything they show, no matter how indecent could be classified as being an accurate representation. That is what they have been wanting for years. Powell is only two votes away from giving the broadcasters their desire.
"Chairman Powell has a sworn obligation to enforce Broadcast Decency laws. His lobbying other commissioners to disregard the law as well to the satisfaction of ABC executives is a betrayal of the public trust. Certain language on the public airwaves is a violation, regardless of the entertainment value he may perceive it to contain.
"We realize it is important for families, especially our children, to recognize the sacrifices made by our loved ones during wartime. However, airing excessively profane language during prime-time television hours is not necessary to convey that sacrifice. We believe ABC should have aired their salute to heroes without violating broadcast decency laws."
AFA is urging Congress to get Powell to fulfill his obligations to the public and enforce the law.
These hyper-prides at American Family Association need to get a life.
Thanks Mike. Of course, the horse is already gone, but its nice to know the barn door is closed.
From a parent's perspective, if I objected to my child hearing the Fword, I also objected to my child seeing the violence of real war. So I think it's a moot point, really. Show the film uneditted with a warning to parents of violence and adult language. The parents should make the decision to remove their children. My opinion.
This isn't about whether or not some or all of us use bad language, or whether SPR is or isn't a good movie.
The point really is that the FCC has established regulations and ABC TV knowingly violated them. The end (i.e. in this case some enlightenment about the horrors of war) doesn't justify the means. This is just another example of trying to change the law by backdoor methods.
Separate the issue of whether the "f word" should be permitted and debate it all you want for the future. But that issue has been decided under the FCCs interpretation of indecency and Michael Powell once again lacks the guts to enforce his agencies own rules. If you wonder what I mean, go check his record, he's as bad at Clinton when it comes to blowing in the political wind).
On all sides.
NBC aired Schindler's List completely unedited in 1997, including every curse word, all the violence, and full frontal nudity, and I don't remember any such outcry to the FCC. Parental warnings were aired repeatedly during both movies that these films were not intended for the kiddies.
The thing about the the f-word in Private Ryan is that its use is neither gratuitous nor prurient.
Dare I hope for Goodfellas?
"...gratuitous nor prurient."
I'm impressed. Gotta get the dictionary....
CHANGE THE CHANNEL.
Actually there is - Stern has never used the F-word on his show. If you look at the stuff for which Stern has been fined and compare it to what was said on SPR you'd probably give Stern's FCC complaints more credence. In fact, it's only the Seven Dirty Words which have been legally (by the US Supreme Court) determined to be obscene. Stern has only been found indecent by the FCC.
However, if any complaint from any listener can possibly result in a megabuck fine from the FCC, then there are only two solutions:
(1) Require the FCC to issue binding advisory opinions on any program prior to airing, or <2>show nothing on broadcast TV that could possibly offend anyone.
My suggested alternative would be for the FCC to list in detail what words can never be spoken and what body parts can never be shown, and to have no authority to impose fines for anything not on that list.
That would force Private Ryan onto cable and I can live with that.
For me, I am glad that it wasn't forced onto cable.
What parent if their right mind would let a young child see Saving Private Ryan? Forget about the F-bomb, the violence alone makes that movie completely inappropriate for family viewing.
I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 12 or 13 see that movie, and only then if I thought they had the maturity to handle it. It is important for teens to understand history. Chances are by then they have heard such language already, if not far worse.
You know what the funny thing is...people have actually called the FCC and asked them to do that. You wanna know what their standard response is...now get ready for a nice laugh here...they can't give binding advisory opinions because that would be censorship! You just can't make this stuff up.
I saw the movie and it was too gory for me -- but if people don't want to have their kids see it, why not just turn the thing off? Besides, kids learn the f-word in first grade now, I think, or maybe kindergarten.
Carolyn
Exactly. As a previous FReeper pointed out, the issue is the TV station went against the FCC's ruling.
The F-word was muted on my local ABC channel. I thought it was so with the rest of the nation.
The airwaves are public property, the FCC should regulate them. There are a lot of things that happened in history that don't need to be shown in explicit detail on TV. Just because it's real doesn't make it okay.
I may turn the TV off, but you let your kid watch it, and he comes to school and tries his hand at imitating the filth and violence in a classroom/gym/park/restaurant where my kid is sitting, and my child's life is diminished by your, and the government's permissiveness. Let's not all roll in the mire to please the pigs.
I would hazard that this is where, in relation to this movie specifically, you and I disagree. I find certain rare depictions of history should be handled a bit differently, perhaps you do not. That's ok.
But, again, anyone who thinks some "kid" is going to watch this movie and discover the "F-word" because of it, and then spread it to other kids, well, let's just say they are living in a very isolated place.
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