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.
They are being reasonable. No argument there. I just agree with the FCC's stand, and have a higher tolerance level for bad language.
I don't think it's the "discovery" of the word, but the fact that it's shown as being acceptable mainstream talk that appears on prime time television. Of course this is just a smaller segment of my concern that we as adults are allowing our children to be exposed to all sorts of junk on many different levels because "that's the way life is."
I teach sixth and seventh graders--my comments are based upon a lot of unfortunate experience in these matters
How about we act like adults should and try to protect the innocence of children a little longer, so we don't have to wring our hands and wonder where those kids got the idea to shoot up the school or molest the three-year old?
His pro-censorship crusade is killing us.
BOOM!
As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster!
20 posted on 12/16/2004 11:34:35 AM PST by Shryke (My Beeb-o-meter goes all the way to eleven.) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]
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While I agree let me ask you this, did you ever miss the F word or any other vulgar words when you sat down and Watched the Movies:
MidWay Staring Charlton Heaston?
The Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne?
The Green Berets with John Wayne?
To Hell and back starring Audie Murphy?
I submit those movies for their time were the same attempt at Illistration of that war. To Hell and Back was written and played by the Star of the Movie Audie Murphy. The most Decorated Vet of WWII.
I don't believe I ever heard him say F#$% once. Imagine that.
Unless you're stating fact, isn't anything posted here bound to be one's own opinion?
I guess it depends on the age where one decides their children must learn what the world is like, not what it should be.
I spent 26 years on active duty retiring in 92. "Profane speech" was the every day norm for myself and the soldiers around me. Nobody thought anything about it.
These days its different. I have two sons on active duty (both Army) and, from what they tell me the pattern still exists but only in private conversation the PC invasion has banned dirty words.
Would be a revalation to the DI who pushed me those final bars on the overhead ladder propelled purely by invective (damn I hated that thing.)
I've seen them. Good movies all, and none neared the realism of SPR. Not even close. Heck, I've watched Audie Murphy's Hell and Back twice. It doesn't COMPARE to the actual accounts of what he did. When you watch SPR's beginning on Omaha Beach, you are never going to get closer. Listened to 2 different D-Day vets talk about that movie, with tears in their eyes. One of the reasons why it is so real is that they kept the dialogue real.
Quite true, OC - but I like to say it anyway, so I don't sound overly pretentious.
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