Free Republic

I was unaware of any connection to Rush Limbaugh. I don't listen to him, or Howard Stern. But I did see this item yesterday:

"On Tuesday, Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) wrote to Viacom president Mel Karmazin about Infinity's lack of action. "In light of Infinity's reported new indecency policy, and the supposed use of a substantial time delay, I do not understand how such a broadcast could be aired using an Infinity broadcast license," he wrote.

Stern said he expected Infinity to be forced to drop him by the threat of huge fines (Congress is considering raising fines for broadcast indecency to $500,000, up from the current maximum of $27,500) and possible loss of broadcast licenses."

I can't help to read that as a threat to censor, while the timing of the event is what leads me to wonder about the real reason for the action.

"Did I say I was crying?"

Well, as a matter of fact you did:

" I also remember being a sobbing mess the first time I saw it."

Yes, by all means, don't address the issue ... just call me a name or two, and make off as if you scored some sort of point.

The victims' families aren't asking us to "let it go", they are asking for an unfettered, open investigation. They are asking for answers. The administration has been less than fully cooperative in the search for the truth.

9-11 makes you "blood run cold"? Others cry in response to the tragedy? Are you claiming a greater personal loss than the families who are telling politicians to keep their hands of the memory of their loved ones? And the orignal post has the audacity to call the families "hypocritical"!

Remember the context here; this was a campaign advertisement produced by an advertising agency. Advertising sells a product. How would you feel if an advertising agency used the death your child, or spouse, or parent, to SELL their PRODUCT?

You're outraged? What gives you the right to rage over the grief of another? Save your self-serving tears of hypocrisy.

I agree with you ... Howard Stern IS a pig. But Stern has always been a pig, and he was a pig when Clear Channel actively pursued the syndicated show. So what happened that they would bounce him now?

What happened is that Stern (a life-long Republican) returned from vacation in 180 mode, ripping on the Bush administration. Why? There is speculation that he was angered watching his boss and close personal friend Mel Karmizan, take a beating in the House hearing regarding the Super Bowl fiasco. So he turns on Bush and days later he's fired.

His firing, while not a direct form of government censorship, is almost certainly related to Clear Channel's sucking up to the FCC in pursuit of further deregulation gold. I'm sure that Howard the Pig would have been left to happily roll in the mud, had he stayed on the right side of the political fence.

There is an old theological principle called lex orandi, lex credendi, which essentially means that the way in which you worship God reflects the way you think about God. Clapping hands to congratulate creatures at a time specifically reserved for reverent song or silent prayer to God implies that creatures deserve more attention than God in His own house.

The time, to which you refer, has been specifically reserved by man, not God. The way I think about God, is that an event which brings joy to his creatures, would be pleasing to God as well. Therefore, God might very well be leading the applause. Provided God has hands, of course.