more on FCC Chairman Powell wants to increase broadcast censorship [fs]

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Delivered-To: dfarber+ () ux13 sp cs cmu edu
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2004 16:43:35 -0800
From: Jim Warren <jwarren () well com>
Subject: Re: [IP] FCC Chairman Powell wants to increase broadcast censorship
 [fs]
X-Sender: jwarren () mail well com
To: dave () farber net

> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A14369-2004Jan13.html
>
> FCC Chairman Seeks Reversal on Profanity
>
> By Frank Ahrens
>
> Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell asked his 
> four fellow commissioners yesterday to overturn a heavily criticized 
> agency ruling that found a profanity uttered on network television by 
> rock-and-roller Bono was not indecent.

I have some sympathy for the view that it'd be nice to have less gutter and 
more substance to the content of teevee -- spoken and otherwise.  However, 
it'd also be nice for those who report on such issues to know the English 
language.

Consider these three words (according to http://www.webster.com/ ):

FIRST WORD:"
"indecent" -- (Middle French or Latin; ... circa 1587) means:
"not decent; especially: grossly unseemly or offensive to manners or morals".

[I'm told that "indecency" has NO legal definition in the U.S., EXCEPT by 
bureaucratic decree of three or more politically-appointed FCC Commissioners.]

SECOND WORD:
"obscene" -- (Middle French, from Latin obscenus, obscaenus; date: 1593) means:
"1 : disgusting to the senses: REPULSIVE
 2 a : abhorrent to morality or virtue; specifically : designed to incite 
to lust or depravity; b : containing or being language regarded as taboo in 
polite usage <obscene lyrics>; c : repulsive by reason of crass disregard 
of moral or ethical principles <an obscene misuse of power> d : so 
excessive as to be offensive

[It seems like "obscene" is the most accurate classification for the 
terrible-awful-nastiness that has brought this latest teapot tempest of 
hypocritical self-righteousness to a boil.]


But ... consider what HAS been widely used for this -- the THIRD WORD:
"profane" -- (Middle English prophanen, from Latin ... 14th century) means:
"1 : to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt: 
DESECRATE
 2 : to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use."


Okay, so ... what WAS the Awful Terrible Word in question?  According to 
http://members.cox.net/scorseseinfo/goldenglobes.htm , at the Golden Globe 
Awards, very excited rock-musician "Bono then shouted something like "This 
is really f**king brilliant!" (which was bleeped out on the West Coast but 
apparently was broadcast live on the East Coast) ..."

[Asterisks inserted here lest the faint of heart amongst our cloistered 
readers suffer cardiacs.]


Was this "profane"?!

Admittedly, the very widespread activity to which that particular action 
verb refers (if anyone actually took it literally), IS considered by some 
to be almost sacred -- or at least something worthy of reverence, 
beseeching of God, and prayers often plead for more!

But that it might be "profane" -- the abuse of a sacred act -- is 
most-surely NOT what has fomented such furor in this case.

Perhaps reporters in the national media could at least use accurate 
vernacular, rather than MISdescribing it as "profane" (even moreso in that 
the offending participle was used as a modifier of "brilliant").


> If passed by the five-member FCC commission, Powell's proposal would 
> outlaw Bono's profanity in almost all instances, singling it out as the 
> one word that would nearly guarantee an FCC fine if uttered between 6 a.m. 
> and 10 p.m. on radio and broadcast television. Exceptions would include if 
> the profanity is used in a political situation ...

Outlawing such "obscenity" would operationally force all such broadcasters 
to use at least a tape-delay, so they could act as censor for the 
government, of ALL live broadcasts of public events (except political ones! 
;-) and interviews.


Never let it be said that the Constitution's prohibitions against 
"abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press" should ever limit the 
self-righteousness zeal of Amerikan Iatollahs, eager to use governmental 
repression to force their views of morality on us all.

--jim

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