When will the extremists in our government stop? When everyone who disagrees with them is in jail? When everyone who disagrees with them is “re-educated”? That day might be closer than you think.
This article talks about one right wing congressman who is working to make cursing on the radio a criminal offense, punishable by prison sentences:
The chairman of one of the entertainment industry’s most important congressional committees says he wants to take the enforcement of broadcast decency standards into the realm of criminal prosecution.
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner III, R-Wis., told cable industry executives attending the National Cable & Telecommunications Assn. conference here on Monday that criminal prosecution would be a more efficient way to enforce the indecency regulations.
“I’d prefer using the criminal process rather than the regulatory process,” Sensenbrenner told the executives.
He wants to put people like George Carlin, Howard Stern, and Janet Jackson in prison, rather than fining them, when they upset some sheltered whiner who’s never heard the word “gay” or “ass” before.
At least you can still get decent shows on cable, right? Think again - there are more extremist politicians who want to make cable content, including HBO “family friendly” as well. That would mean that anyone doing anything on cable that wasn’t approved by every church group in the U.S. would be a criminal offense, and the actors would be sent to prison for “re-education”. The article goes on:
Although cable and satellite TV are not covered by the indecency statutes, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, have said they want to bring multichannel programrs into the legal mix.
How long before these right wing anti-free speech extremists come for the internet?
A better question is, who votes for these anti-American politicians in the first place? These guys sound like they’d be more at home in the Taliban than in America. Once they decide that sending people to prison for saying the word “damn” isn’t enough, maybe they can suggest hanging people for it. What next from these guys?
Where in the U.S. Constitution does it say that you have a right to not be offended by what other people do?
[ Edited 04/16/05 to correct that Sensenbrenner is a congressman, not a Senator like Stevens. Thanks to the person who pointed that out. ]
Dude, those senators need to be sent to jail for even thinking of taking away our rights. People need to start voting. It’s just the Vocal Minority people who tend to vote, I’m sure. So the masses aren’t really being represnted.
James
April 9th, 2005
It isn’t a question of being offended by speech nor am I one to postulate that anyone should be jailed for any accidental rudeness that may occur during a heated discussion or slip of the tongue.
BUT!
Society as a whole has plummeted through ignorance and common rudeness of peoples speak and actions. What people do and say in “private” is one thing and if they wish to subject their family to that course of life is one thing, but to foist it on others in public for no reason whatsoever is another.
I am an adult and conduct business in a professional manner every day one on one with everyday common people as well as those that feel they are better than others due to their superior upbringing, wealth and heritage. I’d never think to use foul language or conduct myself improperly with anyone no matter how crude or refined they may be I always act professional. Whereas in the confines of my own house, what I do or say is another story altogether.
I believe in free speech, not without being offended, but not having others I wish not to be offended or subjected to things that I may enjoy in the privacy of my bedroom but instead in public.
You raise simple points by saying simple words as damn, ass, and gay, but if I were in your home working with your family and every age and gender present and profusely mouthed words as fucking cunt, fudge packing faggot, motherfucker, I’d think you or one of your family would have me escorted from your domicile and ask me not to return. It isn’t those words of ass or damn, but instead the slope that continues to the words I just utilized. There is a place for everything, and civility in public must be restored or we are traveling the same path as the Romans, as the barbarians are knocking on our doors and this is Byzantine.
I enjoy adult language and activities in the presence of others in a place where you go knowing what to expect, but to subject am innocent child to that behavior I do object.
If thee aren’t parameters in life then life has no responsibilities and then everything should be legalized and allowed in public such as pedophilia, and use of drugs by anyone any age.
To raise a point the faggots in MA got the courts, not the public citizens to allow Faggot or Dyke marriages, why wasn’t it reported as such, why because those on the far left consider what I just stated as hate speak. Where’s the hate? I’m just calling a faggot what he is and what he was doing?
You can’t have it both ways, unless you have limits, and those limits are at least placed on the airways. I believe if through subscription you wish to peruse such subject matter you should be allowed, but not on the common air ways or in public. (Period)
I support Manu, but again don’t subject it to those that I feel are immature or would be offended of its content
Middlechamber
April 10th, 2005
Wow, good job, James. Using the word “dude” really helps get your point across. I bet if either you or whoever writes for Manu here went to college you would learn a thing or two about politics, but whatever. Nice work with the site, by the way. Have you noticed how many fewer people read it since you’ve stopped putting up pictures and tried to become political? I’ll go to CNN or NBC for my news, thanks.
Andrew
April 12th, 2005
“Right Wing Senator Wants George Carlin Sent To Prison”
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner III, R-Wis
Can we have a fact check, please? He is in the House, not the Senate. He is blowing smoke, he doesn’t have the power to get anything passed. Can we please save the public outcry against a bill for something that might actually see the light of day?
Robert Haight
April 16th, 2005
The only “crime” Carlin has committed is not being funny or relevant for 20 years.
darkurthe
April 18th, 2005
I absolutely despise that there are people out there trying to control (and censor) what I can see or hear on television and radio. If I don’t like it then I should just change the channel. I was brought up with the belief that I lived in the country with the most freedom in the world, how sadly mistaken I was. One time I was told that if I dont like it I should go somewhere else - I didn’t like it, I went somewhere else, what I found is that there are many places that have the freedom that the sheep in the USA think that they have. It is sad that the citizens of the USA are willing to give up their rights, the rights that our forefathers fought and died for. PLEASE AMERICA, VOTE - THAT WAY AT LEAST IF WE LOSE OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS ITS BY OUR OWN CHOICE.
Vote for freedom
May 23rd, 2005
VOTING? ARE YOU STILL FOOLING YOURSELF? BEFORE WE CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT PUTTING A STOP TO ASSHOLES AND I MEAN ASSHOLES! LIKE REP. SENSENBRENNER WE NEED TO ADMIT THAT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED BY VOTING. MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO SENSENBRENNERS PAST AND PRESENT ACTIVITES CONCERNING,MOVIES,T.V.,MUSIC,INTERNET AND OTHER ”UNAMERICAN ACTIVITES”. LIFE WITH THIS SONOFABITCH MUST BE TERRIFYING, I PITY HIS WIFE AND FAMILY AND MALE LOVER! I HAVE FOUND THAT A VERY LARGE PORTION OF THIS CROWD [I.E.] ANTI-PORN,ANTI-GUN,ANTI-SPEECH,ETC., ALMOST ALWAYS ASSUME THESE LAWS APPLY TO EVERYONE EXCEPT THEMSELVES. IT MUST BE A BURDEN LIKE NO OTHER TO HAVE THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILTY RESTED ON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR ”ELECTED” OFFICALS, AS THEY DANCE ON THE GRAVE OF FREEDOM. PLEASE PASS THE AMMUNITION, AS THE SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN!
JOHN C. DEFREEUW
July 16th, 2005