| Television (TV) is a tool- it can be an evil distraction | | | | Commission chief Michael Powell promised an |
| or used for learning, and creating good. Back in the | | | | investigation into whether CBS violated decency laws, |
| 1970's, I belonged to a world-wide fraternal | | | | with potential fines of up to $27,500 PER AFFILIATE |
| organization that had representatives for each of the | | | | WHICH AIRED THE GAME!! . If applied to each CBS |
| 50 United States, and several foreign countries. I | | | | station, the fine could reach into the millions. The FCC |
| remember being at a convention in Atlantic City, NJ, | | | | in the United States is running rampant!! I can't even |
| where a synopsis of each representative's report | | | | enjoy watching South Park on TV anymore- half of |
| was given by the leader of the organization, who | | | | the dialogue is "bleeped" out. Soon, there will be |
| prefaced her remarks with "I feel like I've traveled all | | | | nothing left on American TV but Mother Goose |
| over the world without leaving my chair.". The person | | | | nursery rhymes. I know that children should be |
| sitting next to me commented "See- she DOES | | | | protected, but ultimately, that's the responsibility of |
| smoke that funny stuff!". | | | | the parents. |
| Advances in technology, especially in TV and | | | | Another problem with getting objective and |
| computers, have enabled us to have contact with | | | | uncensored television is media conglomeration. Nine |
| people from all over the globe. The World Wide Web | | | | corporations, mostly US owned, dominate the media |
| gives us insights into the cultures and lifestyles of | | | | world : AOL-Time Warner, Disney, Bertelsmann, |
| people from other countries. So do television | | | | Viacom, News Corporation, TCI, General Electric |
| programs from other countries. | | | | (owner of NBC), Sony (owner of Columbia and |
| As an American, I am amazed at how prudish we are | | | | TriStar Pictures and major recording interests), and |
| when it comes to sex and nudity on television! When | | | | Seagram (owner of Universal film and music |
| nudity is shown on television, 99 percent of the time, | | | | interests). You might ask, "What is wrong with a few |
| it is female nudity. Come on, we women like to look, | | | | companies becoming so big? Isn't that how business |
| too! Just watch any European TV show, especially | | | | works?" Focusing on democracy-enhancing principles |
| the commercials. Watch one of those special | | | | and the institutions needed for it such as the media |
| "Uncensored Commercials" television shows that the | | | | and journalism, the concern that arises is that there |
| networks have from time to time, and you will be | | | | are very few media owners in the mainstream that |
| amazed at the difference between the commercials | | | | reach out to the masses. As a result, there is the risk |
| shown here and abroad. Alas- the "Uncensored | | | | of reducing the diversity of issues and perspectives |
| Commercials" show WILL censor the commercials to | | | | and of political influence and interests from a few |
| make them "suitable" for viewing in the US. | | | | affecting the many. We have seen this happening |
| Footballers Wives is one of my favorite British | | | | since 2001, when the televison, radio and print media |
| shows, and shows male and female nudity, | | | | seemed to be under tighter and tighter government |
| unabashed and uncensored. | | | | control. To illustrate: during the Vietnam War, the |
| TV Censorship has become a huge problem since | | | | American public saw images of war on their TV |
| 2001, when the neocons took office. The standards | | | | screens, and of flag-draped coffins returning with the |
| are getting more and more restrictive, and the | | | | bodies of soldiers slain in battle. These images have |
| penalties more and more ridiculous. Janet Jackson's | | | | been "scrubbed" from the TV media coverage of the |
| infamous "wardrobe malfunction" during a Super Bowl | | | | Iraqi war, probably at the behest of the "powers |
| halftime is a prime example. Federal Communications | | | | that be" in government. Why? |