American Civil Liberties Union
Couch Parties Against Censorship!
**************************************************
Dear Friend,
Would "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart be half as funny with his jokes screened by Congress? Can you imagine "South Park" without the cursing? Is "Sex and the City" sexy without any sex? Without the cursing, the sex or the violence, would "The Sopranos" be a mob hit?
We may be about to find out. Learn how you can help.
Washington's self-appointed arbiters of morality are targeting cable TV -– home to some of America's most popular and cutting-edge programming -- with new federal laws and FCC rules that jeopardize our most basic personal and creative freedoms. According to them, adults can't choose for ourselves what we or our children see; the government must serve as our chaperone, art critic and censor.
If we are going to stop this paternalistic censorship, we must make our voices heard now, before Congress passes legislation, or the FCC issues regulations, expanding "indecency" fines and other forms of suppression to cable TV and the Internet.
This week, you can help keep your favorite shows safe from the morality police, just by sitting on your couch and watching TV with a friend or two.
What can you do? On Sunday, April 10, we're asking friends and members across the country to hold "Couch Parties." Use the link below to invite friends over and watch your favorite cable shows. While you're there, take a minute to print and sign a letter to Congress. Tell your representative that you don't want anyone censoring your favorite programs!
Please keep reading for more information on all the ways you can get involved.
Yes, I can host a "Couch Party!"
* Invite friends to your Couch Party!
https://www.aclu.org/team/tell.cfm* Download a letter to Congress and other couch party materials.
http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeech.cfmI can't host a party this time, but I still want to get involved!
* Send the letter to your Member of Congress online right now!
http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeech.cfm?orgid=EA040605A&ID=17916&c=42&MX=2016&H=0* Get your friends involved. Tell your friends about the issue and ask them to host a Couch Party or contact their members of Congress.
https://www.aclu.org/team/tell.cfm* Download additional materials, including a flyer with more about the looming threats to free speech on cable TV.
http://www.aclu.org/FreeSpeech/FreeSpeech.cfmUntil now, the FCC only regulated over-the-air TV and radio, because these broadcasters use the "public airwaves." Now Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), and new FCC Chairman Kevin Martin want to extend censorship to cable TV (that you pay for) and even to satellite radio.
Already, the furor over broadcast and cable "indecency" is at a fever pitch. In February, the House of Representatives passed legislation permitting fines of up to $500,000 for individual instances of "lewd" content on television or radio. Last year indecency fines rose to $8 million from only $32,000 in 2000.
We all understand that many parents don't like a lot of the vulgarity on TV and don't want their children watching it. But that should be their choice, not the choice of Congress, the FCC, and the "morality police."
Please join me in standing up - or in this case, sitting down! - for free speech and keeping the remote control in our hands. Invite friends to your "Couch Party" today!
https://www.aclu.org/team/tell.cfmSincerely,
Nadine Strossen
President, ACLU
P.S. We don't know if South Park, Sponge Bob or The Sopranos support the ACLU, but we support them and their right to do and say what they want without unjust restrictions from Congress and the FCC.
*********************************
This mail is never sent unsolicited. You, or someone on your behalf, has subscribed to receive this information from American Civil Liberties Union. At the ACLU Web site, the ACLU gathers anonymous summary statistics on the responses to our email newsletters in order to better serve list subscribes and ACLU members. To review our Privacy Policy, click on the following link:
http://www.aclu.org/privacystatementIf you would like to change your personal settings, such as email address or contact information, please click below. Simply enter your email address; you will not need a password at this time. However, if you would like to make changes to your personal settings, you will be asked to choose a password so that you can access your information in the future. This allows us to protect your personal information and privacy while providing online access to your settings at any time. Click here to change your settings:
http://www.aclu.org/team/settings.cfm_________________________________________________________
-QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about this message or any other American Civil Liberties Union issue, please click here:
http://www.aclu.org/feedback/feedback.cfm?MX=2016&H=0-POLICY
You, or someone on your behalf, has subscribed to receive this information from American Civil Liberties Union. To review our Privacy Policy, click here:
http://www.aclu.org/privacy.cfm
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
