(Expletive deleted).Byline: The Register-Guard The fact that everyone knows instantly what the euphemism "f-word" stands for is a testament to the power of, well, the word that "f-word" stands for. In the lexicon of a post-wardrobe malfunction, moral values America, the f-word is the Big One, the atomic vulgarity, the verbum horribilis. Indeed. It is the "queen mother of dirty words," as Ralphie so eloquently proclaims in the 1983 holiday classic "A Christmas Story." So it's no surprise that the ever-vigilant language police at the Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC), independent executive agency of the U.S. government established in 1934 to regulate interstate and foreign communications in the public interest. are "taking very seriously and will investigate fully" complaints about the crude way Motley Crue's Vince Neil wished bandmate Tommy Lee a happy New Year live on NBC's "Tonight Show." As in, "Happy (f-word-ing) New Year, Tommy!" But the bluenose bluenose a name used in the UK for a photosensitive dermatitis of the horse's face marked by a cyanotic appearance in the early stages of skin which later sloughs. The disease occurs in the spring and may be accompanied by such a severe edema that it resembles purpura hemorrhagica. brigade at the FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S. has already spent a ridiculous amount of time and taxpayers' money deliberating about the appropriate response to the salty salutations of rock musicians. First they got it right, then they got it wrong. Vince, meet Bono. As U2's famously extemporaneous ex·tem·po·ra·ne·ous adj. 1. Carried out or performed with little or no preparation; impromptu: an extemporaneous piano recital. 2. lead singer has learned, there's a new sheriff in town, and he don't cotton to cussin'. Bono exuberantly uttered a form of the Word That May Not Be Broadcast while accepting a trophy at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards. Hundreds of horrified hor·ri·fy tr.v. hor·ri·fied, hor·ri·fy·ing, hor·ri·fies 1. To cause to feel horror. See Synonyms at dismay. 2. To cause unpleasant surprise to; shock. phone calls later, the FCC emerged with an eminently sensible ruling. As employed by Bono in the gerund ger·und n. 1. In Latin, a noun derived from a verb and having all case forms except the nominative. 2. In other languages, a verbal noun analogous to the Latin gerund, such as the English form ending in -ing form (`This is really, really (f-word-ing) brilli- ant!"), spontaneously with no sexual connotation, the broadcast expletive was neither obscene nor indecent. But it was "crude and offensive," and it wasn't suitable for radio or TV programs when it was likely children might be listening. The FCC declared the hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. a "safe harbor" for rough language, though it would still review complaints about language during those hours on a case-by-case basis. Everything changed after unsuspecting Americans were assaulted during last year's Super Bowl halftime entertainment by the sight of Janet Jackson's right breast. Traumatized by the shocking association of sports and sex, outraged fans demanded action. And action, they got. The FCC levied the largest fine in history against CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. and reversed the Bono Rule, declaring the f-word toxic in all uses and threatening violators with big fines and potential loss of licenses. Not to be outdone out·do tr.v. out·did , out·done , out·do·ing, out·does To do more or better than in performance or action. See Synonyms at excel. by the bureaucrats, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., says he'll reintroduce legislation raising the fine for indecent broadcasts to $500,000 from $27,500. And not to be outdone by their colleagues in the Senate, House versions of the legislation allow the offending performers to be slapped with $500,000 fines, as well. The threats from regulators and decency goon squads were enough to keep scads of TV stations in some of the nation's biggest markets from airing a Veterans Day presentation of the Academy Award-winning film "Saving Private Ryan." Director Steven Spielberg doesn't allow the dialogue, which is peppered with f-bombs, to be edited or bleeped. This sanctimony sanc·ti·mo·ny n. Feigned piety or righteousness; hypocritical devoutness or high-mindedness. [Obsolete French sanctimonie, from Latin s would be mostly silly if it weren't occurring while the FCC not only ignored, but actually contributed to a far greater threat to American society. Big media's influence at the FCC has transformed the quaint concept of competition into "less is more." If a federal judge in Philadelphia hadn't intervened last June, the FCC would have implemented relaxed rules that would have allowed one corporation to own the local newspaper, up to three TV stations, up to eight radio stations and the local cable system in one media market. That would severely limit the number of voices and independent sources of news and information available to citizens, compromising an important component of U.S. democracy. The judge ordered the FCC to revisit the rulemaking without a presumption that favored deregulation Deregulation The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry. Notes: Traditional areas that have been deregulated are the telephone and airline industries. . How disheartening dis·heart·en tr.v. dis·heart·ened, dis·heart·en·ing, dis·heart·ens To shake or destroy the courage or resolution of; dispirit. See Synonyms at discourage. that the agency charged with protecting citizen access to diverse sources of information must be ordered to give what's good for democracy equal weight with what's good for big business. Now there's something that's really obscene. |
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