First Amendment Update

Date: Sun Jan 05, 1997 11:06 pm CST

From: Chris Roth

EMS: INTERNET / MCI ID: 376-5414

MBX: croth@omnifest.uwm.edu

TO: The First Amendment Teach-In

EMS: INTERNET / MCI ID: 376-5414

MBX: fau@listproc.bgsu.edu

BCC: * Nicholas Johnson / MCI ID: 103-5393

Subject: 1st Am. Update #55: WI, OK, DC, CA

6 January 1997

Opinion & Analysis

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:::::::::::::::::::::: The First Amendment Teach-In :::::::::::::::::::::::::

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+++++ ++++++++++

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F I R S T A M E N D M E N T

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UPDATE

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IN THIS ISSUE:

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION the "Showgirls" mess continues

CA: Mario Savio and the Berkeley

Free Speech Movement

WI: the v-chip-and-ratings mess

JOURNALISM LITE WI: Dave Berkman on the Capitol

rotunda messages

RELIGION AND SOCIETY Alan Singer on Teen Aid

WI: Leon Todd on religion and

public schools

ABORTION RIGHTS OK: another clinic attacked

SEPARATION OF Atheists plan to confront

CHURCH AND STATE Promise Keepers in DC

Memo to readers: < and > symbols indicate italics

_____________________________________________________________________________

QUOTE

Here's a famous A.J. Leibling statement:

(begin excerpt)

Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one.

(end excerpt)

* * *

PAY CABLE SUBSCRIBERS SLIGHTED?

If a recent _USA Today_ TV listings grid was accurate, then an

R-rated version of "Showgirls" has just been cablecast by Showtime,

a pay cable network.

In 1995, when Paul Verhoeven's "Showgirls" was first exhibited in

theaters, audiences saw an NC-17 version.

Under the MPAA's rating system, an NC-17 film is considered

more offensive than an R-rated release.

Showtime isn't alone in peddling edited content. Viacom's BLOCKBUSTER

VIDEO stores have been providing customers with a take-it-or-leave-it

R-rated version of Verhoeven's film.

* * *

BARBARA GARSON ON THE LATE MARIO SAVIO

Mario Savio founded the Berkeley Free Speech Movement during the

1960's. Barbara Garson's 2-page article on Savio appeared in the

January 1997 issue of _The Progressive_, a Madison-based monthly

magazine.

Savio died in 1996. He fought for free speech for individuals and

organizations from many parts of the political spectrum.

* * *

ACCURATE REPORTAGE OR JOURNALISM LITE?

The _Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_ is Wisconsin's largest newspaper.

Countless readers know Joanne Weintraub as someone who writes

about one subject: television. The 2 January 1997 issue included two

Weintraub columns.

In her "Television" column on page 1E, the _Milwaukee Journal

Sentinel_'s Weintraub described the USA Network's animated "Duckman"

comedy series as "dumb smut." The USA Network is a basic cable

network.

In addition to stretching the definition of the word <smut>,

Weintraub couldn't resist using the word <I> five times.

She's not alone. Everything-is-personal-and-intrapersonal

psychobabble continues to drive Journalism Lite in many cities.

Few TV columnists at American dailies write about the diverse

realm of broadcast regulation controversies. Indeed,

it is difficult to find locally-produced columns with substantive

content about, say, the First Amendment rights of broadcasters,

potential licensees, creative people, candidates, citizens

who've been attacked on the air, or TV viewers.

Back to the 2 January 1997 issue. In her "COMMENTARY" column on

page 8B, Joanne Weintraub described the new TV rating system as

"voluntary."

But hours after the system was formally unveiled in Washington DC,

the authoritative American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) described

the v-chip rating scheme as "government-coerced censorship." That

description appeared on page A12 of the national edition of the

_New York Times_ on 20 December 1996.

Who is correct? Weintraub? Or the nation's largest legal

organization?

* * *

PUBLIC FORUM DOCTRINE

VS. JOURNALISM LITE

During December of 1996, the Madison WI-based Freedom from Religion

Foundation's (FFRF) 30-inch-by-40-inch sign appeared in the Capitol

rotunda. Also on display was a 9-foot menorah, a 40-foot Christmas tree,

and a statement by a rightist religion-and-politics organization.

According to Amy Rinard's comprehensive report in the 20 December 1996

_Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_, the FFRF sign read:

(begin excerpt)

In this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There

are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only

our natural world. Religion is but a myth and superstition that

hardens hearts and enslaves minds.

(end excerpt)

The Family Research Institute of Wisconsin's sign presented this

message:

(begin excerpt)

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, may truth prevail.

'For the fool hath said in his heart that there is no God.'

(end excerpt)

Here's an excerpt (see below) from Professor Dave Berkman's

"Media Musings" column in the 2 January 1996 _Shepherd Express_,

Milwaukee's alternative weekly newspaper. Berkman's insightful

comments were critical of copy published in the _Milwaukee

Journal Sentinel_ about the FFRF message. That copy was written

by columnist Dennis McCann.

(begin excerpt)

Aside to the _Journal Sentinel_'s Dennis McCann: You seemed so

upset about the display of an atheist message amid the state

Capitol's Christmas decorations. Are you suggesting that

40 million nonbelievers be denied any right to express their

views? Personal theology aside, the right to expression is

something you, as a journalist, should above all understand.

(end excerpt)

* * *

ALAN SINGER ON EDUCATION LITE

Here's an excerpt from page 18 of the Winter 1996/1997 issue

of _Rethinking Schools_. Alan Singer reviewed _Sexuality,

Commitment and Family_, a classroom book published by Teen Aid.

Mr. Singer also commented on a teacher's guide for that

textbook.

(begin excerpt)

Teen Aid, based in Spokane, publishes some of the most

widely distributed "abstinence only" curricula. The curricula

is also anti-birth control, implies that abortion is murder,

and frowns upon "dual career" marriages.

(content deleted)

Instructions in the teacher's guide for the chapter on

"Reproductive Autonomy" suggest that "this information should

be taught with a sense of awe. It is a <miracle> that any

of us were formed and developed when considering all the

factors which must be just right (p. 79). The "Holy Bible"

is cited as a "medical reference" (p. 122) in a section on the

impact of alcohol on a fetus. Abortion is defined as

"an intent to kill the unborn" (p. 250).

As with creationism, the abstinence curriculum makes a pretense

of being scientific. Studies are cited to support the

curriculum's positions on the ineffectiveness of birth

control and the criminality of abortion. Alternative studies

and views are never presented.

Under the guise of sensitivity and concern, Teen-Aid's

_Sexuality, Commitment and Family_ is an attempt by right-wing

religious groups to gain access to public school classrooms,

undermine sex education programs, and instruct teenagers on

the right way to behave--i.e., their way.

(end excerpt)

reserved.

* * *

EDUCATION, RACE, AND RELIGION

IN OLD MILWAUKEE

Here's an excerpt from a report published in the _Milwaukee

Journal Sentinel_ during the first week of December of 1996.

(begine excerpt)

Milwaukee School Board member Leon Todd has presented a resolution

that would prohibit "the teaching of Afrocentrism or any racially

centric doctrine...as the primary basis of any school's curriculum."

Todd has a second resolution, calling for the prohibition of the

teaching of cults.

(end excerpt)

17 days later, the _Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_ reported this:

(begin excerpt)

Todd said he proposed the resolutions because he was concerned that

myths and untruths were being taught in the name of Afrocentric

education at Malcolm X Academy and about a half-dozen other

MPS schools, including North Division High School.

(end excerpt)

On 18 December 1996 a firebomb was thrown at Leon Todd's home.

During the attack, Mr. Todd was attending a Milwaukee School Board

meeting.

During that same month, the Milwaukee School Board member appeared

in an interview aired by a local TV station. During a videotaped segment,

Todd, who is black, articulated a specific religious claim and said

that it should not be taught as fact by teachers. That claim was

about the purported skin color of a character from a Bible story.

* * *

ANOTHER CLINIC ATTACKED

On 1 January 1997, two firebombs were thrown at a Tulsa OK-based

clinic. No one was inside the building during the assault.

It is likely that the perpetrator or perpetrators are antiabortion

activists.

* * *

PROMISE KEEPERS PLAN MASS DEMONSTRATION

The following notice appeared on alt.atheism.moderated, a Usenet

newsgroup, during late December of 1996. Usenet newsgroups are

perpetual interactive conferences. Each online conference is

about one narrow-appeal topic.

(begin excerpt)

A special announcement from AANEWS, written and edited by Conrad F.

Goeringer.

In the fall of 1997, the Promise Keepers Movement will try to bring

1,000,000 men for a religious "March on Washington."

In the fall of 1997, American Atheists will launch its biggest public

street action as we confront the Promise Keepers, and demonstrate for

state-church separation, individual rights, an end to sexist-gender

oppression of women and gays, and civil liberties!

(Have we gotten your attention yet?)

Then join American Atheists for two days of street demonstrations,

comraderie and a stimulating symposium on FREEDOM FROM RELIGION followed

by a workshop in Atheist-Separationist activism!

That's right. The Promise Keepers, a fast-growing religious

fundamentalist group which recruits men and organizes expensive, glitzy

events in athletic stadiums, plans to mobilize followers for its

equivalent of the Million Man March in the fall of 1997. Promise Keepers

has emerged as a multimillion dollar evangelical machine, known best for

its defense of patriarchal religion. It calls upon men to "reassert

leadership" as "heads of household," families and government. It is a

homophobic movement as well, one that preaches gender bigotry and calls

for a "return" to Bible-based law and principles.

In a diverse, pluralistic America founded upon the Bill of Rights and

the Constitution, Promise Keepers represents a backlash against the

rights of women, gays and other segments of society who don't conform to

fundamentalist dictates and stereotypes.

And the Promise Keepers threaten the cherished principles of First

Amendment based state-church separation, and the liberties of Atheists

and other nonbelievers -- male or female, gay or straight.

That's why American Atheists is already preparing to confront the

bigoted, religion-based agenda of the Promise Keepers next fall in our

nation's capitol. This won't be the first time American Atheists has

"taken it to the streets!" We've picketed and demonstrated at state

capitols, political events, and the publicity-stunt visits to America

staged by the pope. We also organized the first Atheist Pride March in

history!

Now, American Atheists is planning our biggest and most ambitious

public demonstration, as we confront the Promise Keepers. If you missed

the pope picket in '95, you now have another chance to strike a blow for

Atheism and the First Amendment! Don't miss it! The day before the

demonstration, American Atheists will host a stimulating symposium

featuring a panel discussion and a workshop in Atheist-Separationist

activism. So be part of the action! Plan on joining us in Washington,

D.C. as we stand up for First Amendment rights!

(content deleted)

Margie Wait

AMERICAN ATHEISTS Getting aanews? Send e-mail to:

Internet Representative aanews-request@listserv.atheists.org

e-mail: irep@atheists.org Ask for "info aanews" ****

Moderator, AACHAT Visit AMERICAN ATHEISTS on the WWW!

e-mail: aachat@atheists.org http://www.atheists.org

(end excerpt)

A C C E S S

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On the Internet, censorship is discussed on alt.censorship, an

unmoderated Usenet newsgroup

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The _Shepherd Express_ e-mail address is: postmaster@shepherd-express.-

com. That weekly newspaper's World Wide Web site address is:

http://www.shepherd-express.com

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The _Milwaukee Journal Sentinel_ is at: MJSedit@aol.com

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