As President of Feminists for Free Expression, I try to stay on top of what's going on in the news. I can't say that this is always easy for me, because as a sex educator, I tend to focus on what's going on in terms of sex, but I know the importance of this other knowledge as well. So, I'd just like to point out a couple of things happening in the world around us, that have to do with our freedom of expression. Some of this is scary, and not in that "boo" sort of way. But most of us aren't even aware it's going on. This is all about the freedom of expression that we think we have, but don't necessarily have the right to really use, not only in this country, but in the world.
*All clips are excerpted from original articles
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February 23, 2021 -- The Federal Communications Commission plans sanctions against Fox, CBS and NBC television stations or affiliates for violating decency standards, signaling a renewed effort by the Bush administration to crack down on broadcasters, people familiar with the matter said. The rulings, which may come as early as this week, will be the first under FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and will add the common expletive for excrement to words that cannot be said on the air in almost any context, said four FCC officials who asked not to be identified.
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PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2021-The global controversy over cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed has now struck American college campuses. In response, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) issued a statement today reminding colleges and universities that free speech needs protection now-in the face of ongoing controversy-more than ever.
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NEW YORK -- Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) has asked Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson for a thorough inquiry of his agency's investigation into whether a V.A. nurse's letter to the editor criticizing the Bush administration amounted to "sedition." Merely opposing government policies and expressing a desire to change course "does not provide reason to believe that a person is involved in illegal subversive activity," he said. Bingaman said such investigations raise "a very real possibility of chilling legitimate political speech." Laura Berg, a clinical nurse specialist for 15 years, wrote a letter in September to a weekly Albuquerque newspaper criticizing how the administration handled Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq War. She urged people to "act forcefully" by bringing criminal charges against top administration officials, including the president, to remove them from power because they played games of "vicious deceit." She added: "This country needs to get out of Iraq now and return to our original vision and priorities of caring for land and people and resources rather than killing for oil....Otherwise, many more of us will be facing living hell in these times."
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Also, check out the new FFE page. Please submit something about how the first amendment impacts your life. We're going to post your stories on our site, and maybe even publish them somewhere!
I'll get back to my regulary posted sex talk and blather tomorrow...but for now, just think about it. Your freedom of expression, is it really yours to express?
Posted by jamye at February 23, 2021 12:41 PM