MMMM # 78 - Official Censorship

     There was an ill-fated attempt in January, 1982, to require Alabama Public Television to broadcast "only educational and non-political factual programs." The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Bob Gafford (D-Birmingham), who had been the subject of some negative reporting, but it went nowhere, dying at the committee level. 

    There are always folks who want to gag the media. Reporting has never been an occupation for the timid.   

     But perhaps even more scary are efforts to gag entire populations, the U.S. veggie libel laws of the 1990's (including one in Alabama! You respect those tomatoes from now on, Lennox!) are one example.

     Now, in Ireland, they've gone and made it an actual violation of law to say something blasphemous about a religion, any religion! You can just imagine what the boyos have to say after a few rounds at the local pub on a Saturday night in Belfast or Dublin! First they ban us from smoking! Then criticizing Father Pat's sermon! What's next? No singing too loudly and a touch off key?

     A group of full-time non-believers have gone on the offensive offensive, quoting some very well know atheists saying some very bad things about religion and the religious on a web site. Take that!

     In addition to the potato famine, a lack of religious freedom helped send shiploads of the Irish to America during the 1800's...The Irish government's action makes ya understand why!


[PLUS: Speaking of the media and religion, Brit Hume on FOX News Sunday: Tiger Woods won't recover until he abandons Buddism and becomes a Christian.]