Реферат: Why Dirty Words Are Dirty Essay Research

support the suppression of a good deal of political speech, such as the

Nixon

tapes; and they could even provide the basis for imposing sanctions for the

broadcast of certain portions of the bible.”(Gunther, 1991) Carlin’s

monologue was speech, there is no doubt about that, and it does present a

point of view. Carlin tried to show that “the words it uses are “harmless”

and that our attitudes toward them are essentially silly.”(Gunther, 1991)

They did not object to this point of view but did object to the way in

which

it is expressed.

Many people in the United States do not deem these words as offensive. In

fact many people use these words daily and as a part of conversation. “In

this context the Court’s decision could be seen as another of the dominant

culture’s inevitable efforts to force those groups who do not share its

mores

to conform to it’s way of thinking, acting, and speaking.”(Gunther, 1991)

Therefore, the Supreme Court looked upon Carlin’s monologue as indecent but

not obscene.

The FCC was given the power to regulate the airwaves and prohibit

broadcasters from promoting “indecent” material over the radio. After the

Pacifica case the FCC has also extended the ban of indecent as well as

obscene materials to 24 hours per day. Because of the 24 hour ban the

previous “law of nuisance” allowing for indecent material to be “channeled”

at certain times of the day was abolished. To promote strong regulation

against indecent material the FCC has the authority to issue fines on

broadcasters, whether it be fines in the terms of money or suspension of

air

time. The FCC, or the government, was given the ultimate power. The power

to