Thursday, February 26, 2004
Why Clear Channel and the FCC suck (again)
Physical State: achey
Mental State: muddy
Music: Kim Hiyorthoy - Hei
Fashion sense: grey shirt, blue jeans
What is wrong with the USA, Chapter whatever...Six Clear Channel stations suspended their broadcasting of the Howard Stern show due to unsavoury content and what they deemed was a conflict with the rules of broadcasting laid out by the FCC. While I'm not a fan of Stern really (his show was on Toronto radio station q107 for awhile but has now been replaced) I am a fan of his ability to say what he wants. Like him or not his show matters in the history of radio. Things like Clear Channel and the FCC ensure that the US gets more homogenized and more culturally stupid as the years go by. The US always blames the easy target of objectionable material as the source of all its woes (do Republicans watch Michael Moore movies?). Why is it that I think that under Bush that country is going south in its open-mindedness, logic and its ability to exercise its freedom of speech (ironic when they're fighting a "war" for freedoms in the first place, no?). Seems that Clear Channel like many other media giants, post-Janet, are watching everything that anyone says or does and then shutting them down when they don't seem to fit the FCC agenda of decency (a Republican appointed commission). They are pressured by politicians and advertisers to stay on the straight and narrow (and in turn keep us stupid). Granted Stern's show is not great entertainment but it is a voice. Stern is just the beginning (or is it...anyone remember George Carlin's 7 dirty words?). Moral values should come from within not from some corporate lawyer. Censorship from media conglomerates and governments is an evil if there ever was one (anyone remember Jesse Helms?). People should be intelligent enough to turn off the show if they don't agree with a viewpoint (or better yet correspond with the "offender" and start a dialogue about why they thought something was wrong, that's your right). They should also be willing to ask their children about why something they deem offensive is so important to their kids. Try to see both sides. But the powers that be attitude is that people are morons and they'll go along with anything you do (including piping in safe crap music 24-7 across all venues and listener dials while crushing local diversity and independent talent). As much as I'm not a fan of Stern I honour his ability to go against the boring status quo. Unlike Janet, Stern has been doing this for awhile, not to just sell a new album or get in the papers. What do I know? Make up your own mind which is exactly what they don't want you to do.
