roundtable: Re: Exon Prayer and Then Some...

roundtable: Re: Exon Prayer and Then Some...

Re: Exon Prayer and Then Some...

Stan Bernstein (sbernst@panix.com)
Thu, 22 Jun 1995 00:09:35 -0400 (EDT) 

Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 00:09:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Stan Bernstein <sbernst@panix.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org
Subject: Re: Exon Prayer and Then Some...
In-Reply-To: <Pine.3.05.9506211147.A24301-d100000@beacon.regent.edu>
Message-Id: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950621223710.8706B-100000@panix3.panix.com>


I have been a subscriber to this forum for some time and have followed 
its proceedings with interest, although I don't believe I've ever posted. 
On this issue, however, I'll bite the bait.

In my view, the use of the Chaplain's idiotic homily was an insult to 
the intelligence of anybody who heard it, with the possible exception of 
Tammy Bakker. Mr. Pollak's brilliantly hilarious lampoon was entirely 
appropriate, and there would be no level of humorously scatalogical 
parody which could be so offensive as the apparent violation of the 
Chaplain's necessary impartiality with regard to the legislative process. 
It was a cheap stunt, in every way violative of the separation of church 
and state, and actually one of the sleazier lobbying behaviors I've 
witnessed in recent years.

Presumably, the folks back home were supposed to think that Senator Exon 
was protecting their children from run-away indecency on the Internet, 
and that those who opposed the blatantly unconstitutional legislation 
were selfish, uncaring perverts. The reality of the situation, however, 
is quite the reverse. Consideration of this silly Amendment, as even Newt 
Gingrich has observed, has actually set back meaningful debate about the 
real issue of how we protect children without removing First Amendment 
liberties now enjoyed by adults.

Anyone following the numerous technical discussions now taking place on 
the Internet with regard to end-user filtering options will understand 
that such technology is close at hand. Here is the real solution. Each 
parent, using these emerging technologies, will soon be enabled to block 
out what (s)he considers inappropriate for children. The Religious Right, 
though,exerting enormous lobbying pressures on our legislators, seems 
strangely unsatisfied with this sort of solution. Why? I'm far from alone 
in my suspicion that their real agenda is to control what adults will 
say to one another, eventually possibly even imprisoning people for 
religiously or politically incorrect speech which these religionists 
would help to define. Many on the left, although with a different 
rationale, would also needlessly sacrifice First Amendment liberties 
essentially to silence speech they didn't agree with. 
 
It is important to remember that the original language of the Exon 
Amendment provided for imposition of jail sentences and massive fines 
upon people guilty of "indecent" speech which until now has been 
considered constitutionally protected speech. The original goal was 
to arrest ISP owners and seize their equipment if they themselves did 
not inspect and censor their huge multi-megabyte holdings of Usenet 
offerings, an obviously impossible task. Under this subversive scheme, 
all sorts of 1984-ish possibilities would not be unimaginable.

Regards/SB

Stan Bernstein
sbernst@panix.com


On Wed, 21 Jun 1995, Chuck Pollak wrote:
> 
>       I am relatively new to this roundtable, having been a reader for 
> just a few weeks.  The issues and perspectives of the members has been, 
> for the most part, relevant, timely and professionally salient. It 
> seems that the tone and and the scatalogical nature of the Tommer 
> Peterson "prayer" demonstates a distinct strain of intellectual 
> laziness and calls into question the intent of the posting.
> 
> Chuck Pollak
> <chucpol@beacon.regent.edu>
> 
> 
> On Wed, 21 Jun 1995 dmendoza@tmn.com wrote:
> > 
> > The following prayer was delivered by Senator Exon before the debate 
> > on the Decency Act last week.  Following this excerpt from the 
> > Congressional Record is another "prayer" posted on ArtsWire by 
> > Tommer Peterson.  Enjoy...
> > 
> > David Mendoza
> > <dmendoza@tmn.com>
> > 
> > 
> >     Mr. President, I yield myself 10 minutes.
> >     Mr. President, I would like to start out this debate by reading a
> >   prayer that was offered by the Chaplain of the Senate on Monday, June
> >   12, that I hope will guide us once again. It was so much on point to
> >   what this Senator and the Senator from Indiana and others are
> >   attempting to do that I think it is worthy of repetition:
> > 
> >          Almighty God, Lord of all life, we praise You for the
> >        advancements in computerized communications that we enjoy in
> >        our time. Sadly, however, there are those who are littering
> >        this information superhighway with obscene, indecent, and
> >        destructive pornography. Virtual but virtueless reality is
> >        projected in the most twisted, sick misuse of sexuality.
> >        Violent people with sexual pathology are able to stalk and
> >        harass the innocent. Cyber solicitation of teenagers reveals
> >        the dark side of online victimization.
> >          Lord, we are profoundly concerned about the impact of this
> >        on our children. We have learned from careful study how
> >        children can become addicted to pornography at an early age.
> >        Their understanding and appreciation of Your gift of
> >        sexuality can be denigrated and eventually debilitated.
> >        Pornography disallowed in print and the mail is now readily
> >        available to young children who learn how to use the
> >        computer.
> >          Oh God, help us care for our children. Give us wisdom to
> >        create regulations that will protect the innocent. In times
> >        past, You have used the Senate to deal with problems of air
> >        and water pollution, and the misuse of our natural resources.
> >        Lord, give us courage to balance our reverence for freedom of
> >        speech with responsibility for what is said and depicted.
> >          Now, guide the Senators when they consider ways of
> >        controlling the pollution of computer communications and how
> >        to preserve one of our greatest resources: The minds of our
> >        children and the future and moral strength of our Nation.
> >        Amen.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > >From Tommer Peterson:
> > 
> >  Almighty God, Lord of all life, we praise You for the advancements
> >  in democracy that we enjoy in our time. Sadly, however, there are
> >  those who are littering our democratic process with self-serving,
> >  petty, vile and reactionary rhetoric. Rather than serve the people
> >  that have elected them to participate in this democratic process,
> >  they abandon responsibility in favor of self-righteous
> >  pontificating. Please, Oh Lord, drain their brain cavities of the
> >  Campbell's Creamed Corn (TM) that resides there and replace it
> >  with something at least as intelligent as a newt brain.  Note the
> >  lower case, please, I refer to the species. (I understand that the
> >  price of newt brains has dropped recently, but I'm sure money
> >  isn't an issue when you're God, right?)
> > 
> >  Lord, we are profoundly concerned about the impact of these
> >  Senator's actions on our children.  When elected officials act
> >  like total ninnies, where are we to turn for role models and
> >  examples of right and just and compassionate leadership?  Even Big
> >  Bird, the moral gyroscope of American childhood, may soon be
> >  unplugged by these bullies.
> > 
> >  Help, Oh Almighty Creator, these elected officials to actually
> >  earn how to use computers so their fears may be relieved and so
> >  they come to know this tool as other tools, its value and
> >  potential governed by the skills and conscience of the user.
> >  Help them learn to download first. They need to listen. Let them
> >  learn to upload on their own damned time.
> > 
> >  Oh God, help us care for our Senators. Give us the wisdom and
> >  courage to out them into swift retirement when their judgement and
> >  integrity have pissed themselves out. When they call out Your Name
> >  to in support of narrow and ignorant measures, Zap them in the
> >  shorts like in the Old Testament days.
> > 
> >  Take no shit from these bozos, Oh Lamb of God, for Thine is the
> >  kingdom, in the powerbooks and the glory-holes, and it's hitting
> >  the fan big-time down here. Your Name is popping all over as an
> >  unsolicited title-sponsor on any number of ungodly propositions.
> >  So, with all respect, watch your backside, Oh King of Kings,
> >  they've already done serious damage to the flag and you just might
> >  be next.
> > 
> >  Amen
> > 
> > 
> > And Amen, again...

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