WARNING: The text of H. R. 3687 will infect your soul, curve your spine and keep the country from winning the war.
108th CONGRESS1st Session
H. R. 3687
To amend section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for the punishment of certain profane broadcasts, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESDecember 8, 2003
Mr. OSE (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To amend section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, to provide for the punishment of certain profane broadcasts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 1464 of title 18, United States Code, is amended–
(1) by inserting `(a)’ before `Whoever’; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
`(b) As used in this section, the term `profane’, used with respect to language, includes the words `shit’, `piss’, `fuck’, `cunt’, `asshole’, and the phrases `cock sucker’, `mother fucker’, and `ass hole’, compound use (including hyphenated compounds) of such words and phrases with each other or with other words or phrases, and other grammatical forms of such words and phrases (including verb, adjective, gerund, participle, and infinitive forms).’.
It’s a good thing that this `mother fucker‘ and this `cock sucker‘ are making sure the United States Congress is taking time to address the really important issues.
To our congressmen and representatives.
My husband, Archie Schilly, and I support this bill heartedly. I have sent a personal letter of support to Michael Powell, Chairman of the FCC on behalf of ourselves, this generation and the next, but to preserve our nation, and the world. May we all be instrumental in our own preservation from the forces of how our Creator would have us deal with our will” in co-mission and ommission as curatures of world and very existence.
Thank you for this opportunity for our “say”.
J. Olivia Schilly
and Archie Schilly, of Sonora CA.
To Who ever wrote the “Warning” on this site —
Our nation will fall as it is the corruption within that will “do us in”. The war is good vs. bad. It is very obvious what kind of person lurks behind these words.
This bill is long overdue. It should have never come to this, remember you cant legislate morality, that comes from God which is another no-no in today’s society. But unfortunately we must do something or I would hate to see what’s next for America. I hate to have to state the obviuos but really, shouldn’t we be holding our elected officials accountable for things like this. If not then maybe we need some new ones who will speak what their constituents really want.
It is never appropriate for the Federal Government to censor its people or what they say. Let America take away the parenting of the government and place the responsibility where it lies, on the parents of todays youth.
If you do not want your children subjected to these words, take the time to be there with your children and not let the babysitter in a box do it for you.
Nobody likes to hear swearwords but that is not what this is about. This is another attack by this Government on our right to think for ourselves, choose for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. Bush and Co don’t give a rat’s @ss about “Clean Airwaves.” What we should think about is that when something that most people find at least potentially offensive in some situations is banned, then all the things that were well within the guidelines are one step closer to “the edge” because a layer of vocabulary and ideas have been removed from the public discourse. After people get used to “no swearing” what’s next? “no criticizing” and the more so if it is the President? Bush is a vulture. As soon as we get used to doing without what he last tore away from us he’ll be back for another bite.
I find it very interesting that the authors of this bill seems to agree with one thing that George Carlin said in his famous routine about this list – that ‘tits’ does not belong on the list! It is interesting that replaced ‘tits’ with ‘assholes’. But I wonder if they really know either from a hole in the ground.
I don’t know which is funnier — the idea that the honorable Rep. Ose would waste his time and the taxpayers’ with this nonsense or the comments from the biblethumpers (posted on this website) who think we’re all going to hell (oops! better make that “heck”) because of a few dirty words. Seems to me that war, intolerance, economic turmoil, etc. will more likely result in the world’s “darnation.”
Also, Rep. Ose must be an unimaginative sort. OK, he has one more word on his list than George Carlin, but surely anyone who has ever spent time on a school playground could think of many more than 8 objectionable terms. Why not make it a contest? Even the biblethumpers can join in.
One more observation: Bush is a sock-plucking glass bowl!
Abso-freakin-lutely unbelievable! We have schools that are going bankrupt, the economy going down the drain (contrary to the lies put out by the Repugnican party), a President who is making war purely for his own profit, and a government that can’t even come close to balancing the budget (because they don’t want to!), and these mental midgets are wasting their (and our) time with BS like this! We (the people) don’t need censoring, but they (the never to be sufficiently damned Repugnicans) sure do need censuring!!!
Also, isn’t it funny that the more overtly religious the poster is, the less educated and intelligent their post is? Just what the hell (see first post by someone named “J. Olivia Schilly”) is a “curature” anyway? If you want to live in a dream world that is run by your fictional “GOD” creature (hey Olivia, please note the correct spelling), that’s fine for you, but don’t try to make the rest of us live our lives according to the beliefs of your ancient mythology. MY constitution says this is a free country. I don’t give a rat’s butthole about your fictional book, or it’s fictional laws. Don’t covet thy neighbor’s wife? If she’s a knockout, why the hell not?
“If there is a hell, it’s fires wait for them, not us.” -the late Frank Zappa-
I think it is absolutely hilarious that we are so concerned with the vocabulary of today’s youth and yesterdays elders. Save us money throw the bill out, and the elders need to die to save on taxes. I tell you what if your so hell bent on changing the world you should start with the house of rep’s and our congressmen. Look up their police records. Practically all of them have one and these are the poeple running our country not us.
What if these words were in the begining dictionaries, you were taught them from the very beginning, they would still be vulgure so would you have a problem with them still? Like you have never swore before, kiss my ass!
I am so tired of tired of religous people turning to God to back them up. I beleive in God, I do not go to church but I beleive there is a higher power, and if he thinks that the words comming out of my mouth are damning me then he needs to get over it. They are only WORDS! I think killing someone would be more hurtful to the status of my salvation then the word FUCK!
Get over yourselves and go back to work!
Steve
i cant believe any of you could agree with this bill.
what makes a word profane? your own concept of right and wrong. Its time to get christian morality out of our government. If your offended by hearing a word you are a sissy.
not to mention that when you prohibit the use of a word on television, writers just substitute a different word which is supposed to hold “the meaning” of the profanity, but just sound ridiculously stupid…. i.e. “you son of a jerk”
i guess what i’m trying to say is that what makes a word profane is the thought behind it, not the word itself. when you hear someone say “you son of a jerk” you still think “you son of a bitch”.
I am in support of this bill. I hope Congress passes it.
I think that the way TV is now is just fine. I agree with returning parental responsibilities to the parents. If you don’t want your child to see something, then don’t let them see it. Not only that, but we don’t give children enough credit. If raised properly, most children will not watch a profane TV broadcast and be forever heavily affected by it. They’ll forget all about it very quickly. Such is the nature of a child. I think the words outlined in this particular bill should probably not be on mainstream TV, but my point about children still stands.
Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. How much clearer could the constitution be?
Your kids will hear these phrases and much worse on playgrounds, in the halls of their schools, and uttered from the mouths of adults all around them. You want to protect your children from profanity? Put out their eyes, pierce their eardrums, lock them in your basement and never let them out.
Religious Reich crap. We already hear plenty of profanity on America’s airwaves; e.g., “Bush” is just another word for “c*nt” as far as I’m concerned. Most viewers/listeners are willing participants with scat players dressed up in business suits.
I go to France several times each year. I’ve never encountered on French TV, radio or usual public publications any of the obscenities found currently “in my face” in similar media here in the USA. The only thing I’ve found to be comparable in France (especially in Paris) is what the French call “crotte” – dog shit. Crotte is everywhere. When I walk the streets of Paris I never look up for fear of squishing my foot into the ever present crotte. Its presence is to me most obnoxious. I get no thrill from stepping in crotte. And the stench hangs around a long time. Is not the scattering of scatology and other obsenities throughout the media comparable to the crotte on the streets of Paris? The city government of Paris has at long last passed an ordinace fining dog owners who do not pick up and dispose of the crotte deposited on the sidewalks. So far, enforcement of this ordinance is not very effective. But at least it makes a statement. I suspect that current efforts to control public obscenity in the USA will be similarly ineffective. Shit happens.
Why don’t you red-state mother-fuckers just die.
When I read comments from others where they have used the pronoun “your” when I presume they mean the pronoun and verb “you’re” (for you are), I am not impressed with their “smarts”; they don’t seem to have any!
Ah, yes…I’m actually torn on this issue. While I do NOT agree with the media storm this has caused(and this ALL happened for a reason…Janet Jackson needed to generate interest in herself before she faded into obscurity, CBS needed to be known for something more than the shows that the elderly die to, MTV needed to be seen as “controversial” again which is something they have not accomplished in many many years, Howard Stern needed to remind people that he was not yet dead while his schtick is, and the presidential canidates needed to make themselves look more Pious to the Conservatives since the Liberals and others are a given to rid the office of Bush), I have to wonder if there would be limits. However, those limits shouldn’t be decided by the ones in senate, because I honestly don’t think they are the ones to decide. That should be left to the parents. That’s why there are v-chips…and that’s why there is CONVERSATION! Yes, that lost art. Try it! Instead of acting holier than thou and trying to censor others…talk to your children, understand their feelings, be a good influence. I’ve noticed so many parents don’t practice what they preach and they also don’t think their children are paying attention…sorry…we are..and we think you suck (Oops, that’s a word my mother considers obscene..along with the word crap…guess I’m on my way to Hades). The point is…you cannot blame television…we the people infleunce what television shows, if something offends the people and we don’t watch it…guess what? It disappears. As for Ms. Jackson’s sadly lack burlesque show, it was more hype than anything. Had they been smart..they would’ve ignored it. But with the report of her indent exposure..there were blown up photographs, tivo replays, constant analysis, and copy cat nipple shields and a reason for the radio to play her horrific new song. I think this bill should not be put into effect. And I think the ones who think that stopping cursing on t.v. is going to save the nation, should stop being blind.
I just wanted to say to the Bush Administration and especially to Mr. Powell of the FCC, through out my life, there has been only one person who could control the language I use. My elected officials, in this case, my NOT elected officials do not have the authority to dictate the language I use or say under any circumstances. This clean airwaves bill going through Congress is a disgrace and must not pass. This is not the purpose you have been hired for, and you do not have the right or the obligation to push your anti-free speech agenda on anyone.
You may be wondering who the person was who could control my vocabulary: it’s my Mom. Which is my point. Parents are inherantly responsible for the actions of their children and therefore responsible for the media that their children are exposed to.
One last word to the Bush Administration. Your ass is outta here come November 2004. Fuck off!
Let’s see…the Republican Party supports denying First Amendment rights of Freedom of Speech, then supports constitutional amendments allowing only those, of whom THEY approve,to marry , conducts an unprovoked war based on fictitious weapons information, all on the basis of what is Christian and “Right,” fueled by the support of the wealthy. We started this country because of the atrocities perpetrated by King George the Third, now we are being threatened by the PLUTOCRACY of King George the Second. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
I was in Scotland last year and watched some television. The musician Moby was on the Scottish equivalent of The Tonight Show, and in passing he said something like “What the fuck is the difference?” And guess what? The suit and tied, cropped haired host didn’t flinch. No one in the audience gasped, no one screamed, no one died, no one complained, no one did anything other than what people do in normal conversation, which is just go on to the next fucking thought.
Then I was in Germany watching prime time television and there was a story on a show like “Dateline,” on body piercing and they showed pierced PENISES and pierced VAGINAS and pierced BREASTS and guess what??? No one complained, it was no big deal, no one died, no one got molested, no one had a fit, the devil didn’t show up, nor did Jesus, or Elvis.
Then while driving to Denmark I stopped at a rest area and in the store was a magazine stand. There were magazines showing BREASTS and nekked wimmin, PORNO and all sorts of stuff right out in the open where kids could see and I watched them and you know what they did????? They walked right past all of the TITillating stuff to the Pokemon magazines. And you know what? When they’re old enough to appreciate T&A, they’ll look at it. And you know what? The rape rates there are lower than in tight assed, repressed, mentally ill America. I’ve been watching this same SHIT for 50 years and I’m fucking sick and tired of it. America is populated by a mentally ill, minority of Puritans that always seems to get its way….it’s time for the sane amongst us to speak up loudly and stop these maniacs. Life is for the living You’ll find out what happens next, if anything, when you DIE. Anyone who tells you with certainty that they know what’s going to happen to you when you die is a LIAR and LIARS go to HELL if they go anywhere. And if you think you know what’s coming and based on that delusion you want to tell everyone else how to live, then you can and will go to HELL if you’re going anywhere. God bless America!
Seeking leadership and responsible government is what most of us want. In this quasi democractic country we call free… where freedoms including assembly and speech are our given “rights”.. it’s either an erosion of our rights when congress and it’s representives think it’s ok to wave the flag of freedom just as long as we say what they tell us is OK from there moral perches… Gee, when you’re looking for weapons of mass destruction, is it worse to say “we fucked us… there were none” or “God bless America, cause we made an error in what we told our people” Either way…. someone fucked up
Watching from the sidelines in Canada, I suspect the taxpayers of the USA are much like Canadians. If the politicians lips are moving… it’s got to be a lie”. Having said that, imagine a time when we elected people to get the job done, for all of us.. not the Jimmy Falwells, Oral Roberts and other mesiahs… both our countries are mixing pot by virtue of a multi-national make-up… Far be it now to dictate to the masses how they must speak.. Lastly, isn’t there more pressing demands of the U.S. government than this bible crap???
Signed, a Catholic !
” No-one becomes extremely evil all at once”
I am so glad to see that our tax dollars are not going to waste. 2.3 million jobs lost in the last four years, the economy in shambles, billions of dollars spent and hundreds of American soldiers killed in the invasion on Iraq, and Congress is worried about our language. Perhaps if they put a little more effort into correcting some of our country’s REAL problems we would not have so much to curse about!
PS
Isn’t goddamn still considered profane? Just wondering!
It’s always easier to blame someone else for your problems than to face up to your own responsibility for them. This is just one more bit of smoke that the right-wing Republicans are blowing up our ass to get us to believe that American society will collapse unless the Shrub is elected. Note – not re-elected, elected.
I’m so relived about this I could just shit a brick. Now I can finally get some mother fucking sleep.
*Chingar!*
So does that mean that ‘sucker’ and ‘mother’ and ‘hole’ are now obscenities, since they are portions of words? Or does that mean it is perfectly acceptable to say ‘cock’?
Don’t those *cabrons* have anything better to do?
What a load of shit! Congress, the largest collection of miscreants on the planet, who all took an oath to uphold our constitution upon taking office, now seek to protect us from the evils of profane speech. Can it get any sillier than this?
I don’t think that we (Citizens of America) should allow Congress to take away our right to use profanity. They legislate enough rules, and it’s not their jobs to legislate our usage of vulgarity. Profanity is the choice of the user and it shows ignorance on the user’s behalf. I think that is sufficient. People can choose to be around others that use profane language, also choose not be. For those people whom absolutley have no tolerance, do not depend on the governemnt to actually come through with this. Before they repair our language, they need to repair their morale and standards. Good day to all.
Another thing I left off that I feel is very important on the profanity issue…is the fact that the Governement probably can’t even determine the person or persons that declared such words as profane. So how do we really know that ass, shit, and fuck are really “bad words?”
Really, I don’t know of anybody that can determine the creators of this idea!
The things that don’t matter is what our ignorant, shitheaded, Government are trying to take care of. Spend your fuckin money on the families of the soldiers who fell, and get these fucking immigrants out of my backyard. Their not only taking some jobs, their steeling our fuckin cars to commute to their native region. Now that matters.
PS: These motherfuckers don’t even pay taxes, fix that problem and I’ll quit cussing.
What about “twat”? I think twat is feeling very neglected right about now.
And there are other compound phrases that might be considered:
skeet, skeet, skeet
rusty trombone (ewww!)
filthy gomez (still don’t know what that is)
If were really intent on doing this, we should add “missing WMDs” to the list of profane words outlawed.
With legislation like this, is it any wonder the rest of the First World looks on us as adolescents?
What do they mean by “other purposes”? It seems they truly are ready to censor anyone they deem “profane”. It’s the first step in an Orwellian nightmare that will befall our country if we allow Dubya four more years in which to profane the highest office in the land. Where is the resolution condemning our President for misleading us on matters of war? What is the point of this hokum, but to “appease” (another favorite word of theirs) the intolerant zealots who make up their base? That’s the real filthy part.
I guess it’s ok to say dick sucker and pussy licker then in primetime.
In the US we are guaranteed freedom of religion. Vulgarity has been with mankind forever. The US Government attempted to legislate morality with the Prohibition Act and it failed. The “blackmarket” in whiskey created notorious crime sydicates that are still with us today.
“What censorship accomplishes, creating an unreal and hypocritical mythology, fomenting an attraction for forbidden fruit, inhibiting the creative minds among us and fostering an illicit trade. Above all, it curtails the right of the individual, be he creator or consumer, to satisfy his intellect and his interest without harm. In our law-rooted society, we are not the keeper of our brother’s morals — only of his rights.”
– Judith Crist
Profanity is the linguistic crutch of the inarticlate motherfucker.
In short, do not listen to radio or watch TV because it corrupts the mind and is a tool of Satan, Lord of Hell. (Hell is in the Bible).
Yo:
I am the (original) author of the warning: “…infect your soul, curve your spine and keep the country from winning the war,”
and I am proud you used it the way you did. Thanks.
Filthy Man
What the HELL happend to “separation of church and state?”
And who the HELL do you people think your kidding? Just because it’s not said on TV does not mean kids are not going to say it.
And, quite frankly my darling, who gives a fuck? There are other profane terms not mentioned. What about pussy? and dick? and fag?
With all the money the government spends on this bill we could do something important. GET THE FUCKING GOVERNMENT OUT OF DEBT GODDAMMIT!!!!
Don’t waste your fucking time on trying to keep me from saying “fuck.” I’ve already heard it. Hearing it on TV is not going to make a fucking bit of fucking difference.
FUCK!!!!!!!
P.S. Whats the difference between “asshole” and “ass hole”
you suk government
Guys, don’t get all upset, this is just the governments way of protecting us from the evils of the world that we cannot understand. Just like killing unarmed civilians in Iraq or leaving your kids (My generation) with billions of dollars of debt to pay off. We might not understand it, but it’s certainly for our own good.
Oh, and on another note, whatever happened to free press, free speech, all of that?
They’re just words people, I mean, your kids *will* fuck, they *will* shit and they *will* suck cock (You can thank Clinton for that one, and boy could my penis not do it enough!). The thing is, that just because we pretend that it don’t exist doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.
Besides, I’d rather have my kids saying bad words instead of doing drugs and having unprotected sex, pick your battles here folks.
Although I have been a Christian all my life, I must say I disagree with this bill entirely. If we allow this to become a law in the Constitution, I fear it will be the beginning of a downward-spiral towards the end of freedom as we know it.
Granted, Americans are beginning to abuse the term “freedom of speech, press,” etc., by constantly pushing buttons and daring to cross the line repeatedly. However, I believe there are more important issues to address than how vulgar our society is becoming.
Perhaps we should focus on the poor education in our inner cities, the unemployment rate and poor economy, work on ending the conflict in Iraq so our soldiers/loved ones can come home, promote awareness and protection from diseases like AIDS and HIV within our borders and around the world, and focus on more important crimes like murder, rape, etc.
Do I think it’s rude, vulgar, and inappropriate for Americans to use this type of language? Yes. Would I like to see it end? Sure. But do I think it should be illegal and stopped through a federal law? Absolutely not. There are just so many other important issues at hand we should deal with first.
This is rediculous. Words are words. Just because someone says the word ‘fuck’ or ‘shit’ does not make them a bad person. To sensor the right to use such words is an attack on our freedom of speech, and another way for the government to limit our personal freedoms in total. Societies evolve; we are at the cusp of a new generation, and I believe that there will always be profanity. So what, theres no ‘fuck’ or ‘shit’, that does not mean that tomorrow a new wave of words will infiltrate American vocabularly. It is not the government’s responsibility to regulate the lives of its citizens…please leave that to the people themselves.
Man this is all bullshit. Waste of fucking time. Piss on this DsC rules.
if you saw the daily show’s take on this its quite amusing. But you think that this will stop it but why couldn’t they stop howard stern when he started not now when he’s got his roots so firmly in the ground this is just even sadder why do you hafta change it?
I guess a Britian that says “shag” on American TV is okay. How stupid this law is.
They forgot include ADVERBS.
“you cant legislate morality, that comes from God which is another no-no in today’s society. But unfortunately we must do something or I would hate to see what’s next for America.”
“May we all be instrumental in our own preservation from the forces of how our Creator would have us deal with our will” in co-mission and ommission as curatures of world and very existence.”
I also wish people would stop invoking “The Creator” in their support of this bill. This bill has nothing to do with the outmoded notion of an omniscient God and how his followers would have us live, and everything to do with censorship and the right of the people to use the language they choose as protected by the first amendment. Just as I am compelled to respect your opinion that “God” wants us to stop using cuss words, you are compelled to allow me to use the f-bomb if I deem it appropriate. That second quote wasn’t even proper English, but I’m not going to ask the FCC to censor it just because I personally fell one should actually know the language they use to communicate publicly.
There’s a lovely mention of this bill in a video lecture I was just watching at The Science Network:
If parents don’t want their children exposed to such language, they should try getting involved in knowing what their kids are trying to watch and whether it’s appropriate. How lazy.