I admire fairness. The truth is, it is hard to be fair when its not in your best interests. It can be hard to say that someone you usually disagree with is right, particuarly if you don't like them.
That is why I find Rush Limbaugh's commentary on Howard Stern so pleasing. Rush doesn't like the Porn Jock (is Shock Jock the right term?) but he defended Howard Stern today. Rush's defense was motivated by Clear Channel Communications suspending Howard Stern for indecency. rush isn't a fan of Stern's (neither am I) but Rush was right on about the issue of free speech and standards. Let me quote him:
"You know, I'm in the free speech business here, my friends. I couldn't survive without it. And it is one thing for a company in business to determine whether or not they're going to be party to it. It is quite another thing for a government."
Frankly I wish that people just turned Howard Stern off. I wish that his show was cancelled due to a lack of interest. But it wasn't. Many Americans seem to like this childish, puerile, gutter humor. I listened to Howard Stern in the early 1990's and he was sometimes funny. But for a decade now all he has done is to push the envelope. And keep on pushing it. "Have I offended you yet? How about now? No, then I'll say this to offend you." So, a caller to Howard Stern (not even Stern himself) said the N-word and the show was cancelled. The network was okay with his interviewing the guy that made a porno movie with Paris Hilton, that part was "tasteful" (sarcasm), but the N-word. Nuh uh, you've gone too far.
Now Clear Channel Communications is the same company that was in danger of a $755,000 FCC fine because of what was said on a show hosted by a DJ who went under the handle of "Bubba the Love Sponge." The father of a nine-year old was shocked by the material uttered by said DJ. What the heck was a 9-year old doing listening to such a show? Did the father confuse the DJ with Sponge-Bob Square Pants? I have a nine-year old daughter and I know what she watches and listen to.
I agree that there is too much smut on TV and on the radio. But I vote by turning it off. The Janet Jackson incident was different as no one expected it during the Super Bowl. But I don't need the government or corporations fearing government fines to decide for me; I am fully capable of making those decisions myself.
Good for you, Rush. Free speach is much more important than Howard Stern can ever be.