I would like to think of myself as a defender offreedom. Ask anyone who knows mewell and they will tell you that I believe in a persons right to choose.
Whether it be for the leader of their nation, or whatto do with their body.
The right that I hold in the highest regard is theright to free speech that is why I was disappointed by the decision made byWBRZ, the local ABC affiliate in Baton Rouge.
ABC had planned on commemorating Veteran’s Day thisyear by showing the film “Saving Private Ryan” the movie tells the story of asmall group of soldiers that travel through war torn France to retrieve theirbrother in arms and notify him of the death of all of his brothers that havingbeen serving their country in World War II.
While watching the national news that night I foundout that many of ABC’s affiliate stations had chosen not to air the movie forfear that the Federal Communication Commission would fine stations for theexplicit language that would be included since the movie was being shownunedited with limited commercial interruptions.
The network was so confident that the FCC would nothand out fines they offered to pay the stations fine if they indeed werefined.
After hearing of stations in cities as big as Austinchose not to air the movie I began to wonder if Baton Rouge would be includedin the list of station that would try to impose commercial morality on theirviewers.
I didn’t have to wonder long, because the generalmanager of the station appeared on my TV and told me they had offered ABC theoption of playing the movies edited version or even show the movie at a latertime but, the network refused.
So instead of hearing a fictional account of theheroic feats that men and women in the Armed Forces perform so that we canenjoy the vary luxury of freedom of speech a story that may be more relevantnow with many thinking of their own brothers and sisters, or mothers andfathers that are engaged in places like
Afghanistan and Fallujah.
Instead we were treated to a show about the renewingof wedding vows.
Now it might just be my opinion but as the Grandsonof a foreign war vet I think the least we can do is show a movie that hopes toshow the viewer a brief glimpse into the chaos that is war.
The chaos they endure is the reason we applaud themand give them thanks for serving.
In a world where you can have your rights waived inthe name of patriotism we must remain diligent in our watch for these smallsteps made against our civil liberties.
That’s why that night I was worried about more thansaving Ryan.
