CBS's failure in judgment
We Americans need to rethink whether CBS and its
parent company Viacom should continue to be
trusted to broadcast on our publicly owned airwaves.
First, CBS turned down an ad by MoveOn.org discussing
the budget deficit because it was too controversial
for the Super Bowl. Then it proceeded to air an
obscene halftime show produced by MTV. The show
included Nelly urging women to take off all their
clothes, and Janet Jackson performing with dancers
wearing leather fetish outfits and lingerie, and
then closing her performance by exposing her breast.
MTV's website promised on Jan. 28 that Jackson's
performance would include shocking moments, so it
is clear that this was planned.
CBS deliberately suppressed and censored political
speech and public discourse, the core reason
behind the First Amendment, yet saw fit to air
sexually exploitive performances during a family
event. We cannot tolerate such failures in
judgment.
Christine Bolzan, Beverly, MA
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