F(u)CC'd

A major court ruling today reversed much of the overbearing Federal Communications Commission policy that came about during the Bush Administration. Network television stations—ironically, led by Rupert Murdoch's Fox Broadcasting Co.—won a lawsuit that charged the FCC's indecency policy as being unconstitutional. As a result, the networks will no longer face enormous fines for airing "curse" words and other "profanity".

From the Los Angeles Times:

"Under the current policy, broadcasters must choose between not airing or censoring controversial programs and risking massive fines or possibly even loss of their licenses, and it is not surprising which option they choose," U.S. Circuit Judge Rosemary S. Pooler wrote in Tuesday's 3-0 decision. "Indeed, there is ample evidence in the record that the FCC's indecency policy has chilled protected speech."

I applaud this decision. The fact that, in 2010, the concept of "curse words" still exists continues to dumbfound me. Me saying "fuck" does not destroy the lives of anyone, of any age, who happen to hear me say it. Words are words, and by now society should be at the point where such an antiquated idea as "bad words" is absurd to us.

Maybe we're finally on our way.