New Secretary of Education shows her intolerance

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

In a half-hour episode of the PBS children's series "Postcards from Buster" originally scheduled to air February 2, the titular animated bunny visits a Vermont family headed up by … well, we're all adults here, so let's just say it: two mommies. Brand-new Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who just took office on Monday, has already sent a letter to the producers decrying the episode, which is entitled "Sugartime!" Though, as this CNN story notes, the show's "focus is on farm life and maple sugaring," Spellings has insisted that the seal of the Department of Education be removed from the offending program, along with any statement suggesting a link between the two. She also requested that PBS give member stations a heads-up on the content of "Sugartime!", so they can decide for themselves whether to air it or not. Finally, she has suggested that PBS return any government money used to produce the episode, noting sternly that "You can be assured that in the future the department will be more clear as to its expectations for any future programming that it funds."

This country lost its marbles and isn't even looking for them any more.

http://www.slate.com/id/2112706/

I mean really... We can't have kids getting this idea that tollerance is acceptable... Being tollerant is something Christ might do.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/liv...ards_decision/

Fallout from 'Postcards' decision
Family angry over PBS move to shelve show featuring lesbians
By Suzanne C. Ryan and Mark Shanahan, Globe Staff | January 27, 2005

Karen Pike agreed to be a part of a children's show about families, and now she feels she's under attack.

This week, the new US secretary of education, Margaret Spellings, denounced PBS for spending public funds to tape an episode of a children's program that features Pike, a lesbian, her partner, Gillian Pieper, and their 11-year-old daughter, Emma. The installment of ''Postcards From Buster," which is produced locally at WGBH-TV (Channel 2) and which had been scheduled to air March 23, was promptly dropped by PBS, which is refusing to distribute the footage to its 349 member stations.

''It makes me sick," said Pike, a 42-year-old photographer in Hinesburg, Vt., who united with Pieper in a civil union in 2001. ''I'm actually aghast at the hatred stemming from such an important person in our government. . . . Her first official act was to denounce my family, and to denounce PBS for putting on a program that shows my family as loving, moral, and committed."

The decision by PBS caused a ripple across the nation yesterday. Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman, charged in a statement that the secretary is ''confined to a very narrow and selfish agenda if her first action in office is to threaten an American institution like PBS. While America's schools are crumbling and our students are falling behind in basic skills, Republicans in Washington are too busy pursuing an intolerant agenda to try to solve the real problems."

MSNBC ran an online poll questioning readers about the PBS decision. The results were not immediately known.

And WGBH, along with at least 12 other PBS stations, including WNET-TV in New York and KVIE-TV in Sacramento, declared that it would air the episode anyway.

''The program aims to find kids who can help us see the array of American life that children experience," said Jeanne Hopkins, a WGBH spokeswoman. ''The parents and the family structure is a backdrop to the show. We would not exclude any children because of who their parents are. We think that's an appropriate approach for public television."

On WGBH, ''Postcards From Buster" airs weekdays at 5:30 p.m. The series, part animated and part live action, stars an 8-year-old rabbit who travels around the country with his father, an airplane pilot. In each episode, Buster visits with children to learn about their way of life. Real children are taped in segments; Buster's voice is heard in the background.

The show, which launched last year and targets 6- to 10-year-olds, has profiled more than 40 families -- examples include children living with single parents, and five siblings who live in a trailer and share a bedroom.

In the controversial ''Sugartime!" episode, Pike and Pieper are in their home with Emma. Another scene features a second lesbian couple and their daughter, who join Pike and Pieper for a meal.

Pike had met with the show's producers about a book she was working on, and in the course of their conversation, they met Emma.

They liked her daughter so much, Pike said, that they invited her and her parents to appear on the show.

''I thought we were doing this wonderful little show with PBS, which I respect so greatly, or did respect so greatly," she said.

Last week, PBS agreed with WGBH that it was appropriate to air. On Friday, a PBS spokeswoman said that the PBS president, Pat Mitchell, had viewed the episode and was satisfied with its contents, especially in light of the fact that WGBH pushed back the air date of the episode from Feb. 2 to March 23 to allow member stations time to review the contents.

Over the weekend, Mitchell had second thoughts, said Wayne Godwin, chief operating officer of PBS. Her concern, he said, was that ''the debate surrounding this might cause parents to be concerned about PBS as a safe harbor. There is a concern that this particular material at this age group might not be appropriate."

Godwin said that Mitchell reached her decision before she received a letter from Spellings. Godwin said he does not agree with those who say the government is censoring public television. ''There's always a tendency to dash to that conclusion," he said.

In fact, Godwin said, PBS needs to evaluate itself to determine how such an episode reached an ''advanced stage of acceptance without us having more thoughtful involvement."

One result of this incident may be the creation of a panel that would evaluate whether children's programming is suitable for broadcast, he said. One of their charges would be to establish criteria for judging whether a show is staying true to its stated mission, such as preparing children for school.

In her letter to Mitchell Tuesday, Spellings complained that the ''Postcards" episode -- which is funded by the federal Ready-to-Learn program -- did not meet the objectives of Congress to ''use the television medium to help prepare preschool age children for school."

Yesterday, Susan Aspey, a spokeswoman for Spellings, reiterated the department's position. ''We felt it was inappropriate for the target audience," she said.

At least one member station said that it would not air the episode, even though WGBH will make it available. Jeanette Thornbrue, a manager in the programming department at OETA-TV (Channel 11) in Oklahoma City, said her station will download whatever is on the PBS satellite feed that day instead.

''Oklahoma is very conservative," she said. ''We've had off-the-wall phone calls when nothing was happening." She added that one viewer complained about an episode of ''Teletubbies" in which the characters were dancing. ''They thought that was too much," she said.

Some observers expressed concern about the effect that Spellings would have on PBS children's programming. ''She may make it very difficult for this program and many others to get funded, and that's terrible because WGBH is the premiere place for kids to get educated by the electronic media," said Peggy Charren, a WGBH board member.

Charren, who has seen the now-famous episode of ''Postcards From Buster," said this entire controversy is ''shocking" considering the content of the show, which she said is mild. ''You learn about maple syrup and how it gets made," she said. ''You learn about cows and where milk comes from. There is so little detail about the lesbian parents."

[hoosier]

I think it's time for the government to cease funding public TV and radio.

Years ago, their type of programming probably needed support and public funding, but today they have no niche left not better and profitably served by commercial broadcasting.

There's a cable channel for everything, especially for the traditional PBS and NPR fare of drama, gardening, cooking, travel, politics, etc.

The public broadcasting money could be returned to the taxpayer, or used to buy more bombs.

If the people want PBS/NPR so much, let them continue to raise funds and have auctions to pay for it. Personally, I think that PBS could be self-supporting if operated like a business and collecting all of the licensing fees from PBS programs such as Barney and the muppets.

If PBS is going to take government money, they have to accept the government's restrictions - including those set by the recently re-elected administration.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
I think it's time for the government to cease funding public TV and radio.

Actually, you're almost too late.

Very little money comes to Public Broadcasting from the government these days -- with the possible exception of outlets run by state supported organizations such as universities who have their own stations.

By far, the most money comes from philanthropic organizations and viewer contributions. That's why we see all of those sponsor announcements at the beginning and end of programs and have to deal with all of the insipid pledge drives.

Former Speaker Gingrich wanted to "zero out" all Federal dollars for public broadcasting -- but it turns out there just isn't that much.

Most of what is left is probably spent on technical upgrades as oppossed to programming.

And, frankly, from a programming perspective, I couldn't disagree with you more. One of the hallmarks of a free society is a media that is not run by, or beholden to the government -- and one of the things most necessary for a dictatorship is a media dictated to by the state.

[hoosier]

Originally posted by DeltAlum


Very little money comes to Public Broadcasting from the government these days -- with the possible exception of outlets run by state supported organizations such as universities who have their own stations.

....

Most of what is left is probably spent on technical upgrades as oppossed to programming.

And, frankly, from a programming perspective, I couldn't disagree with you more. One of the hallmarks of a free society is a media that is not run by, or beholden to the government -- and one of the things most necessary for a dictatorship is a media dictated to by the state.

I think there is no need for govt. money of any kind, and state universities operate with govt. money.

Govt. money is govt. money - even if spent for tech upgrades.

If PBS/NPR are getting govt. money, the govt. can dictate. Apparently we both agree.

If we disagree 'from a programming perspective', are you saying PBS/NPR's programs are not already nearly totally duplicated on commercial stations, networks, and cable?

In Atlanta, the near bankrupt and corrupt Board of Education owns a PBS station, broadcasting childrens programs (see Nickelodean, Cartoon Channel, Family, Animal Channel, etc.), Charlie Rose (see Hardball, O'Reilly, Larry King, etc.), and the evening PBS schedule (see Travel Channel, Home & Garden TV, History Channel, Discovery, Food, etc.). For many years, they showed their monthly meeting on Monday nights, and it became a humor show, with enormous ladys' hats and enormous and pompous speeches - but no debate or discussion.

Atlanta also has a second PBS channel run by the state govt., showing almost exactly the same stuff, usually at alternate times - but often showing the same thing at the same time.

I know that PBS/NPR has a wealthy and vocal - but very small - crowd, and has a big budget to support politically correct causes, so I have little belief that govt. funding will end soon.

[HBADPi]

Originally posted by hoosier
The public broadcasting money could be used to buy more bombs.

You've got to be kidding me...

[hoosier]

Originally posted by HBADPi
You've got to be kidding me...

You are one sharp and perceptive poster.

PS: I drive by the ADPi hdqtrs. almost daily. They're remodeling.

[HBADPi]

Originally posted by hoosier
You are one sharp and perceptive poster.

PS: I drive by the ADPi hdqtrs. almost daily. They're remodeling.

Is that a compliment? Anyways yes I know they're remodeling, I'm an advisor so I get the renovation status updates (and pleas for money) almost daily. And clearly you're not in Indiana.

[IowaStatePhiPsi]

http://www.gaycitynews.com/gcn_359/bustersbust.html

Buster’s Bust

By SUSIE DAY

If you keep up with the bunny tabloids, you know that the Public Broadcasting Service recently censored an episode of “Postcards From Buster,” a children's show in which Buster, a cartoon rabbit, visits Vermont and meets some real-life children and their lesbian parents, “mom and Gillian.” The episode disappeared the same day PBS received a letter from Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who asked PBS to “strongly consider” returning the federal money used in its production.

I received this information in an email from Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting [FAIR], which seemed shocked that the depiction of lesbian mothers would trouble our administration. Well, I think FAIR should get with the Bush mandate. Better scripts than Buster's have met the axe. Here, for instance, are some high-class treatments of children's and adult classics that I submitted to PBS. As you can see, it took me awhile to get it, er, “right”:

The Velveteen Rabbit—The charming tale of a stuffed bunny rabbit who becomes “real” only after his sumptuous fur has been rubbed off by the frisky good-luvin' techniques of his favorite little friend, Buster.

Our story begins as the Velveteen Rabbit, plagued by low self-esteem and the feeling that he somehow lacks “verisimilitude,” attends a support group for mentally disturbed animal characters. There, he meets Buster, who is trying to cope with PBS stardom and a deep-seated attention deficit disorder. The bunnies are given a lot of Zoloft and told to “get out and enjoy life!” They are soon seen everywhere together—at day care center photo-ops, PETA rallies, the 92nd Street Y…

But nothing lasts forever. As PBS moves inexorably to the right, Buster becomes increasingly concerned about his image as a red-blooded “stud” bunny. The myth of the “multiplying rabbit” begins to tear the couple apart. Distraught because the Velveteen Rabbit is unable to bear him children, Buster begins a torrid relationship with the renowned Lady Bunny, who claims she's as fertile as the Nile Delta and can get him a spot on “Wild Kingdom.”

The Velveteen Rabbit goes mad with grief and—in accordance with revised American Psychiatric Association guidelines—is chained up in the attic for the rest of his days. Meanwhile, Buster never calls, never writes. Not even a postcard.

Bald now, but totally authentic, the Velveteen Rabbit develops a hysterical case of eczema and sings “You're Nobody Till Somebody Leaves You,” sort of like the guy in PBS's “Singing Detective,” but even more real. [“Unsuitable”—PBS]

MOBY DICK—Crusty old sea-faring Cap'n Ahab is haunted by the Great White Whale that bit off his leg during a moment of maritime passion on a singles’ cruise in the Bahamas. Moby Dick, aptly named for his gigantic phallic shape and high mobility amid the briny deep, has left the smitten Ahab, who finds meaning in their encounter by designing a new gay sex toy, called the “Mobile Dick.” But something is amiss. The captain cannot get the design right—he must see Moby one more time. So he signs up for the next whaling expedition.

Alienating himself from his crew—who seem to enjoy a fair amount of sex without the aid of commercial trinkets—the Cap'n has plenty of time on the voyage to think up advertising slogans. “Got Dick?” “Sperm of Endearment.” “Moon, June, Spoon, Harpoon…”

Ahoy! What's that on yon starboard poop deck? No, over there, idiot, by the yardarm! It's Moby Dick! Cap'n Ahab drops his handkerchief, and the chase is on! Extremely nautical maneuvers ensue, and the crew swims away, disgusted. Ahab awakens to find himself lashed to the side of his phallic obsession, which has slipped on a gargantuan condom for the occasion. Too late, the Cap'n discovers he has an allergy to latex, and dies. [“Disgusting”—PBS]

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS— Played by three off-duty police officers, the three little pigs are merry constables who become bored with their beat and develop a yen to be blown by the wolf, an inner-city youth with better things to do.

The wily pigs erect a straw hut, then a stick house, hoping the flimsily constructed buildings resemble crack houses that will attract the street-smart wolf—whose powers of oral satisfaction are a neighborhood legend. The wolf, however, ignores them and begins to think about going to law school.

Tired of the wacky approach, the trio builds a sturdy little brick police station. They go to a park, “entrap” the Wolf, charge him with resisting arrest, take him to their station, and beat him senseless. After giving phony evidence at the wolf's trial, the three little pigs visit the wolf in prison and order him to perform fellatio on them. The wolf instead goes to the prison library to study cases of prosecutorial misconduct, and plots his revenge. [“Bad, even for you”—PBS]

MASTER-RACE THEATER PRESENTS: THE BROOKLYN TELEPHONE BOOK—Having run out of great Western literature that can be performed with English accents, Master-Race Theater brings you each and every telephone listing for the entire New York City borough of Brooklyn. Hear distinguished British actors Helen Mirren, Derek Jacobi and Emma Thompson as they read aloud “Noo Yawk's” Spanish, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Russian and African names the way they were meant to sound!

Filmed on location in Sussex, England, the action takes place in an 18th-century manor house simply bursting with butler pantries, chamber pots and other period artifacts that make you want to run to Home Depot for more faux antiques! Ill-tempered servants in lovely period costumes, a must-see. [“Approved! When can you start?”—PBS]