A 9/11 Letter

This is what I wrote to the FCC regarding Naudet's 9/11 documentary because of network reluctance to air the documentary again for fear of being fined:
TO: Chairman Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.govCommissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.govCommissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.govCommissioner Deborah Taylor Tate: dtaylortateweb@fcc.govCommissioner Robert McDowell: Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov


Dear Mr. Chairman and Commissioners,

This email is to express my concerns and desire that the Naudet 9/11 documentary NOT be forced to edit out the strong languages of interviewees and that the stations who do choose to broadcast it NOT be fined for allowing the language.

It is not in our best interest as Americans to sanitize this important documentary - the event was too profound and the strong language of the participants is reflective of their genuine experience and emotions. To censor the language, to prohibit it, or to attempt to "sweeten" it, diminishes the valid experiences of the people who lived through that day. You can be sure those people in New York - civilians, cops, fire department, first responders and all on the streets as it was happening were not saying "golly", "shazam", "gosh", "darn", "shucks", or "oh, my stars & garters!".

No broadcaster should be faced with being fined for presenting this documentary in it's entirety, uncensored. Yet I read that many CBS affiliates will not show it to honor 9/11's memory for fear of reprisal and fines. We are Americans and this is a free speech issue. This documentary is not prurient, it is not indecent. There are times when "strong language", including the F word, must be allowed. We are not enfants covert who need to be protected from the truth of other' people's experiences, narratives or emotions. Truth has it's own voice and censoring the voice of truth, punishing those who would show that by fining them is unacceptable to me as an American. It is not what I spent 5 years of my young adulthood serving in the military to support.

Cordially,
Morgan (withheld in blog)

League of Women Voters Event

Candidates Forum NM_League of Women Voters Sep

For those of you who are resident in the Greater Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Metropolitan
areas and Rio Rancho/Sandoval County Metropolitan areas:

The League of Women Voters invites you to attend a candidates forum for the Commissioner of Public Lands.

Guests: Patrick Lyons and Jim Baca

When: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 7:00 P.M.

Where: First Unitarian Church, 3710 Carlisle NE (SW corner of Carlisle and Comanche. Enter the parking lot on Comanche or off of southbound Carlisle.

This forum is sponsored by the LWV/ABC Natural Resources Committee to help voters become better aware of the issues related to the administration of lands held in trust by the State Land Office.

Information on the administration of public lands is of great importance.

The State Land Office manages approximately 9 million acres of land and 13 million oil, gas and mineral acres in support of public schools, universities, hospitals, charitable purpose and penitentiares.