[NYTr] Atheist group protests Emmy Awards censorship

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC. - Sep 12, 2007
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333


EMMY AWARDS CAVE TO RELIGION POLICE -- PUBLIC DESERVES TO HEAR FULL
TEXT OF GRIFFIN MONOLOGUE, SAYS ATHEIST CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP
 
An Atheist civil rights group is calling for a boycott of the  Emmy 
Awards if officials censor remarks by comedienne Kathy Griffin making  
light of stars who "thank Jesus" for their good fortune.
 
The awards ceremony is scheduled for broadcast on the E! Channel on 
Saturday night.  Ms. Griffin won a creative arts Emmy last weekend for 
her hit program "My Life on the D-List."  She remarked that "a lot of 
people come up here and thank Jesus for this award.  I want you to know 
that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus... This award is 
my god now."
 
The Roman Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights complained 
however, and League president William Donohue blasted Ms. Griffin's 
remarks as "vulgar, in-your-face-brand of hate speech."  The group 
called upon the TV academy to "denounce Griffin's obscene and 
blasphemous comment" as well. A statement released by the Academy of 
Television Arts& Sciences (which oversees the Emmy awards) concurred, 
saying that the "offensive" portions of Ms. Griffin's comments would be 
cut from Saturday's broadcast.
 
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists said that the League and 
the Academy were censoring speech by Atheists. Ms. Griffin has, in
fact, described herself as a "militant Atheist."
 
"It's permissible to make religious comments at the Emmy Awards and 
other public events as long as they do not criticize or threaten the 
self-appointed 'Religion Police," said Johnson.  "Celebrities can go on 
national television to 'thank' Jesus, or Allah, or Scientology for
their success, but an Atheist cannot make an honest and forthright
statement that their success came from developing their talents and
working hard." 
"Now we're going to be scrutinizing stage routines by comics for 
'blasphemy'?" asked Johnson?  "This is something I'd expect in a nation 
like Saudi Arabia or Taliban-controlled Afghanistan."
 
Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said
that the decision by the Academy to "cave in" to threats was wrong.
"Say what you want about God and Jesus, as long as it's positive and 
thankful.  But disavow Jesus, even in a joke, and you might as well be 
swearing, and you'll get bleeped."
 
"Theistic speech is welcome at the Emmy Awards, but the least bit of 
levity and humor about religion is not."
 
Mr. Silverman added that American Atheists was urging its members, and 
all others concerned about censorship in the media, to contact the 
Awards to protest the decision to censor Ms. Griffin's comment.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights
for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and 
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402