anti christians at work again- an E-mail i recieved

onebullet · 01-17-2005, 11:14 AM

> >
> > RESPONSE TO CBS Apparently we are to be allowed to
> > watch TV programs that
> > use every foul word in the English Language, but not
> > the word "God." It will
> > only take a minute to read this and see if you think
> > you should send it out.
> >
> > DR. DOBSON'S PLEA FOR ACTION
> >
> > CBS discontinued "Touched by an Angel" for using the
> > word God in every
> > program. Madeline Murray O'Hare, an atheist,
> > successfully managed to eliminate
> > the
> > use of Bible reading from public schools a few years
> > ago.
> >
> > Now her organization has been granted a Federal
> > Hearing on the same subject
> > by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in
> > Washington, DC.
> >
> > Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave
> > the way to stop the
> > reading of the gospel our Lord and Savior, on the
> > airwaves of America.
> >
> > They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand!
> >
> > If this attempt is successful, all Sunday worship
> > services being broadcast
> > on the radio or by television will be stopped. This
> > group is also campaigning
> > to remove all Christmas programs and Christmas
> > carols from public schools!!
> >
> > You as a Christian (or any other religious
> > background)can help!
> >
> > We are praying for at least 1 million signatures.
> > This would defeat their
> > effort and show that there are many Christians
> > alive, well and concerned about
> > our country. As Christians we must unite on this.
> > Please don't take this
> > lightly.
> >
> > We ignored this lady once and lost prayer in our
> > school and in offices
> > across the nation.
> >
> > Please stand up for your religious freedom and let
> > your voice be heard.
> > Together we can make a difference in our country
> > while creating and for the
> > lost
> > to know the Lord.
> >
> > Please press "forward", and forward this to everyone
> > that you think should
> > read this.
> >
> > Now, please sign your name at the bottom (you can
> > only add your name after
> > you have pressed "Forward").
> >
> > Don't delete any other names, just go to the next
> > number and type your name
> > and state. Please do not sign jointly, such as Mr. &
> > Mrs. Each person should
> > sign his/her own name. Please defeat this
> > organization and keep the right of
> > our freedom of religion.
> >
> > When you get to 1500 please email back to: "Lisa
> > Norman"
> > _electric_yello@hotmail.com_
> > (mailto:electric_yello@hotmail.com)
> >
> > REMEMBER: Our country was founded on freedom of
> > religion and our
> > Constitution is based on the 10 Commandments.
> >
> > There were over 1500 names when I received this
> > email so I sent it on to
> > Lisa. Please keep this going
> >
> > 1. Barbara Prochaska, Cresco, Iowa
> > 2. Wanda Swestka, Waucoma, IA
> > 3. Art Swestka, Waucoma, IA
> > 4. Marce Swestka, Protivin, IA
> > 5. Lynn Hassman, Altoona, IA
> > 6. Bonnie Hassman, Altoona, IA
> > 7. Ginny Hassman, Sun City, Az
> > 8. Keith Hassman, Sun City, Az
> > 9.Terrie Duncan, Robertsdale, AL
> > 10. Althea McMillian, Mobile, AL
> > 11. Herbert McMillian, Austin, TX
> > 12. Orville Dixon, Rochester, NY
> > 13.Blake Smith , Kalamazoo, Mi
> > 14. Patrick Marlette , Greenville , mi
> > 15. Nancy McClintock , Greenville , Mich
> > 16. Roxanne McDonald, Sevierville,.TN
> > 17. Holly Murphy, Hanover, PA
> > 18.Thomas Murphy, Hanover, PA
> > 19. Tammy Blodgett Clermont, FL
> > 20. Ken Blodgett, Jr. Clermont, Fl
> > 21. Andrea Pomerleau, Clermont, FL
> > 22. Keith Moses, Orlando, FL Kevin Gallaher
> > 23. Lynn Beland, Medford, N.J.
> > 24. Rich Beland, Medford, N.J.
> > 25. Denise Biccum, Cary, NC
> > 26. Steven Biccum, Cary, NC
> > 27.Martha Hollo! well, Cary, NC
> > 28. Angie Bridges Clayton NC
> > 29. BRIAN HARRIS, CLAYTON, NC
> > 30. Boris Wiggins
> > 31. Sammy Barnette, Raleigh, NC
> > 32. Love Barnette, Durham, NC
> > 33. Barbara Mitchell, Hickory, NC
> > 34. Harry Mitchell, Hickory, NC
> > 35. Sheila Christmas, Mooresville, NC
> > 36. Sonny Parrish, Tobaccoville, NC
> > 37. Bill Trute, Walkertown, NC
> > 38. Joyce Michels. NC
> > 39. Karen Watters, Dubuque, Ia
> > 40. Loras Watters, Dubuque, Ia
> > 41.Trish (Patricia) Folger, Dubuque, IA
> > 42. William Folger, Dubuque, IA
> > 43. Laura Homewood Cedar Falls, IA
> > 44. Chad Homewood Cedar Falls, IA
> > 45. Megan Rima, West Salem, WI
> > 46. Laura Schissel, Mason City Iowa
> > 47. Wendy Miller, Dumont, IA
> > 48. Cory Miller, Dumont, IA
> > 49. Chuck Akers, Hampton, Iowa
> > 50. Sharon Akers , Hampton, Iowa
> > 51. Alan Ferris, Hampton, Iowa
> > 52. Ted Vosburg Hampton, Iowa
> > 53. John Seibert, Dayton, Minnesota
> > 54.Lee Larson, Rosemount, MN
> > 55. Marnie Larson, Rosemount, MN
> > 56 Jim Kelly Rosemount MN.
> > 57 Jane Narloch, Rosemount MN
> > 58 George Narloch, Rosemount MN
> > 59.Jan Ebert, Cashmere, WA
> > 60. Heinz Ebert, Cashmere ,WA
> > 61. Barbara Hardwick, Waukesha, WI
> > 62 Beverly Park,NH
> > 63.Caroline Smith, N. Reading, MA
> > 64.Phyllis W. Peterson, Idaho Falls, ID
> > 65.. Joan C. Lee, Idaho Falls, ID
> > 66. Joseph O. Lee, Idaho Falls, ID
> > 67. James T. Spence, Greensboro, NC
> > 68. Wm. David Christian, Atlanta, Georgia
> > 69. Gerald J. Ashkouti, Atlanta, Ga
> > 70. Abbie Mansour-Hokanson, Atlanta, GA
> > 71. Cherry Tolliver, Grayson, GA
> > 72. Pam Smith, Monroe, GA
> > 73. Janet Jameson, Loganville, GA
> > 74. Matt Jameson, Gainesville, GA.
> > 75. Craig Battinelli, Fla
> > 76. Traci Lupetti, CA
> > 77. Stacy Fleming
> > 78. Marilyn Kea CA
> > 79. Cathy Corral, AR
> > 80. Joy Egan, TX
> > 81. Elisha Egan, TX
> > 82. Juliette Egan, TX
> > 83. George Egan, TX
> > 84. Regina Bradley, TX
> > 85. MaryJane Chisholm, TX
> > 86. Shari Poellinger, TX
> > 87. Brenda Pinnell, OH
> > 88. Dyan Johnson, OH
> > 89. Deb Gifford, OH
> > 90. Michael Gifford, OH
> > 91 Sean Moore, OH
> > 92. Lucinda Moore, OH
> > 93. Paula Scheiderer OH
> > 94. Mary Hall, OH
> > 95 Carol Bundza, OH
> > 96 Deb Cochran-Yoder, OH
> > 97 Cindy Blair, OH
> > 98.Diana Doup,OH
> > 99 John Doran, OH
> > 100. Marie Doran, OH
> > 101 Eileen Schultz, OH
> > 102 Barb Detwiler, OH
> > 103. Lynda Appel, OH
> > 104. Cheri Bloemer, WI
> > 105. Brandis Adrion, WI
> > 106. A.J.Lee, IA
> > 107. A.H.Lee, IA
> > 108. David W. Pautz, WI.
> > 109. Jeff Hering, WI.
> > 110 Lori Urban WI.
> > 111. E. Timothy DeSombre WI.
> >
> === message truncated ===
> ---------------------------------
>
> RESPONSE TO CBS Apparently we are to be allowed to
> watch TV programs that use every foul word in the
> English Language, but not the word "God." It will only
> take a minute to read this and see if you think you
> should send it out.
>
> DR. DOBSON'S PLEA FOR ACTION
>
> CBS discontinued "Touched by an Angel" for using the
> word God in every program. Madeline Murray O'Hare, an
> atheist, successfully managed to eliminate the use of
> Bible reading from public schools a few years ago.
>
> Now her organization has been granted a Federal
> Hearing on the same subject by the Federal
> Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC.
>
> Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the
> way to stop the reading of the gospel our Lord and
> Savior, on the airwaves of America.
>
> They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand!
>
> If this attempt is successful, all Sunday worship
> services being broadcast on the radio or by television
> will be stopped. This group is also campaigning to
> remove all Christmas programs and Christmas carols
> from public schools!!
>
> You as a Christian (or any other religious
> background)can help!
>
> We are praying for at least 1 million signatures. This
> would defeat their effort and show that there are many
> Christians alive, well and concerned about our
> country. As Christians we must unite on this. Please
> don't take this lightly.
>
> We ignored this lady once and lost prayer in our
> school and in offices across the nation.
>
> Please stand up for your religious freedom and let
> your voice be heard. Together we can make a difference
> in our country while creating and for the lost to know
> the Lord.
>
> Please press "forward", and forward this to everyone
> that you think should read this.
>
> Now, please sign your name at the bottom (you can only
> add your name after you have pressed "Forward").
>
> Don't delete any other names, just go to the next
> number and type your name and state. Please do not
> sign jointly, such as Mr. & Mrs. Each person should
> sign his/her own name. Please defeat this organization
> and keep the right of our freedom of religion.
>
> When you get to 1500 please email back to: "Lisa
> Norman" electric_yello@hotmail.com
>
> REMEMBER: Our country was founded on freedom of
> religion and our Constitution is based on the 10
> Commandments.
>
> There were over 1500 names when I received this email
> so I sent it on to Lisa. Please keep this going
>
> 1. Barbara Prochaska, Cresco, Iowa
> 2. Wanda Swestka, Waucoma, IA
> 3. Art Swestka, Waucoma, IA
> 4. Marce Swestka, Protivin, IA
> 5. Lynn Hassman, Altoona, IA
> 6. Bonnie Hassman, Altoona, IA
> 7. Ginny Hassman, Sun City, Az
> 8. Keith Hassman, Sun City, Az
> 9.Terrie Duncan, Robertsdale, AL
> 10. Althea McMillian, Mobile, AL
> 11. Herbert McMillian, Austin, TX
> 12. Orville Dixon, Rochester, NY
> 13.Blake Smith , Kalamazoo, Mi
> 14. Patrick Marlette , Greenville , mi
> 15. Nancy McClintock , Greenville , Mich
> 16. Roxanne McDonald, Sevierville,.TN
> 17. Holly Murphy, Hanover, PA
> 18.Thomas Murphy, Hanover, PA
> 19. Tammy Blodgett Clermont, FL
> 20. Ken Blodgett, Jr. Clermont, Fl
> 21. Andrea Pomerleau, Clermont, FL
> 22. Keith Moses, Orlando, FL Kevin Gallaher
> 23. Lynn Beland, Medford, N.J.
> 24. Rich Beland, Medford, N.J.
> 25. Denise Biccum, Cary, NC
> 26. Steven Biccum, Cary, NC
> 27.Martha Hollo! well, Cary, NC
> 28. Angie Bridges Clayton NC
> 29. BRIAN HARRIS, CLAYTON, NC
> 30. Boris Wiggins
> 31. Sammy Barnette, Raleigh, NC
> 32. Love Barnette, Durham, NC
> 33. Barbara Mitchell, Hickory, NC
> 34. Harry Mitchell, Hickory, NC
> 35. Sheila Christmas, Mooresville, NC
> 36. Sonny Parrish, Tobaccoville, NC
> 37. Bill Trute, Walkertown, NC
> 38. Joyce Michels. NC
> 39. Karen Watters, Dubuque, Ia
> 40. Loras Watters, Dubuque, Ia
> 41.Trish (Patricia) Folger, Dubuque, IA
> 42. William Folger, Dubuque, IA
> 43. Laura Homewood Cedar Falls, IA
> 44. Chad Homewood Cedar Falls, IA
> 45. Megan Rima, West Salem, WI
> 46. Laura Schissel, Mason City Iowa
> 47. Wendy Miller, Dumont, IA
> 48. Cory Miller, Dumont, IA
> 49. Chuck Akers, Hampton, Iowa
> 50. Sharon Akers , Hampton, Iowa
> 51. Alan Ferris, Hampton, Iowa
> 52. Ted Vosburg Hampton, Iowa
> 53. John Seibert, Dayton, Minnesota
> 54.Lee Larson, Rosemount, MN
> 55. Marnie Larson, Rosemount, MN
> 56 Jim Kelly Rosemount MN.
> 57 Jane Narloch, Rosemount MN
> 58 George Narloch, Rosemount MN
> 59.Jan Ebert, Cashmere, WA
> 60. Heinz Ebert, Cashmere ,WA
> 61. Barbara Hardwick, Waukesha, WI
> 62 Beverly Park,NH
> 63.Caroline Smith, N. Reading, MA
> 64.Phyllis W. Peterson, Idaho Falls, ID
> 65.. Joan C. Lee, Idaho Falls, ID
> 66. Joseph O. Lee, Idaho Falls, ID
> 67. James T. Spence, Greensboro, NC
> 68. Wm. David Christian, Atlanta, Georgia
> 69. Gerald J. Ashkouti, Atlanta, Ga
> 70. Abbie Mansour-Hokanson, Atlanta, GA
> 71. Cherry Tolliver, Grayson, GA
> 72. Pam Smith, Monroe, GA
> 73. Janet Jameson, Loganville, GA
> 74. Matt Jameson, Gainesville, GA.
> 75. Craig Battinelli, Fla
> 76. Traci Lupetti, CA
> 77. Stacy Fleming
> 78. Marilyn Kea CA
> 79. Cathy Corral, AR
> 80. Joy Egan, TX
> 81. Elisha Egan, TX
> 82. Juliette Egan, TX
> 83. George Egan, TX
> 84. Regina Bradley, TX
> 85. MaryJane Chisholm, TX
> 86. Shari Poellinger, TX
> 87. Brenda Pinnell, OH
> 88. Dyan Johnson, OH
> 89. Deb Gifford, OH
> 90. Michael Gifford, OH
> 91 Sean Moore, OH
> 92. Lucinda Moore, OH
> 93. Paula Scheiderer OH
> 94. Mary Hall, OH
> 95 Carol Bundza, OH
> 96 Deb Cochran-Yoder, OH
> 97 Cindy Blair, OH
> 98.Diana Doup,OH
> 99 John Doran, OH
> 100. Marie Doran, OH
> 101 Eileen Schultz, OH
> 102 Barb Detwiler, OH
> 103. Lynda Appel, OH
> 104. Cheri Bloemer, WI
> 105. Brandis Adrion, WI
> 106. A.J.Lee, IA
> 107. A.H.Lee, IA
> 108. David W. Pautz, WI.
> 109. Jeff Hering, WI.
> 110 Lori Urban WI.
> 111. E. Timothy DeSombre WI.
> 112. Jeff Beck, WI
> 113. Lori Beck, WI
> 114. A. Flaskrud, WI
> 115. L. Flaskrud, WI
> 116. Kelle Drews, WI
> 117. Mike Becker, WI
> 118. Lynnette Jochmann, WI
> 119. Jeff Jochmann, WI
> 120. Audrey Barrette, WI
> 121. Allen Barrette, WI
> 122. Rick Ardell, Redding CA
> 123. Pamm Ardell, Redding CA
> 124 Karen Heckman, Redding CA
> 125. Mike Heckman, Redding CA
> 126. Larry Britain, Ozark, AR
> 127. Sharon Britain, Ozark, AR
> 128. Sheila Buchanan, Moorpark, CA
> 129. Jen Myers, Moorpark, CA
> 130. Cindy Brown, Moorpark, Ca.
> 131. ROBERT ARREOLA. CA.
> 132. Imelda Aguirre, Bakersfield CA.
> 133. Chris Aguirre, Bakersfield CA
> 134. Sheri Bottoms, Bakersfield, Ca
> 135. Conni Dover, Bakersfield, Ca.
> 136. Clint Bottoms, Bakersfield, Ca.
> 137.kim Bustamante
> 138.phillip Bustamante
> 139. Mayme Retz Bakersfield, CA
> 140. Karen Smith Bakersfield, CA
> 141. Donna Miller, CA
> 142. Tamara Miller, CA
> 143. Tracy Mills, Bakersfield, CA
> 144. Shawn Mills, Bakersfield, CA
> 145. Greg Brouckaert, Tehachapi, CA
> 146. Sue Chandler,CA
> 147. Diana Markiewitz, California City, CA
> 148. Victoria Markiewitz, California City, CA
> 149. Rose Marie Davis, Tehachapi, CA
> 150. Terrill Dean Davis Tehachapi, CA
> 151. Terri Deanne Roseberry, Tehachapi, CA
> 152 Richard Scott Steele, Tehachapi, CA
> 153 Kathleen L. Ornbaum, Bakersfield CA
> 154 Bob Combs, Bakersfield, CA
> 155 Mike Sneed, Topeka,Ks
> 156. Shannon Reid, Silver Lake, KS
> 157. Syneva Mullins, Topeka, KS
> 158. Sherma Phelps, Silver Lake. KS
> 159. Myral Schmit, IL
> 160. Lloyd Shaw, Cincinnati, OH
> 161. Ann Renier, Ft Wayne , IN
> 162. Tom Renier, Ft Wayne, IN
> 163. Eileen Renier, Ft Wayne, IN
> 164. Mary Lou Renier, New Haven, IN
> 165. Ron Renier, New Haven, IN
> 166. Janeen King, Albion, In
> 167. Thomas King, Albion, In
> 168 Mike Busche Angola, In
> 169. C.Sue Sieckman Reynolds,In.
> 170 Emarene Abolt, Monticello, IN.
> 180 Joyce Wrede, Monticello, In.
> 181. Aaron Wrede, Abilene, TX
> 182. Charles Mosley
> 183. Denise Mosley
> 184. Tony Williams
> 185. DeShon Pratt
> 186. Makaela Mosley
> 187. Melba Lawson ..NC
> 188. Bill Lawson.. NC
> 189. Dwayne Bigler NC
> 190. Tomni Bigler NC
> 191. George Bigler NC
> 192. Carolyn Bigler NC
> 193. Darryl Bigler NC
> 194. Eleanor Woods NC
> 195. Jennifer Bigler NC
> 196. Daniel Bigler NC
> 198. Nancy Bigler NC
> 199. Angela Scheff MN
> 200. Robin Scheff MN
201. Vickie Smith MN
> This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for
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CalHunter · 01-17-2005, 11:37 AM

This is a hoax. Her last name is spelled "O'Hair," not "O'Hare." She went missing in 1995 and is presumed murdered by a former accountant. And last, but not least, this petition was not filed by O'Hair and in any case, it was denied. See below FCC debunking of myth and a link.

Madelyn Murray O'Hair

Quote:

Religious Broadcasting Rumor Denied
Madalyn Murray O'Hair

A rumor has been circulating since 1975 that Madalyn Murray O'Hair, a widely known, self-proclaimed atheist, proposed that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) consider limiting or banning religious programming. This rumor is not true. It also has been circulated repeatedly that Ms. O'Hair was granted an FCC hearing to discuss that proposal. This too is untrue.

There is no federal law or regulation that gives the FCC the authority to prohibit radio and television stations from presenting religious programs. Actually, the Communications Act (the law that established the FCC and defines its authority) prohibits the FCC from censoring broadcast material and interfering with freedom of speech in broadcasting.
The FCC cannot direct any broadcaster to present, or refrain from presenting, announcements or programs on religion, and the FCC cannot act as an arbitrator on the insights or accuracy of such material. Broadcasters, not the FCC, nor any other governmental agency, have the responsibility for selecting the programming that is aired by their stations.
RM-2493

A petition filed in December 1974 by Jeremy D. Lansman and Lorenzo W. Milam which was routinely assigned the number RM-2493 added further confusion regarding the issue of religious programming. They had asked, among other things, that the FCC inquire into operating practices of stations licensed to religious organizations.

The petitioners had also asked that no new licenses be granted for any new noncommercial educational broadcasting station, until the requested inquiry had been completed. The "Lansman-Milam petition" was DENIED by the FCC on August 1, 1975. The Commission explained then that it is required by the First Amendment "to observe a stance of neutrality toward religion, acting neither to promote nor to inhibit religion." It also explained that it must treat religious and secular organizations alike in determining their eligibility for broadcasting channels.

Periodically since 1975, the FCC has received mail indicating that, in many parts of the country, there were rumors claiming the petitions of RM-2493 had called for an end to religious programs on radio and television. Such rumors are false.

Additional mail and telephone calls came in from people who thought that Ms. O'Hair was a sponsor of RM-2493. This rumor is also false.
Since 1975 to the present time, the FCC has received and responded to millions of inquiries about these rumors. Many efforts have been made by the FCC to advise the public of their falsehood. The laws and the FCC's policies on the broadcast of religious programming have appeared in numerous publications (including newspapers, religious publications, TV Guide and Time Magazine) and have been discussed in religious group meetings.

Cougar Mag · 01-17-2005, 12:44 PM

Besides that, "Touched by an Angel" was not taken off because the word of the word "God". Either the ratings slipped, or perhaps actors opted out of the series. I am not even sure if its off the air, are they making new ones?

onebullet · 01-17-2005, 12:51 PM

thanks for the info i will check it out further at stoops to see what come up for me thanks for the heads up

frizzellr · 01-17-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Either the ratings slipped, or perhaps actors opted out of the series.

No show like that can be expected to run indefinately. Actors get tired and want to move on, writers run out of storylines, the viewers get bored. Just a natural part of the entertainment process. I would rather see a show go off the air while it is still good that to slip into mediocrity just to try and draw a few more dollars from a once good idea.

onebullet · 01-17-2005, 01:03 PM

YOU ARE CORRECT CAL- MAY I BE BEATEN WITH THE ROD OF IGNORANCE PLEASE?
I recieved this just today and should have checked it out . thank you for being on your toes ca
just another lesson Petition to Ban Religious Broadcasting

Claim: Atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair is trying to get religious broadcasting banned from American airwaves.
Status: False.

Examples:

[Collected on the Internet, 2003]

Dr. James Dobson Pleads For Our Action

An organization has been granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, DC. Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America. They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand!

If this attempt is successful, all Sunday Worship services being broadcast on the radio or by television will be stopped. This group is also campaigning to remove all Christmas programs and Christmas carols from public schools!!

You as a Christian can help! We are praying for at least 1 million signatures. This would defeat their effort and show that there are many Christians alive, well and concerned about our country. As Christians we must unite on this. Please don't take this lightly. We ignored this once and lost prayer in our school and in offices across the nation. Please stand up for your religious freedom and let your voice be heard, while creating an opportunity for the lost to know the Lord.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Collected on the Internet, 1996]

Madalyn Murry O'Hair, an atheist, whose effort successfully eliminated the use of the Bible Reading and Prayer from public schools fifteen years ago has now been granted a Federal hearing in Washington, D.C. on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Her petition, P.M. 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the Gospel on the air waves of America. She took her petition with 287,000 signatures to back her stand. If her attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast, either by radio, or television will stop. Many elderly people and shut-ins as well as those recuperating from hospitalization or illness, depend on radio and television to fulfill their worship needs every week.

Madalyn is also campaigning to REMOVE ALL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS, CHRISTMAS SONGS, AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS from public schools. You can help this time! We need 1,000,000 (one million) signed letters. This should defeat Ms. O'Hair and show that there are many CHRISTIANS ALIVE AND WELL AND CONCERNED in our country. This petition is NUMBER 2493. Sign, cut off and mail the form below. PLEASE DO NOT SIGN JOINTLY AS Mr. and Mrs. Let each adult SIGN ONE separately and mail it in a separate envelope. BE SURE TO PUT PETITION NUMBER 2493 ON THE ENVELOPE when mailing your letter.

Please send this letter out to anyone that can help in the cause.

Federal Communications Commission
RE: PETITION NO. 2493
1919 "H" Street
DATE:________
Washington, D.C. 20054
Gentlemen:

I am an American and proud of my heritage. I am also very much aware of the place religious faith has played in the freedom we as Americans now enjoy. Therefore, I protest any human effort to remove from radio and television any programs designed to show faith in GOD or a SUPREME BEING or to remove CHRISTMAS SONGS, CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS, AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS from Public Air Waves, Schools, or Office Buildings.

Sincerely,

NAME:______________________________

ADDRESS:__________________________

Origins: Proof
that no baseless scare is ever too old or tired not to be rejuvenated by a quick facelift came in November 1999 when what has come to be the canonical text of this petition was prefaced with the following, adding the warning that a particularly well-loved television show was in danger:

FOR YOUR INFORMATION CBS will be forced to discontinue "Touched By An Angel" for using the word "God" in every program.
Please do this, it will only cost you a stamp. If things got bad when prayer was taken from school, think of how it will get with no shows like 'Touched by an Angel'. PLEASE! Your right to freedom of religion is being tampered with.

*sigh* Where to begin?
Madalyn Murray O'Hair never petitioned the FCC to ban religious programming nor was she ever granted a hearing by that regulatory body to discuss the matter. That's not all that surprising either for there is no federal law or regulation that gives the FCC the authority to prohibit radio and television stations from presenting religious programs.

The real RM-2493 had nothing to do with Madalyn Murray O'Hair nor did it have anything to do with banning religious broadcasting. That didn't stop the above petition from being widely circulated as concerned citizen after concerned citizen signed it, then sent it on to an ever-widening circle. It's still kicking around to this day despite the real RM-2493 going in front of the FCC in 1974 and being turned down by that body in 1975.

Whether by intent or by error, the author of the petition to stop Madalyn Murray O'Hair badly misrepresented RM-2493 as well as invoked a bogey(wo)man who wasn't ever part of the deal. Paraphrasing RM-2493 wildly, Jeremy Lansman and Lorenzo Milam asked the FCC to prevent religious organizations from obtaining licenses to operate broadcasting channels reserved for education. (Religious organizations that operate a university or school may, under FCC rules, receive a license reserved for non-commercial educational use.) The petitioners also asked the FCC to place a freeze on new licenses to religious-oriented stations while it considered whether existing license-holders were providing diverse programming.

The intent of the infamous RM-2493 was to ensure channels reserved for educational purposes ended up being used for education and not be taken up by religious groups looking to use them for a different purpose. RM-2493 has since come to be understood as a petition seeking the ban of religious broadcasting, and from there it was further attributed as the work of Madalyn Murray O'Hair, arguably the best-known atheist of our times. How this great a misunderstanding of the actual petition then in front of the FCC came about is anyone's guess.

The real petition the FCC was asked to consider was filed in December 1974 and defeated in August 1975. Even through the smokescreen of thousands of people misunderstanding what it had been asked to consider and heatedly arguing issues that weren't on the table, the FCC saw its role in such matters quite clearly:

As a government agency, the Commission is enjoined by the First Amendment to observe a stance of neutrality toward religion, acting neither to promote nor inhibit religion.
They denied the petition. As to those who misunderstood the petition or who had it presented to them under false pretenses, the FCC had this to say:

The Commission appreciates the time taken by these individuals to make their feelings known, however, the vast majority of these letters are not directed to a resolution of the issues raised by the petition, as most are based on an incorrect understanding of the nature of the relief petitioners seek. Many of them are form letters that are premised on the mistaken view that the petition was filed by Madalyn Murray O'Hare, when such was not the case. In addition, the vast majority of letters urge us to reject what they understand to be the proposal to ban the broadcast of all religious programs (including church services) from the air. However, no such proposal was advanced by the petitioners, nor was it raised by the Commission.
View the text of the FCC's ruling yourself.
Between 1975 and 1995, more than 30 million pieces of mail decrying RM-2493 had been received by the FCC. Those worried that religion is dead in America, take heart. But also spare a bit of pity for the FCC "” they've been buried under this hoax for over 25 years.

It was a given that Madalyn Murray O'Hair would come to be associated with the "ban religious broadcasting" petition. It was largely through her efforts that in 1963 the U.S. Supreme Court barred organized prayer from the public schools, bringing her national infamy. (In 1964 LIFE magazine headlined her as "the most hated woman in America," a title she burnished as a badge of honor.)

Over the years she built up her cause, battling for the separation of Church and State and, according to rumor, lining her own pockets in the process.

For more than five years, she was the focus of a mystery. In August 1995, Madalyn (then 76), along with her son, Jon (40), and granddaughter, Robin (30), vanished from their home, reportedly with breakfast still cooking, and were never seen again. Tax returns filed by groups affiliated with American Atheists suggest that Jon took $629,500 of organization money with him, and there were further rumors of Madalyn having stashed millions in overseas accounts over the years. Had the threesome met with foul play? Had they absconded with ill-gotten proceeds?

In June 2000 a man named Gary Karr was convicted of conspiracy to commit extortion for his alleged participation in a plot to kidnap and kill Ms. O'Hair and her children for their money. As part of a plea bargain, in early 2001 David Waters led police to a burial site where the remains of three bodies were found, and in March 2001 two of the bodies were identified as those of O'Hair and her granddaughter. Waters is already serving a 60-year state prison term for bilking O'Hair's American Atheists organization out of $54,000. He now faces an additional 20-year for "conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion." Technically, no one will ever be charged with these murders, but the killers are behind bars on other charges.

Nonetheless, O'Hair's legacy seems to be that the FCC will forever have to deal with a petition that bears her name, even though she didn't sponsor it:

Nearly three decades "” and more than 10 million letters, e-mails and phone calls later "” the agency that deregulated the telecommunications industry and helped usher in the communications revolution seems to have met defeat in its fight against this one rumor. Since 1974 "” when the rumor first surfaced "” the commission has spent untold dollars and employee time responding to citizens worried that the late Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the leader of a well-known atheist movement, is trying to halt all religious references on the radio and TV.
Just to be clear: There is no O'Hair broadcast petition. In fact, O'Hair "” the founder of American Atheists Inc., best known for championing a ban on prayer in schools "” has been dead since 1995.

Nothing else at the FCC rivals this rumor, in both its longevity and its bizarre ability to withstand the commission's repeated attempts to convey the truth. Every year, around Christmas and Easter, something breathes new life into it. Last month, the FCC received 108 O'Hair-related correspondences. In October, it received 249, in September, 124, and in August, 91.

It's nothing short of exasperating for K. Dane Snowden, who heads the FCC's consumer bureau and wishes he could finally dispel the rumor.

"It is one of the most fascinating urban myths that continues to grow. The FCC has no authority to ban religious programming. It literally is a myth," he said.

Subsequent to O'Hair's disappearance and the eventual recovery of her body (which served to put to rest residual speculation that she might be sponsoring the move to ban religion from the airwaves), versions of the scare which invoked the name of Dr. James Dobson came into being. Despite such e-mails' claims that Dr. Dobson is soliciting Christians to sign a petition to counter RM-2493, he has denied any involvement with this.

Barbara "undoctored" Mikkelson

Additional Information:

RM-2493 (FCC)

Touched By a Hoax (touched.com)

Internet Petitions: Why They're a Waste of Your Time

Last updated: 28 February 2004

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/petition/fcc.htm
Click here to e-mail this page to a friend
Urban Legends Reference Pages Â© 1995-2004
by Barbara and David P. Mikkelson
This material may not be reproduced without permission

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:
Dart, John. "FCC Stuck Rebutting Broadcasting Rumor."
The [Cleveland] Plain Dealer. 23 September 1995 (p. E7).

Ellis, William. "Flyers Still Flying."
FOAFTale News. December 1992 (p. 8).

Gonzalez, John. "Son of O'Haire Relieved Case Is Apparently Over."
The Houston Chronicle. 30 January 2001 (p. A15).

Killeen, Mike. "Rumor About Nonexistent FCC Petition Circulating Again."
Catholic News Service. 29 March 2000.

Lewis, Robert. "FCC Still Hears About Religious Ban."
The San Diego Union-Tribune. 21 December 1985 (p. A16).

Lyman, Rick. "A Hint in Texas About the Fate of the Missing Atheist Leader."
The New York Times. 26 March 1999 (p. A14).

Noguchi, Yuki. "Fighting a Myth of Biblical Proportions."
The Washington Post. 26 December 2001 (p. D7).

Tonyan, Rick. "It's a Fact: FCC Can't Shake Anti-Religious Rumor."
Orlando Sentinel Tribune. 28 July 1991 (p. K4).

Van Biema, David. "Where's Madalyn?"
Time. 10 February 1997.

CNN.com. "Atheist Leader's Remains Found on Texas Ranch."
15 March 2001.

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in "look before you leap" found this in urban ledgendsl

FORGIVE ME -ONE BULLET

Charlie P · 01-17-2005, 01:32 PM

Oh boy lol. Maybe you should change your handle to half cocked.

defendwihunters · 01-17-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Maybe you should change your handle to half cocked.

C'mon Charlie...

...

onebullet, this one duped me once, too -- no need to feel embarassed.

kevin1 · 01-17-2005, 06:18 PM

I doubt that the broadcasters would have stood still for it anyway ,
besides the free speech issues they would lose buckets of money from the loss of the programs and the advert revenue they bring in .

Californiadoctor · 01-17-2005, 06:31 PM

While I am a strong advocate of freedom of speech and a strong opponent of censorship of any kind, I can't say that I would be sorry to see an end to all those "holier than thou" television preachers who use the public airways to fleece their flocks.

Californiadoctor