WASHINGTON -- With the rest of the country focused on the presidential election Tuesday (Nov. 4), the Supreme Court danced around the use of dirty words, opting for "f-word" and "s-word" as euphemisms for expletives in a chamber that twice erupted in laughter.
The justices showed little sign of reaching consensus during the oral arguments in the case, Federal Communications Commission vs. Fox Television, that centered on "fleeting uses" of profanity on live television during daytime hours when children are likely watching.
Much of the morning's argument focused on the literal and non-literal meanings of the expletives in question, and the use of a word as a throwaway epithet as opposed to a description of sexual activity.
"The reason these words shock is because of their association with a literal meaning," Chief Justice John Roberts said.
Justice John Paul Stevens asked Solicitor General Gregory Garre if the word "dung," which he proceeded to spell out, would be considered indecent. Garre responded it would depend on the context.
When discussion of the case turned to whether or not there has been a change in community standards over what is acceptable on television, attorney Carter Phillips, representing broadcasters, said he thought the public had become considerably more tolerant.
"Think your clients have anything to do with that?" Justice Antonin Scalia responded.
The case, the Supreme Court's first major consideration of alleged broadcast indecency in 30 years, arose after several celebrities let loose with crudities on television.
In 2004, the FCC changed the indecency policy after Cher, Nicole Richie and Bono used variations of the "f-word" and "s-word" during live award shows in 2002 and 2003. The FCC ruled that in many instances the uttering of even a single expletive, such as the "f-word," was indecent and made a broadcaster subject to a fine.
In June 2007, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled that the FCC policy was "arbitrary and capricious" and did not follow requirements of federal law, and also raised questions about First Amendment free speech rights.
Before the high court Tuesday, Garre argued that "broadcast TV is one place where Americans can expect ... not to be bombarded with indecent language." The federal agency has no authority over cable TV and the Internet, he pointed out.
Garre said the FCC seeks to avoid a situation as extreme as Big Bird using the f-word on "Sesame Street." That brought a laugh from the crowded courtroom.
The Supreme Court justices could address the larger First Amendment issue or simply decide the FCC did not adequately explain its 2004 change in policy.
In 1978, the court agreed that an afternoon broadcast of the late comedian George Carlin's "seven dirty words" monologue was indecent. The FCC v. Pacifica Foundation decision confirmed the FCC's authority to police radio and television broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., when children are most likely to be in the audience.
For many years following, the FCC took little action in cases of possible indecency on the airwaves unless the instances were repeated occurrences.
Justice Stevens said one could not help but laugh at some of the issues in question. "Bawdy jokes are OK, as long as they're really good," Stevens said, to laughter in the courtroom.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg turned the talk back to inconsistency in the FCC policy.
"There seems to be no rhyme or reason," Ginsburg said in reference to decisions made by the FCC, pointing out that a PBS documentary was cited for indecency for expletives, while the movie "Saving Private Ryan" was not.
Copyright 2008 Religion News Service. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
