Netscape’s big headline: “Janet Jackson Gets Bleeped for ‘Jesus’ on Letterman: Unlike her last CBS appearance, Jackson was bleeped by censors while talking to David Letterman for saying ‘Jesus’”.Holy crap! Janet Jackson got bleeped just as routinely as everyone else who says “Jesus” on a talk show. The real story should be why do censors always bleep “Jesus”? Wouldn’t it, in these circumstances, be considered a short, simple, one-word prayer? And don’t tell me it’s because of the 2nd Commandment*, because I would think God was talking about Himself when He declared it and you can say “Oh my God!” on TV as often as you want. Strange how the networks would be so sensitive toward the Son but less toward the Father. Maybe they’re just being over-protective and paternalistic. Maybe the Vatican copyrighted the term. Or maybe, now that I think of it, we can take the opportunity to make a fair exchange: take “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance (where it should never have been added in the first place) and let “Jesus” be said on talk shows.
*According to the Catholic Bible.
