A SECOND World War documentary by a leading American film-maker is at the centre of a looming battle over standards of decency on American television.

The War, by Ken Burns, which includes veterans using profanities to describe their experiences on the front line, has become a test case in the Government’s crackdown on indecency on the air. The 14-hour series, created by the documentarian known for his epic television histories Jazz, Baseball and The Civil War, is scheduled to be broadcast on public television stations in September next year.
He said he was flabbergasted that FCC policy was being applied to documentaries, particularly after President Bush was caught on camera using a vulgarity in a conversation with Tony Blair at the recent G8 summit in St Petersburg, Russia.
linky

The Pilgrim Fathers must be proud of their legacy. I am amazed how puritanical America can be. Show a bit of tit or swear on telly and all hell breaks loose. It surely is a country of contradictions.

So should the 'offensive' words be, not only, bleeped out but the mouth pixellated as well, or should the documentary be allowed to be broadcast unedited?

I say show it unabridged, after all these guys fought to secure freedom of speech and war is hell!