Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site teklds.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!teklds!kene
From: kene@teklds.UUCP (Ken Ewing)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Atheist "No Christmas" petition
Message-ID: <1144@teklds.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Oct-85 12:14:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: teklds.1144
Posted: Wed Oct 16 12:14:45 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Oct-85 01:31:19 EDT
References: <3178@ut-sally.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 39
Xref: watmath net.religion:7993 net.religion.christian:1451

> 
>      This appeared in my church's weekly newsletter.  I assume all the
> information is correct.
> 
>      The Federal communications Commission in Washington, D.C. has received
> a 28,000 signature petition from Madelyn [Murray-] O'Hair protesting:
> 
> 1.  Christmas programs in public schools
> 2.  Singing of Christmas carols in public schools
> 3.  No public radio or television religious programs
> 
>      This petition has been identified as No. 2493 and if anyone is interested
> in responding to this you may write:
> 	Federal Communications Commission
> 	1919 M Street
> 	Washington, D.C. 20054
>      The sorting of mail will be eased if in the corner of your envelope you
> write "AGAINST PETITION No. 2493".
> 


I would urge strong caution before writing to the FCC.  A few years ago 
there was a nation-wide scare that Ms. O'Hare had filed a petition with 
the FCC to BAN ALL religious broadcasting on radio and TV.  Concerned 
Christians flooded the FCC with letters for months.  

The story was a complete hoax.  A Christian radio station that I used to 
listen to broadcasted a message for months telling people that no such 
petition had been filed and to stop writing to the FCC.  

There are more than enough recent instances where Christians have reacted 
to a situation without even checking to see if the situation was real.  
Let's first VERIFY that the situation exists before we begin any campaign 
against it.  Try contacting the FCC itself and asking.  If THEY verify that 
the petition exist, then go for it!  

  Ken Ewing 
  Tektronix, Walker Road 
  [decvax,ucbvax]!tektronix!teklds!kene