Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report introduced
REPORTER: Dan Rather

(Baker, LA) [MAN - shouts fundamentalist religious rhetoric.] Efforts of Peters' brothers to spread their brand of religious.-tyranny examined. [Steve PETERS - calls for censorship of behavior as well as literature and music.] Counterrevolution, cashing in on November elecs., said trying to control United States lifestyle. [Charles SOLTERMAN - thinks he has the right to control other people's lives.] Solterman's group noted trying to censor high school library; "The Great Gatsby","Diary of Anne Frank" and "Catch-22" noted as exs. of their targets. [School supt Ron ERTNER - defs. democrat process.] Group's efforts to prevent library from shelving "Teenage Body Book", "Manchild in the Promised Land", and "Are You There God? It's Me Margaret" detailed. [Tampa libraries director Leo MEIROSE - comments on public library being "dangerous place."] Issue in Tampa, Florida, said extending to public library over "Where Did I Come From?"; details given. campaign. to censor public's reading material noted include "How Babies Are Made." [Cnty. cmsr. Jerry BOWMER - threatens to go further if government doesn't impose censorship.] Incr. in efforts to censor libraries reported by American Library Association; role of Moral Majority, Incorporated noted. [WA Moral Majority chairperson, Michael FARRIS - criticizes sex education] [Librarian Joyce MANN - notes change in values.] [SOLTERMAN - objects to immorality.] [MEIROSE - cites scope of views expressed.] Peters' album-burning and overall impact on nation discussed.
REPORTER: Eric Engberg