By now, America is the laughingstock of the western world because of its prudish attitude towards sex and nudity. If it isn’t, it will be when word gets out about the latest antics of the federal censors.

According to the Wall Street Journal, America’s Big Brother, the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), is proposing a $1.43 million fine against ABC-TV because one of its programs, “NYPD Blue,” aired an episode that showed the side and butt of a naked woman.

Deborah Taylor Tate, an FCC’s commissioner, told the press (with a straight face even!): “Our action today should serve as a reminder to all broadcasters that Congress and American families continue to be concerned about protecting children from harmful material and that the FCC will enforce the law of the land vigilantly.”

Tim Winter of the Parents Television Council echoed Taylor Tate’s Puritanical remark: “We are thankful that the FCC has finally taken a stand for children and families with this unanimous order.”

I don’t get it. How is the mere sight of a woman’s side and butt a threat to children and families? How does seeing a naked body hurt a kid or a family? The children of nudists are not damaged by living au natural with their loved ones. When I was a kid, my mother bathed my sister and me together in the same tub. That didn’t make me or my sister a sociopath.

Doesn’t the christian religion say that the human body is the “temple of the lord?” How is the sight of part of that temple offensive or harmful?

Would these two self-proclaimed guardians of so-called public decency shield kids’ eyes from the sight of Michelangelo’s David? Would they cover all those exposed breasts and genitals on statues throughout the country? Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft made himself the brunt of late night jokes by covering the metallic bare breast of “The Spirit of Justice” statue in the Department of Justice.

America’s prudes and the fundamentalist at the FCC went into major hysterics over the sight of Janet Jackson’s breast during the Super Bowl a few years ago. CBS was fined for what Jackson and singing partner Justin Timberlake excused as a “wardrobe malfunction.” America’s reaction demonstrated a “common sense malfunction.” That case is still in appeals, wasting taxpayers’ time and money. In 2005 Congress upped the FCC fine for obscenity on TV. What a joke, considering the sexual antics of many members of Congress.

Why does a country with a First Amendment allow such madness?

If the prudes of America think that the sight of butts is harmful, then perhaps they should do as St. Lucy did and gouge out their eyes so that they won’t be tempted to look at what they consider offensive.

Let the rest of us have our bare butts.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca is a radical southern Italian queer atheist performer and writer with a website: www.avicollimecca.com