Joe Pitts: “UPN is making a new reality TV show about the Amish. The very act of making this show violates a fundamental Amish…”

“UPN is making a new reality TV show about the Amish. The very act of making this show violates a fundamental Amish religious tenet, and paying a few Amish teams to participate requires them to break it. See, the Amish believe that television or photographs themselves violate the Ten Commandments' ban on graven images. If one is selling a show based on its participants' religious identity, should they not at least respect the religious tenets of those participants and their families? One affiliate in Pennsylvania, UPNTV15 in Harrisburg, has decided not to air the program until it previews its content. UPN15 has taken a principled and courageous stand. Its request to prescreen the show will help them ensure that the show's content does not offend its viewers. Other affiliates should follow suit, and advertisers should think twice before attaching their names to a show that potentially degrades a minority religious community. This series would be offensive, exploitative, and inaccurately portray a minority group. It should be cancelled.”