Quotable: The European Union Is Not a Bible Belt
Just two weeks old and EUtube is already courting controversy. This clip titled "Film lovers will love this!", currently holding top spot as the "Most Viewed" video, is a promotion for European cinema that manages to pack eighteen PG-13 love scenes into 44 seconds, closing with the text "Let's come together".
Outrage from the family values crowd has been swift. The EC reports a steady stream of complaints from Poland, in particular, regarding a glimpse of two men in orgiastic embrace (among an otherwise dominant display of heterosexuality). British conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris dismissed the video as soft porn. Said EC spokesman Martin Selmayr, responding to the criticism, "The European Union is not a bible belt, we believe in freedom of expression and artistic creativity," adding that the clips were excerpts from award-winning films and that the commission is proud of Europe's rich cinematic heritage.
