So last week was banned book week (hurray for banned books!) but as always, the people who fight against censorship forget a few important things.
1. 'Censorship' is when the government doesn't allow something to be published, spoken, read, etc. It is NOT when a private company or organization chooses not to publish something (sell something, advertise something, etc.) because they don't like the content. Several of the times people scream 'censorship' when a private individual/corporation is exercising their own freedom to print or not print something they find distasteful or disagreeable.
2. The Bible is the number one banned book of all time, anywhere in the world. Most of the time, banned book lists fail to include this holy book. I have to wonder why? Are these people, so intent on protecting freedom, censoring a censored book? What could be their motivation? Hmmmm....
3. Restriction is different than censorship. In other words, it is NOT censorship to rate a movie 'X'. Ratings are, first of all, not something the government does, and second of all, doesn't prevent ANYONE from seeing the movie. Children can see porn if their parents get it for them (though that might make the parents end up in court). Most people would agree that small children should be restricted from seeing certain material in most circumstances. Do I want my 11 yr. old reading Lady Chatterly's Lover? No. Do I want Lady Chatterly's Lover banned? No. Do I want to decide when my child is ready for that kind of writing? Yes. That's not censorship, that's parenting, and if the anti-censorship crowd (of which I would consider myself a member) has a problem with that, than I would suggest that they find themselves a good dictionary and look up a few words like wisdom and maturity, unless those words are banned now too...
1 comment:
From one paranoid conspiracy theorist to another (and having nothing to do with this blog)The government is out to get you...and no sadly I do not know how I am going to accomplish the feat of publishing. I have spoken with several people who have insisted that having an agent is key-though with the latest DIY trend I have seen many magazines and books out that were totally self made and sold at independent shops and passed through word of mouth. I will probably do this but I fuuly intend on getting published as well. As I learn more I'll pass it on.:)
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