PastPoop

4/19/2003-“Freedom of Speech and Censorship: The Difference!”*

*“Eddie Vedder you’re an ass, Im gonna sodomize you with a pitchfork!”

Ok I’m going to cover about 3 things here, all of course relating to free speech and what is and isn’t censorship.

The power of words and their consequences

Actors and Musicians seem to think their opinion is important enough to have it put in print and on television. I think sometimes that they even think that because of their celebrity status their opinion is worth more than yours and mine. That’s fine if you’re an egotistical ass clown, but don’t think that you can say what ever you want without consequences. As a celebrity you have a responsibility to choose your words wisely because what ever you have to say will be taken seriously by the public. Unfortunately people can respond rather strongly. Sometimes the rejection will be so belligerent and without any real thought that people will smash and burn your cds (in the case of the Dixie Chicks), books, and videos in the streets. Sometimes people won’t offer you parts in films (like Sean Penn) not because they have an issue with your statements but because more than likely with whatever asinine statement you made you’ve potentially alienated at least half of their target audience. All I’m saying is don’t be shocked if people react negatively to political, religious, and sexual statements that you may make. The important thing to consider if you’re a celebrity is that you’re a star because of the support of the people who go to your movies, watch your television show, buy your music, and read your books. Don’t be so naïve as to believe they’ll always be there once you start preaching your beliefs at them.

Censorship or Freedom of Speech?

Something I’d like to point out that seems to be going around is this defensive cry of “Censorship!” whenever anyone is told to shut up. Here’s how it works - You say something I think is dumb and I respond with “Shut up, you stupid baby pumper, I don’t want to hear about it!” and then in response you say “Quit censoring me!”

Now most people would understand that I just don’t care for what they have to say, it’s common sense. The people who seem to be incredibly blind to this are entertainers. One example would be Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. Lately Mr. Vedder has been taking a G.W. Bush mask up on stage with him and wearing it on his hand, talking to it, pouring wine down it’s mouth, and what not. The whole time he is doing this he is going on about how bad an idea the Iraq War is and crapping on the president. What’s interesting about this is that he seems to react very badly to people telling him to shut up. He likes to respond to this by giving speeches about freedom of speech. Something I don’t think he quite understands is that watching him prance around on stage while talking to a rubber mask on his hand was not what the people in the audience paid for. The person telling him to shut up wants to hear the music not the politics. Eddie Vedder is an egotistical jackass who just likes to listen the sound of his own voice. This isn’t censorship; this is a dissatisfied member of the audience exercising his freedom of speech.

Something similar happened to the Dixie Chicks when some statements regarding the president were made by the band at a concert. Personally I think this is the most dumbass move you could possibly make at a country music concert. Who listens to country music? The majority certainly aren’t liberal minded city folk. Well the people reacted negatively to the statements and now they’re being dropped left and right from radio stations. Too bad.

You know what I hear as the response to all of this? “I thought this was a democracy and aren’t democracies all about freedom of speech?” We’ll first I always like to let people know that we live in a republic and second yes the United States is for freedom of speech. This isn’t censorship. As Americans we have the right to dissent. We don’t have to agree with anything somebody says. This does not apply only to the government, which people (celebrities and dumbasses) don’t seem to get. Only governments can technically “censor” people. Newspapers, music Labels, movie studios, servers, publishers, television networks and consumers can protect themselves from a negative impact on their income. It isn’t censorship when you get dropped from your label for making controversial statements, it’s the label protecting it’s self from a backlash.

Hate Speech or Freedom of Speech?

Something that I always wonder about is how people can be so protective of their own freedom of speech but when someone voices a different opinion they want to silence them. I’ll never respect nor agree with the doctrine of any hate group, but I will respect their right to express whatever the hell they want. Some people will defend burning the flag, but they won’t touch cross burning. I think cross burning is a valid form of free speech like flag burning if it is done within the confines of the law. If you burn a cross on someone’s front lawn other than your own than your trespassing same as if you burned a flag on someone else’s lawn. Why should we let hate group’s say whatever they want? I believe that our right to free speech should be an all or nothing type of deal. Once you give the government the ability modify and add restrictions to your 1st amendment rights than you are setting a precedent. You have made it ok for them to manipulate your rights once someone gets offended (or they get offended). Once you give them that sort of power than the rest of your rights have been compromised.

Oh yeah just so you know if you try to boycott conservative talk shows because of something hateful they (probably hadn’t) said, think about it. Think long and hard about that concept. You’re probably a democrat or a liberal and your probably not even listening to the radio shows anyway.

What could be considered censorship?

Only the government guarantees your freedom of speech. Nobody else does. So what can be considered a violation of your right to free speech? Well here goes:

- The government shutting down a record label producing controversial music and statements IS censorship
- A record label dropping a band for making controversial music and statements IS NOT censorship
- Soldiers confiscating books, music, and movies and burning them in the streets because although legal are controversial for whatever reason IS censorship
- Citizens burning books, music, and movies in the streets IS NOT censorship
- The government silencing an individual because of things s/he might or does say IS censorship
- Citizens telling someone to shut their mouth because of things s/he says is NOT censorship

As long as your not distributing child pornography, truly sick fetish videos (like the ones where women crush small animals with their high heels), snuff films, and the like than you shouldn’t have anything to worry about from the government. The man on the street on the other hand can respond anyway he pleases to whatever you do. He may support you or he might punch you in the mouth.

I think I’ve said my piece. See you next time with an article titled “NO: The Argument Ender” or as I secretly like to call it “I’ll never agree with you and if you keep pushing the subject I’ll bury my boot in your ass up to my mid-thigh!” I say good day to you sir!

-HighPulp