PastPoop
4/19/2003-Freedom of Speech and Censorship: The Difference!*
*Eddie Vedder youre an ass, Im gonna sodomize you with
a pitchfork!
Ok Im going to cover about 3 things here, all of course relating
to free speech and what is and isnt 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. Thats fine if youre an egotistical ass
clown, but dont 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 wont 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 youve potentially alienated at least half of their target
audience. All Im saying is dont be shocked if people react
negatively to political, religious, and sexual statements that you may
make. The important thing to consider if youre a celebrity is that
youre 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.
Dont be so naïve as to believe theyll always be there
once you start preaching your beliefs at them.
Censorship or Freedom of Speech?
Something Id like to point out that seems to be going around is
this defensive cry of Censorship! whenever anyone is told
to shut up. Heres how it works - You say something I think is dumb
and I respond with Shut up, you stupid baby pumper, I dont
want to hear about it! and then in response you say Quit censoring
me!
Now most people would understand that I just dont care for what
they have to say, its 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 its
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. Whats
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 dont 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 isnt 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 arent liberal
minded city folk. Well the people reacted negatively to the statements
and now theyre 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 arent democracies all about freedom of
speech? Well 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 isnt censorship. As Americans we have the right to
dissent. We dont have to agree with anything somebody says. This
does not apply only to the government, which people (celebrities and dumbasses)
dont 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 isnt censorship when you get dropped
from your label for making controversial statements, its the label
protecting its 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. Ill 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 wont 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 someones front lawn other than
your own than your trespassing same as if you burned a flag on someone
elses lawn. Why should we let hate groups 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 hadnt) said, think about
it. Think long and hard about that concept. Youre 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 shouldnt 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 Ive said my piece. See you next time with an article titled
NO: The Argument Ender or as I secretly like to call it Ill
never agree with you and if you keep pushing the subject Ill bury
my boot in your ass up to my mid-thigh! I say good day to you sir!
-HighPulp Post A CommentRead Comments |