Censorship in arts 'healthy,' Boone says
I don't think censorship is a bad word, but it has become a bad word because everybody associates it with some kind of restriction on liberty. But we do know that at some point a line that has to be drawn between one man's liberty and another man's license.
- Pat Boone
Look, Lois; it's the two symbols of the Republican Party- an elephant and a fat white guy afraid of change.
- from "Family Guy"
Of course, this world would be a much better place if everyone thought more like Pat Boone- or would it? He does have a point, in that one person's liberty IS another's license...but isn't that part and parcel of what makes this country great. Wasn' this country founded by those looking for freedom? And wasn't freedom of expression one of the building blocks of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution? Weren't we taught as children about the basic importance of freedom of expression? Have we lost our way?
In the world Pat Boone inhabits, freedom of expression is available only within narrow and very specific boundaries. As long as everyone is a Conservative Christian and thinks like one, there are no problems. For those of us who can't be stuffed into that box, our views and our right to express those views are rapidly losing value.
If we are to take Boone at face value, who will be empowered to make the decisions regarding what is acceptable forms of expression? Why, it will be people who think like him, of course. These are people who, left to their own devices, would turn this country into "Pleasantville"- a clean and sanitized world where nothing controversial or subversive would ever depart the lips of an artist, journalist, or public figure. Of course, "subversive" would no doubt be defined as anything running counter to the narrow Christian Conservative view of the world.
And never is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day....
In case y'all haven't been paying attention, this is the world that George W. Bush has used 9.11 as an excuse to work towards creating. It's a world where different is bad, loose lips sink ships, and swarthy men with beards and Middle Eastern accents are automatically suspect. To question the veracity of Our Sainted President is to somehow be viewed as anti-patriotic and anti-American. Remember, vote Republican- OR THE TERRORISTS WILL WIN.
I'm tired of those who are afraid of change and afraid of those who think differently being the ones in positions of power. I've always believed that Americans are by nature (and yes, I AM generalizing here) fundamentally open-minded, good-hearted people. Unfortunately, Americans can also be hopelessly shallow and susceptible to having their emotions and political beliefs manipulated by those craven enough to appeal to their fears and insecurities. George W. Bush is as hollow as Hollow Men come, but he has surrounded himself with people who are expert at creating an atmosphere of fear and loathing. I could never bring myself to believe that George W. Bush is somehow responsible for 9.11, but his Administration has certainly used it to their advantage. Marketing is everything, eh?
America deserves better, but in this Fox News Channel, Drudge Report, and Newsmax-oriented political climate, you can bet that we won't get it.
Of course, we wouldn't want the terrorists to win, would we??
