Homegrown Fundamentalist Censorship
By Rich Zeoli
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- When Americans demand cancellation of a television show because the idea it promotes may be false or dangerous, they are no better than fundamentalists who demand a newspaper not publish a cartoon. Granted, they don't resort to violence, but their non-violent demand for censorship is equally as dangerous. 'I'm offended, scared, outraged, threatened, or bullied so your show, movie, book, or newspaper needs to be banned and a formal apology needs to be issued.'
We stood up to North Korea's attempts to silence a satirical movie and watched in horror as Islamic terrorists murdered 12 over a cartoon. But we have our own homegrown fundamentalists demanding TCL cancel a show called "My Husband's Not Gay."
Almost 100,000 people have signed the petition demanding TLC cancel this "dangerous" show.
A TV show. Dangerous.
These individuals are no better than the fanatics in Paris who demanded a cartoon be censored because it's dangerous to incite Muslim fanatics. And let me give you the reasons why someone reading this will comment and tell me how I'm wrong, and this instance is different, and in this case, the censorship completely warranted. Ready?
"You don't understand. This time it's different. This show needs to be cancelled because it's dangerous."
The reasons for the danger are debatable, as all ideas are all, but the same can be said for the following:
It's dangerous to publish cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed because it will incite Muslim terrorism.
It's dangerous to screen "The Interview" because it will inflame North Korea.
"But wait, this time is different because what the show is advocating is harmful to people. It will hurt them. The message will hurt people."
Maybe it will. Maybe this show will cause pain and hurt feelings. Maybe this show will cause someone to become depressed. Perhaps this show will cause people to utterly hate who they are.
Maybe it does promote a "false and dangerous idea." The point is it is an idea. Ideas shouldn't be silenced. That's what fanatics demand.
Speech that offends, outrages, mocks, and yes, even promotes false and dangerous ideas, needs to be protected not censored.
Oh, and if you don't like it, don't watch it. Problem solved.
