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| The Egyptian John Stewart |
Societies most confident of their principles and of the loyalty of their members have allowed the greatest freedom from censorship. In societies whose values have not been fully accepted by their people or, whose leadership rests on shaky foundations, the heaviest hand of censorship has fallen. The relative prevalence of censorship is one of the features that has most distinguished autocratic from democratic societies.
For those of you who presume have very good motives to censor the Bassem Youssef show, the fact that this censorship may have a laudable ulterior purpose cannot mean that censorship is not censorship.
I watched the show in its entirety. There are quite a few segments which made me also cringe, but others (like the song and dance) were a masterpiece.
I will summarize the reasons why people have objected to the Bassem Youssef show from what I have read on Facebook, Twitter,and what I have seen and heard in our Egyptian media:
Your form of censorship operates on the assumption that the thoughts, feelings, opinions, beliefs and fantasies of human beings ought to be a subject of moral judgment and ultimately social and government action.
You believe that this censorship is a necessary obligation of the authority to protect the moral and social order.
You believe that the objectionable material proposed by Bassem Youssef may be considered immoral or obscene, heretical or blasphemous,seditious or treasonable, or injurious to the national security. Thus, the rationale for censorship is that it is necessary for the protection of three basic social institutions: the family, the mosque or church, and the state.
You believe that the minds of those who would be subjected to the ideas to be censored are not capable of seeing the falsity and would be led astray.
What are you really trying to protect?
Censors talk about "VIRTUE" -- really means"conform to the opinions, beliefs and values that they and theirs hold and which they would like to see enforced throughout the land."
Censorship REALLY "serves to protect the predominant ideology from which those benefit most who have attained power, wealth, status,and control within society." Censors seek to protect the prevailing ideology not because society would collapse, "but because it serves to legitimize their eminence and the various social, political and economic arrangements they oversee."
Why are Censors wrong?
They cannot define with clarity what is blasphemous, obscene, or seditious expression. Clear definitions and standards are rarely publicized prior to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of those accused of illicit expression.
They cannot demonstrate that the material "actually poses a danger to society."
Censors have to "forcibly suppress" because they cannot "convincingly demonstrate" that the material is false or harmful.
Censorship arises when and precisely because someone cannot convincingly demonstrate to others that the opinions which offend him or her are indeed truly false or dangerous. If they could, there would after all be little or no need for censorship.
What are the consequences of censorship?
The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion. ... In the long run it will create a generation incapable of appreciating the difference between independence of thought and subservience.
Censorship that hinders peaceable opposition to the government in the short run creates the long-run danger of violent opposition.
By suppressing reform the censorship may transform it into a revolution.
Every censorship produces a technique of evasion as wellas a technique of administration.
It is a notorious fact that censorship, or the threat of censorship, may make the fortune of a TV show, film, book or play which might otherwise have failed to win public attention.
For the real evil in the world comes not from the likes of Bassem Youssef, but from those so convinced of the absolute rightness of their opinions and beliefs that they would impose what they think and feel upon others. It is they who must account for their actions. For it is they who are most definitely in the wrong, and from whom little good ever comes.
Solution:
Let the Judicial system take its course. With a proper constitution, and a country governed by the “Rule of Law” there will be no need for a censor. Everyone would be held accountable by the courts which represent the true will of the people. OR: simply don't watch the show next time!
Sources: Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, U.S. Supreme Court, Academic A Encyclopedia, Harry White, "Anatomy of Censorship, International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Henry Steel Commager and me!
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