Take the Tape Off

Censorship has plagued our society for centuries. People have been losing their lives, their dignity and basic rights to freedom under the guise of speaking their mind.
When did Freedom of Speech and One Nation Under God become so trivialized by a government who searches for new ways to quiet those who don't say what is deemed appropriate?

Case in point:

Last week there was a Q&A Forum involving the 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry at the University of Florida. Here's what happened as quoted from the Fox online news source:

"Andrew Meyer, a journalism student, trying repeatedly and heatedly to ask Kerry why he conceded the 2004 election after multiple reports of disenfranchisement of black voters and rigged electronic-voting machines.

Click here to watch the video of Meyer's arrest from MyFOXNewYork.

Meyer was asked to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up but he refused. Campus police officers responded and tried to pull Meyer away in a struggle that lasted several seconds."

When I first saw this video, it reminded me of every "end of days" movie I've ever seen. Perhaps maybe even a throwback to the "government conspiracy" flicks that I used to roll my eyes at as if to say "I wonder if that REALLY happens". More and more I'm starting to see that....IT DOES!

A couple of weeks back, Sally Field was censored in her Emmy speech because of her take on this war we are in. Her words were simply opinion and should never have been taken from her. Watch it below.

">Sally Field

What did she say that dozens of political anylists don't say every day? Why CAN'T she say what she wants to say?

A few months back, one of my favorite bands, Pearl Jam, were a victim of just such censorship when they played live via the internet for an AT&T special event. They blasted through their set and during an extended portion of the song ">"Daughter", they had something else to say about their feelings on the war and the current administration. Rather than uphold our constitution, the network decided to shut them down. They have always been a band who has done nothing but stick behind their beliefs and move forward as a culture and society.

Last Friday, the Colorado State University newspaper "Rocky Mountain Collegian" published an article that said "Taser This....Fuck Bush!!!". Personally, I think that there are better ways to communicate your disdain for this administration, but it doesn't mean that their opinion shouldn't be heard.

Break down the communication barriers! We all have differing opinions and that's what makes us great as a nation....our ability to have differing opinions without oppression....but are we living that? I think the real question here is...are YOU living that? Do YOU respect other people's opinions even though they may not be congruent with your own even if they don't respect yours?

Ponder. Think. Choose for yourself.