Elton attacks 'censorship' in US

[Oceans11]

I'm no EJ fan but he makes a valid comparison with the 60's.
The lack of protestors at the recent sea-island meeting was pretty scary.
http://forum.therx.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=100090022&f=9103084407&m=769100941

People are being arrested for having anti-bush t-shirts...

All these new 'security laws'.

McCarthyism is a valid comparison.

It would explain the popularity that Mr Moore enjoys amongst the population.

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Elton attacks 'censorship' in US

Sir Elton John is currently performing in New York
Elton John has said stars are scared to speak out against war in Iraq because of "bullying tactics" used by the US government to hinder free speech.
"There's an atmosphere of fear in America right now that is deadly. Everyone is too career-conscious," he told New York magazine, Interview.

Sir Elton said performers could be "frightened by the current administration's bullying tactics",

The singer likened the current "fear factor" to McCarthyism in the 1950s.

"There was a moment about a year ago when you couldn't say a word about anything in this country for fear of your career being shot down by people saying you are un-American," he told the magazine.

The singer said things were different in the 1960s.

"People like Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, The Beatles and Pete Seeger were constantly writing and talking about what was going on.

Backlash

"That's not happening now. As of this spring, there have been virtually no anti-war concerts - or anti-war songs that catch on, for that matter," he said.

He voiced concern that it appeared acceptable to speak out if you were pro-Bush, using the example of country singer Toby Keith, but not if you were critical of the President, as in the case of country rock band, the Dixie Chicks.

"On the one hand, you have someone like Toby Keith, who has come out and been very supportive of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq - which is OK because America is a democracy and Toby Keith is entitled to say what he thinks and feels.

"But, on the other hand, the Dixie Chicks got shot down in flames last year for criticising the president. They were treated like they were being un-American, when in fact they have every right to say whatever they want about him because he's freely elected, and therefore accountable."

Sir Elton is currently in New York playing a series of concerts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3902833.stm

 

[UncleMoneybags]

I think that after the Harley 100th anniversary debacle, Sir Elton should crawl under a rock. I'm still trying to figure out what the planners were thinking bringing him on board.

 

[bblight]

There must be something wrong with my social conscience, because I believe that some censorship would be a good, healthy thing. I believe that both extremes in censorship - "anything goes" and "nothing goes" are both wrong and harmful.

I've had this hedonistic culture up to here!
I don't want my grandchildren listening to some hiphop moneygrubber refering to women as bitches, dropping the "F" bomb with regularity, and using all kinds of foul langauge and sexual inuendo.

I don't want to turn on the TV and see someones ass waving in the air.

I'm sick of seeing murderes go free on a technicality while some poor bastard gets stiffed because he made a dumb non-PC remark.

I want to see our children protected from the situations that an adult dialog would put them in; sex is not a toy; drugs are self-destructive; developing good manners will help you succed in life.

I miss good manners and good taste. Why can't a man hold a door open for a woman, or a woman defer to the man for a meal.

I want to go to the local ball park and see kids "playing" baseball, not performing by some competitive adult script.

What ever happened to stick ball? And to the neighborhood cop who kept everything and everyone in order?

I rememeber when the ACLU wasn't looked upon as an evil organization and the NRA was there to teach weapon safety.

I remember a school system where performance was rewarded and miscalcitrants were punished.

Give me censorship - Please!

 

[JudgeWapner]

Bblight,I'm with ya Billy Bob,let's go burn us some books.

 

[bblight]

Judge - I'd rather be called Billy Bob Redneck than be a Michael Moore clone.

Where'd that "burn books" thought come from? It couldn't have been yours?

 

[JudgeWapner]

BB,just funnin ya.You make some valid points but the problem with censorship is who decides and where do you draw the line.I do not trust governmebnt with the task of deciding for me.

 

[bblight]

Like it used to be - and like Jefferson intended it to be - local committee voted in by local people.

 

[JackDee]

i ve agreed with a lot of the points you made bblight but you are slightly off topic. You are refering to several social conditions that are beyond cencorship and are clearly not a phenomenon caused by lack of cencorship but by sociopolitical and economical power structures who are also vastly in charge of the cultural models too. An example, it's the very cencors, the powers that be, that dissalow an iraq war protest song and brand anyone marching for peace a terrorist, that are in effect supportive of the matcho ghetto rhapper talking about bitc.es, and his big fat mercedes etc. etc. as you saids, both senselessly and tastelessly, because they d rather have this ape propagandise on kids of the almighty buck and male supremacy than any "dissident" song writer informing them of their rights and civil liberty. So there's actual censorship going on by dissalowing what doesn suit the powers that be and allowing their shit to go on. Think about it.

 

[KMAN]

I know......Kind of like Rush Limbaugh, when he got kicked off ESPN for his comments.....It's getting out of hand.

 

[barman]

BBL: I've had this hedonistic culture up to here!

BAR: It's not as bad as you perceive.

BBL: I don't want my grandchildren listening to some hiphop moneygrubber refering to women as bitches, dropping the "F" bomb with regularity, and using all kinds of foul langauge and sexual inuendo.

BAR: I don't want that for my granchildren either. But do you (I do) have a plan for how you might respond if some of them seek out such entertainment of their own voilition?

BBL: I don't want to turn on the TV and see someones ass waving in the air.

BAR: Complete TV Listings are accessible anywhere, so that's pretty unlikely. But since many people DO want to see asses waving on TV, I suppose it's possible you might stumble upon one unintentionally. I have confidence in your agility with the remote control to quickly shield you from any long term suffering.

BBL: I'm sick of seeing murderes go free on a technicality

BAR: Are you suggesting we abandon our current rule of law?

BBL:...while some poor bastard gets stiffed because he made a dumb non-PC remark.

BAR: Ummmm, I think maybe we are on board with ya on this one, though it's rather unclear who you're referring to here.

BBL: I want to see our children protected from the situations that an adult dialog would put them in; sex is not a toy;

BAR: Sex CAN be a toy, if other responsibility is being observed.

BBL: ....drugs are self-destructive;

BAR: Some drugs can sometimes be self-destructive. Other times drugs can be a vibrant and healthy part of life. I bet your kids are smart enough to learn the differences.

BBL:.... developing good manners will help you succed in life.

BAR: YES! This one we agree on for sure....whew.

BBL: I miss good manners and good taste.

BAR: Hang around different people then. It's still very fashionable around my crowd.

BBL: Why can't a man hold a door open for a woman, or a woman defer to the man for a meal.

BAR: Don't know that either cannot do either.

BBL: I want to go to the local ball park and see kids "playing" baseball, not performing by some competitive adult script.

BAR: That's TWO! I would abolish organized Leagues and make the kids run the whole thing, including record keeping etc. If the parents want to participate, they should form their own adult league and do likewise.

BBL: What ever happened to stick ball?

BAR: Too many cars and pu$$y mothers who won't let their kids out of their eyesight.

BBL: And to the neighborhood cop who kept everything and everyone in order?

BAR: He's busy trying to 'control drugs' by arresting anyone and everyone found in possession, so no one in the neighborhood really looks forward to his presence. Also he's being asked to spend way too much time 'controlling' the illegal dealers who operate secretly and covertly, unlike legal drug dealers who have storefronts, licenses and are open to police and regulator inspection at any time.

Sorry for the refrain, but it's a grim fact of 21st century police work.

BBL: I rememeber when the ACLU wasn't looked upon as an evil organization

BAR: It's still not - again depending on who you hang around with. I have numerous friends who are employed by the ACLU and am awed by the work they do.

BBL: ....and the NRA was there to teach weapon safety.

BAR: They still do, as you know, but yeah they are into a lot of other stuff now also.

BBL: I remember a school system where performance was rewarded and miscalcitrants were punished.

BAR: Performance is still awarded in most every school I know of, and what is a miscalcitrant?

heh

Yeah, I get what you meant. And I would respond that those miscreants are still punished. In fact many are deemed Ms by virtue of having Tylenol in their purse, or Motrim for their menstrual cycle, or an asthma inhaler, or a routine kitchen knife in their car.

Feel any better yet?