The business of polluting minds

[xchrom]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/MD30Dj02.html

Universities once stood for disciplined speech, not "freedom of speech or freedom of expression". There is a big difference between these two notions, a distinction now lost.

Western countries protect the media's and culture's freedom of expression, whether in the shape of books, movies, caricatures, blogs, or YouTube postings although not all to the same degree. The US offers the widest protection, the exception being not to shout "fire" in crowded halls. European countries have laws against "hate speech". Canada has its own version, enforced by "human rights tribunals", where bureaucrats decide whether verbal or visual barbs, even stereotyping, are "too offensive" and qualify for condemnation and compensation.

Yet, what these laws and courts achieve is hardly more civil


behavior, but rather the wearing of thin masks that hide much that would be much better if it came into the open. Mel Gibson and fashion designer John Galliano rant against Jews? Dior sacks Galliano and the Metropolitan Opera drops his gorgeous evening gowns for Renee Fleming in Nazi-collaborator Richard Strauss’ Capriccio. A bit hypocritical, no? Actor/director Gibson had been in decline, so it hard to know how much his steepened descent is due to his anti-Semitic, drunken ramblings.

[Glorfindel]

1. Recommend

thanks for posting.