“O(h no) Canada!” MTV Signature Song Banned
By Jonathan Bean • Saturday May 7, 2011 9:38 AM PDT • 4 Comments
When I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, the stereotypical bowdlerizers of speech–the people excising “offensive” lyrics and literature—were the uptight blue-nosed sort who feared that “someone, somewhere, was having fun.” (H.L. Mencken).
Now, the “progressive” Left has replaced the Puritanical Right as the great policer of speech. “Progressives” have always policed speech (“you are politically incorrect, comrade!”) so this is really nothing new. Both Left and Right have a long history of searching out words they feel are too sensitive to the ears of minors or thin-skinned individuals. (Apologies in advance for those who suffer from blue noses or thin skin).
Latest example: the Canadian “Standards Council” has banned the Dire Straits song for using the word “faggot” in the classic 1980s tune “Money for Nothing.” I learned this after listening to the song on the Dire Straits’ album “Brothers in Arms.” The song brought back memories of my youth so I searched out the video which was as good as I recalled (classic MTV video of the 1980s). Alas, the video has also been excised so that it is “good for all countries.” Now Canada can join the Religious Right in America and the Muslim bloc (in the United Nations) in bullying or outlawing “hate speech.” Perhaps the result will be some Universalist Code of Speech.
What makes this even more chilling is that they are attacking not only present speech but scouring the past for things that might offend someone if ever read or heard now. Shades of Fahrenheit 451.
The new rule of thumb: don’t say anything that might offend any one one hundred years from now. Good luck guessing what might be on the “hit list” in the year 2111!
Coda: the secondary definitions for “bluenosed: “Canadian.”
Kind of appropriate, eh?
Canada cheered when Zündel was imprisoned for his thought crime. Looks as though that was the thin edge of the wedge.
Trenchant | May 8, 2011 | Reply
Jonathan Bean:
These claims against free speech being “politically incorrect” are nothing more than a ruse to stop the plebs from thinking.Once words are removed from speech,thoughts will follow,then feelings.And don’t be fooled into believing that the left or the right are concerned about words, “they feel are too sensitive to the ears of minors or thin – skinned individuals.”Hypocrisy and duplicity do more to teach minors what is important to do,than words will ever do.
Hence,”Your actions speak louder than your words.”
The shake down,if you will,of free speech,is censorship at work, while the church,academic institutions and legal advocates will quietly side – step this issue.
Beware of comparative “hate speech” meant to enslave others,ensuiing war.
Thanking you for your interest in this matter -
James deLaurier | May 10, 2011 | Reply
“Newspeak” Classes have already started!
If you have missed registration for this semester, there will be a catch up class again in the fall. You will need this class if you are to avoid the re-indoctrination camps. You must comply. Time is limited!
“WAR IS PEACE”
“FREEDOM IS SLAVERY”
“IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”
Brian | May 10, 2011 | Reply
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The new rule of thumb: don’t say anything that might offend any one one hundred years from now. Good luck guessing what might be on the “hit list” in the year 2111!
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Ironically, Rush’s 2112 album wil probably make the hit list ... and they’re Canadian too.
rrw | May 11, 2011 | Reply