The activities of the past couple of days have started me thinking. What makes the difference between censorship and common sense? This is not an attempt to irritate anyone. This is just an open dialog regarding the subject of censorship.

There has been an ongoing debate about the use of the Confederate Flag by the southern states of the US. Many people find this flag a symbol of repression. Others think of it as their heritage. A vote was held and the majority decided that it should remain in use. This does not mean that it is not still offensive to the minority…it just means that more people found it acceptable than found it unacceptable. Should the discussion of whether to keep the flag or not be forbidden since it is offensive to a group of people? In my opinion, ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Another example is the attempt to ban the Harry Potter books being read to elementary school children. The religious right has done just that. They find it offensive because of the theme of witchcraft and dragons. Since it is offensive to some, should it be forbidden? Again, I say ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Sex is another topic that is often censored. In America if you are watching a television show on The Learning Channel about reproductive behavior of human beings they are allowed to be as graphic as they please. If you show the same thing on a network station it is censored. Does this make sense?

What criteria should be used to decide whether something should be censored or not? If you use the criteria that anything that is offensive to a group of people should be banned, then we could not discuss Harry Potter, reproduction or flags. This is obviously ridiculous. Okay then, what criteria should be used?

Anyone have any ideas?