This enrages me beyond comprehension

[brightrosefox]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Editorials/03OpOPN62051504.htm

And where I found it: http://www.livejournal.com/community/write_away/350124.html

Good lord.

They ordered the poem destroyed. Posters were destroyed. Artistic expression was threatened. People's jobs are on the line. Because of a student's poem that *ahem* criticized what the Bush administration was doing.
A "penalty of fine and imprisonment" for "translating foreign works of art from Iran, Sudan, and North Korea."
Oh my dear gods in all heavens, this is disgusting.

So where is the other side of all this? I would really love to hear what those assholes have to say for themselves.

Why has our government become so terrified of people saying words? Oh, right. Because we say words the government doesn't like. Gods fucking forbid a little girl writes a poem and is deemed "un-American." Sure, maybe the poem might have been a little harsh and forthright, but by gods, she has every right to it! It's her thoughts! Her words! My gods.

Can I say that I think I hate what this country is becoming?

Comments

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

um. see i agree that this was horrid an' fucked up an' shit, but please don't take the actions by a small group of wanna-be dictators at one school as governmental policy. it isn't. it just isn't.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. I was just horrified. I try not to let the thoughts and actions of these small groups speak for the masses. That would be just as bad as the censorship.

[ronin-lethe.livejournal.com]

believe me, i understand. that comment was more for the benefit of your other readers than you. i'm looking into this more as we speak, it seems there may be more to the story. i'll get back to you.

ug

[my-piece-of-sky.livejournal.com]

wow, that's just disgusting...what scares me is that this mentality is becoming more and more common [or at least, more visible and acceptable...which isn't any better]. ug, just..ug.

Re: ug

[my-piece-of-sky.livejournal.com]

my addendum to this: what i find particularly disturbing is that this is happening more and more in high schools...that in general kids are being taught not to think, not to question, and that their having strong opinions is invalid, and in many cases, offensive. not that this is a completely new thing...but it's still pretty scary.