Banned Books and Controlled Looks

The American Heritage Dictionary, The Bible, Decameron, Tarzan, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Divine Comedy, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Ulysses, The Talmud and Candide share something in common. At some point in time, these were (and some still are) banned books.

Authors Francis Bacon, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Lewis Carroll, Confucius, Homer, Martin Luther, Galileo, Socrates and Voltaire - and even some were executed for their dangerous ideas.

If you want a fairly comprehensive list, the following publications are available:

Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds by Nicholas J. Karolides. New York: Facts on File, 1998. ISBN 0-8160-3304-8

Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds, by Margaret Bald. New York: Facts on File, 1998. ISBN 0-8160-3306-4

Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Sexual Grounds, by Dawn B. Sova. New York: Facts on File, 1998. ISBN 0-8160-3305-6

Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Social Grounds, by Dawn B. Sova. New York: Facts on File, 1998. ISBN 0-8160-3303-X

Freedom of speech is a prized right - but are we free to write hurtful things? Is the free press free to say and do anything without restraint? Should somebody do something about stalkers with cameras? With great freedom comes great responsibility. Make things available, but respect the privacy of people who are in pain.

This big and juicy can of worms continues to excite discussion.

With a camera, I think restraint and respect should supercede the public’s right to gawk. With a pen, I think that everyone should be given due process before the press and photographers set forth sentences of guilt.

Information from sources are not necessarily facts. Photographs are always taken in context and should not be published out of context.

Be careful little mouth what you say ...

I could have lived without seeing the Zapruder film, and I am not one to hide his eyes from anything. My President was dead and that image could have been hidden away from most eyes without a bit of loss to our basic freedom of information.  I would have preferred not to hear Nixon’s tapes where he not only revealed he was a liar and CROOK - but also a foul-mouthed, vulgar, scheming man. He was OUT anyhow. Some information does not make us a better people.

I don’t want to see the corpse of Michael Jackson. His end was the finale of his life’s tragedy.

Do study and read and learn what you don’t know. Never bury your head or deny yourself the Truth. But join me in a cry for balance.

Banning? NO! Restraint? Please. © Tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com