I am in a severe state of shock after reading the U.S. plan to institute censorship — within the U.S. — of publications written by foreign dissidents in certain countries.
The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued regulations prohibiting U.S. publishers from publishing anything written by foreigners in countries under sanction without prior approval.
This means, for instance, that an Iranian or a North Korean dissident cannot expect to be able to publish anything here in the U.S. without the approval of government censors.
Read the full story in the Seattle Times.
Several publishing groups have filed suit to overturn the regulation as a violation of the First Amendment. Does anyone remember what that says? Does anyone remember why it’s so important? Remember Doctor Zhivago?
This is supposed to be a country free of government oppression. Do any of you still think it is so? Why, then, are publishing houses being told they have to get licenses to publish books? I think I’ve gone from shock to outrage.
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Charles-A. Rovira
Dec 12, 2004
The voice of dissent, regardless of where and towards whom, is turning into the hiss of air that escapes from the throat as it gets throttled into silence. We’re heading back into a world of local causes with wider spread effects. Its going to be an interesting century.
Lars Mæhlum
Dec 13, 2004
You said it. Interesting doesnt cover it. Im lucky to live in one of the places that still can be called nearly free. But for how long?
When the government stops publishers from publishing oppinions not supported by the men in charge, what other names than censor might be used? You might call it “protecting the freedom of the american people”. But how does this actually protect anyone?
They hunted the witches, they hunted the commies. Next time, its you!
Martin
Dec 13, 2004
While this has me scared just like y’all, I don’t see it lasting very long in the US…but maybe I’m overly optimistic.
Lars Mæhlum
Dec 14, 2004
Problem is, if they do it with very small increments. Yanking up the consorship a little by little, most people will accept it as protection, not censorship.
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