Censorship. Control. Safety?

We ran across an issue this weekend with a possible FCC regulations violation, simply stated "you are not allowed advertise/entice with hard liquor samples on the radio."  The station's marketing person knew it, but the client's guest vendor had not yet been instructed in the legal ramifications on our end. While the FCC requires we control what is aired on our stations, regulations are still far more liberal than in the past.  No big deal. 

This morning, though, I ran across a story on twitter:

This event marked the beginning of the end of a freedom for the Chinese that we hold dear to us in these United States: freedom of speech. Yes, I am aware that in the immediate sense of 1989, they were assembling, something we all should cherish, but open communication in China has virtually been halted since then. 

BEIJING (AP) — Remember June 4, Shi Shusi asked the 1.5 million readers of his popular microblog last year. Moments later, his postings were erased. A note from the microblog operator said they were "inappropriate publicity." The Tiananmen crackdown "is absolutely crucial to understanding the way press censorship works today," said David Bandurski, editor of the China Media Project at Hong Kong University. "The notion was that you have to control public opinion through media control to maintain social and political stability." Commentators who hoped the rise of satellite TV, the Internet and social media would loosen the party's monopoly on power were disappointed. As millions of Chinese went online and acquired smartphones, Beijing spent heavily to develop high-tech filters.

While I sat thinking about my own freedom to "blog", I noticed another story:  

This time, freedom of speech comes back to bite the internet's newest golden boy, and it turns out he might not be so "golden".  He sent some very masogynistic emails back in college. Of course, he has since apologized. He is 23 now, and says he has matured since then. Umm, yeah. But still, we're talking about it...we can talk about it. 

And yet, this was by far the most profound and America-positive story of the morning: 

No, the topic is not positive, but the discussion is the most positive thing we do in this country. You may not agree with those talking heads on TV or crazy man in the box, but by golly, they are free to yammer on all they want. 

In China, as well as many other countries, they do not speak of these types of historical oppression. The genocide of the Native American people would have been "erased", the slavery of Africans brought to this country would be censored, were it not for freedom of speech. Censorship=Amnesia

Yes, we do allow a great deal out of Pandora's Box with the internet. But what about all the good? What about those who share their joy? Children and their deployed parents communicating via the web, old high school friends who stay in touch via Facebook, and the learning! The children's, high school and college education available through our free and open internet is amazing!

Last, but never least, we share the love of God through the freedom of speech in this country every day. Whether you are a follower of Christ, God, Buddha, Allah, Mohammed or otherwise sacred power, you are free to express it in America. 

We host a great many international students at our church, and I will never forget one young Chinese businessman who came to Southeast Missouri State for one semester only, to learn English. As we hung out in the college classroom in the Family Life Center, he asked me "Why do you do this?" After some interpretation, and further explanation of what he really was asking, I told him that sharing our space and being kind and welcoming is what Christ calls us to do. "Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22: 37-39)  

It was not until this morning that I realized how important my words could have been in the life of this man from China.  I could have preached against the communist way of living. I could have droned on about how great America is for everyone.  I am relieved to look back now and know that I was more of a follower of Christ than I ever tried to be at any point in my life...and it wasn't all that hard to do. I didn't have to fight a government that oppresses me, or hack a network to get past a filter, or most importantly, stand down a tank. 

I have seen it quoted a great deal lately that "history is written by the victors".  Yes, that is often the case, but not so much as it was prior to film, tv, radio, and the internet. 

Please remember Tiananmen. The future generations of China may need us as their witnesses to write their history.

May the Lord of all free those who are oppressed, confined, enslaved, and censored in the name of 'their own safety'. Amen