thank god for censorship
Normally, I’m for freedom of expression and all that hoopla. It’s the whole liberal thing, you know.
Then I heard about this upcoming OJ Simpson book and TV special, where he speculates about the murders as if he’d actually committed them. I am not sure which I found more appalling, that he dared write such a book or that someone was actually willing to publish it. I read an article the other day where the publisher said she considered the book to be Simpson’s confession and felt it was her duty to publish it, as a victim of domestic abuse herself. She said a bunch of other bullshit, too, to the point of utter ridiculousness. As if anyone can see her soul behind the huge dollar signs in her eyes.
It comes as no surprise that Fox was going to be the one to air the TV special (the publishing house is owned by the same company that owns Fox). Good old Rupert Murdoch.
Happily though, I just read that News Corp. has elected not to release the book nor air the special. And Murdoch apologized for any pain it caused the victims’ families. What a swell guy.
Censorship isn’t my friend, but I find no value at all in such a book. Natch the TV interview. I’m relieved they’re canceling both. Reading/watching Simpson ruminate on his crimes as if he didn’t actually do it is too much, even for me. And although I haven’t read the book, I have no doubt it is essentially him bragging about being able to murder two people and get away with it. No redeeming qualities could possibly be contained in those pages, regardless of whether some bottomless pit of evil thinks of it as his confession or not. I was so disgusted about this a few days ago, how this country never fails to disappoint and surprise me. But I can honestly say that right now, I’m thrilled that censorship won the battle. Someone like OJ Simpson does not deserve freedom of expression and the ability to continue to profit from his brutality.
I get that freedom is freedom, and all should be granted the right to say what they want, even if we don’t particularly care for it. In fact, it’s times like these that censorship shouldn’t win. I get that. I know the exact things I hold in the highest of esteem are being trampled on here, but when it comes to OJ Simpson, I just don’t care. The whole thing should never have been greenlit in the first place.
And if you were one of the people to already have ordered this book: shame on you.
My understanding was neither the publisher nor OJ stood to make any money off the book, at least in theory. All money was to be directly funneled to a third party where it would be distributed to OJ’s kids. I don’t know if that’s necessarily any better…
Never-the-less, I — *gasp* — agree with you on this. But if it makes you feel better, this isn’t censorship at all. It’s the good-ol’ American corporations and free-market at work. Someone at Fox decided that this was a bad business move. The Bill O’Reilly-side of the Murdoch empire won this argument.
As much as I argue against censorship, I argue for corporations’ rights to do what they want. And that’s what happened here.
What bothers me is that he is still a celebrity. I saw a clip the other day where he is playing golf. He is in the company of “beautiful people” smiling and cajoling and making pretty for the camera.
He was found not guilty by his peers. He can legally go about his business in any fashion he sees fit. Its the people that dont mind a photo op or to be associated with him that bother me.
Ill stick to my self and my low key life and believe in Jesus Christ. I sleep well at night and I have respect from those that know me…isnt that enough?
I couldn’t agree with your last statement any more, cjm. Although I actually have no problem with Simpson for writing it. It’s the “publishing it” and “purchasing it” corners of the triangle that bother me.
Brasten is exactly right – one of the great things about a free press is that choosing as a publisher NOT to publish something actually isn’t censorship. Even if every publisher in America makes that decision. Likewise, choosing not to purchase it isn’t censorship, even if every consumer in America chooses not to purchase.
The sad thing is that one published DID want to publish, and one network DID want to air and several consumers would have purchased and/or watched. Thankfully they saw the light.