News Day Tuesday: Thanks
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First, allow me to apologize for the extreme tardiness of today’s News Day Tuesday. The month of November was wondering if I still knew what “insanity” meant, and saw it fit to flood me with about a bajillion different things to do. But I’m still standing November! Ha!
Second, for those in the States…is anyone as excited as I am that Thanksgiving is this Thursday?? I! LOVE! THANKS! GIVIIIIING!! Love it love it love it love it!! It is hands down my favorite holiday. 
Third, so what does this have to do with the news? Well, you all know how it is with Thanksgiving…it’s traditional to take time out and list all the things that you’re thankful for. In fact, Brooke posted an awesome list of things that help you find happiness, and one of the things on that list is related to gratitude. (Yeah Brooke!) There are certain things that top almost everyone’s list: family, friends, food, home. I can honestly say that hardly a day goes by when I don’t pause to think about how lucky I am because my friends and family provide me with more love and laughter than should be legally allowed. And anyone who knows me will tell you that food is joy to me. Man, I love food, I really do. This is a big reason why I love Thanksgiving so much. And home…ok, well given the outrageous rents in New York, maybe I’m not as thankful for having a roof over my head as I should be. 
Anyway, all of this got me wondering…what about some of the things that I don’t take time out to appreciate on a daily basis? What are some of the things that I benefit from everyday yet take for granted? And this is where the news comes in.
Recently, several countries (including the U.S.), rights groups, and the United Nations have condemned trials held in Myanmar (Burma) that have resulted in sentences of more than 60 years. Who were the people convicted and what were their crimes?
A blogger who posted cartoons making fun of Myanmar’s ruler, Than Shwe. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Zarganar, a comic who criticized the government’s slow response to Cyclone Nargis and organized private deliveries of aid to the cyclone’s victims. He was convicted of violating the Electronics Act and was sentenced to 45 years.
Ashin Gambira, a Buddhist monk who led the “saffron revolution” – the wave of peaceful protests by thousands of monks across the country in September 2007. He was convicted on several charges and sentenced to a total of 68 years.
And the Burmese aren’t the only ones being jailed for voicing their views against the government or other establishment. In 2006, Abdel Karim Suleiman was sentenced to 4 years in prison. His crime? Insulting religion and defaming Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on his blog. What did he say? Here is a sample:
“I say to Al-Azhar and its university and its professors and preachers who stand against anyone who thinks differently to them: ‘You are destined for the rubbish bin of history, where you will find no one to cry for you, and your regime will end like others have.’”
Meanwhile, on my side of the ocean, I’m cracking up (or at least I used to, back when I had more time) as Jon Stewart and his merry band of comics on “The Daily Show” consistently make my President and other powerful officials look like a bunch of buffoons.
One of the many things I love about the U.S. is freedom of speech. And it is one of the things that I definitely take for granted. I realize that it’s still not a perfect system here, whatever that may be, and that there will always be tension between the right to say what you want and the risk of offending those who don’t want to hear what you say. But certainly, we are given a wide berth here, and whenever I hop on the internet to ask Google for magic answers, I rarely stop to think that there are more than a billion people out there who don’t experience the internet the same way I do because their government censors the content. One of my friends sent me a link to China Channel, which offers a free plug-in that lets users experience what it’s like to surf the internet in China. I tried it, and let me tell you…it’s spooky. Try Googling “Tiananmen Square protests” and see how far you get.
What do you all think about freedom of speech and censorship? Do you think people should have the right to say whatever they want to, even if it hurts others? What about criticizing the government and people in power? Are there times when censorship by the government can be beneficial to society?
Finally, I’d also like to mention that I’m thankful for all of your participation and feedback on this blog. Thank you Taylor Kagy for writing the “Twilight” review. I thought Taylor Nikole was supposed to write it, but apparently she punked out. So thank you for stepping in and covering her butt. ;) I think you did a great job, for which I am grateful. And thank you to everyone who read and/or commented on the other posts. Believe it or not, I do read all of your comments. It warms my heart to see that my ignorance on certain matters has entertained some of you.
ADDENDUM: Just to make it clear to everyone…Taylor Nikole did NOT, in fact, punk out. I was just kidding because I enjoy giving well-meaning people a hard time. ;) Taylor Kagy and Taylor Nikole are one and the same, but will the real Taylor please stand up? ;)
Chris
November 26, 2008Thanksgiving is an awesome holiday! Can’t wait for the yummy food
pfft Taylor didn’t punked out. Shes too kewl for that;)
Freedom of speech is very crucial in living in a democratic society. It is very very important to be able to get all your thoughts across and to be able to express yourself. Otherwise, we would be “robotic” which isn’t a way humans should live. As opposed to before, I think we are more concerned with safety than freedom now. There are times when I do think censorship by the government can be beneficial to society. Some situations may call for it. Never say never.