UN Report Discusses the Importance of Artistic Freedom -- National Coalition Against Censorship

I have been following National Coalition Against Censorship for many years.  Putting aside the fact that I enjoy creating art, just at the basic level of being human, censorship is a devastating tool to wield power and to ensure that people are kept in emotional and intellectual darkness.

At the NCAC site is a brief summary of a very recent UN report that posits (correctly, in my opinion) that artistic expression is a human right.  Read the NCAC article and access the original UN report here.

Music was banned in Mali?!  Censorship must be defeated, and humanity must support and protect the arts and artists.  Those who wield power and support censorship must be defeated so as to prevent humanity from reverting back to the Dark Ages.

Has She?

Let me see, Lady Gaga, to my knowledge, hasn't bent any boys over the altar of the god, has she? To my knowledge she hasn't engaged in any type of cover up trying to protect her colleagues from any investigations of any crimes allegedly committed, has she? To my knowledge she hasn't claimed any special monogamous relationship with a special someone only to be found frequenting the services of prostitutes, has she? To my knowledge she hasn't proclaimed to her followers to wage a holy war, because of any caricatures or drawings or comments made of her or made about her were found to be disrespectful, has she?

No? Well, then it makes perfect sense for the faithful to point the fingers outward rather than inward at their institutions that proclaim high morals and standards.  

It is easy to attack an artist, an entertainer, an author, because no attempts are made to hide or veil.  Not so with those who claim a higher ground as they look down upon those who don't believe as they believe.