From: glevy-AT-acnet.pratt.edu
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 1996 02:30:11 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Censorship and evasions 


Kevin Cabral wrote:

> Anyways, since we're not going to sensor anything I will
> reply in the style of Elsequin:
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The issue is a POLITICAL one: When we find something objectionable in 
another's posts, do we threaten that person by saying that we will ask 
the POSTMASTER, the NET PROVIDER, or the GOVERNMENT to censor that 
person's posts?
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How many times do I have to remind you that the FORCES OF REACTION want 
to see censorship on the Net for EXACTLY the reason you suggest (i.e. 
"obscenity")? If they win that battle what will *they* censor NEXT?
-------------------
All of this has a historic and a political context. Elsequin is a jerk, 
sure. But, STALINISTS have historically violated the CIVIL LIBERTIES of 
those whom they disagreed with and have even supported repression against 
their opponents by the BOURGEOIS STATE. This is a violation of an 
important PRINCIPLE -- NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE OBJECT TO THE WORDS OF 
OTHERS ON THE LEFT, WE SHOULD NOT USE THE STATE TO REPRESS THEIR 
PERSPECTIVES.
-------------------
You are playing right into the hands of Buchanan and the "Moral 
Majority." If WE, i.e. the l*st, censored someone's posts, that would be 
DIFFERENT from asking (especially in the current political context) the 
NET PROVIDER (i.e. Postmaster) to censor someone.

Jerry




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