Freedom of Expression.
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JJJ
© Vinay Vaidya,
04-02-2012
10:34 p.m.
He: Sir, Government is intent on imposing censorship on Internet, especially on the blogging on the ‘net’.
10:35 p.m.
Me: Yes. I’ve also heard so.
He: Isn’t it encroachment upon the freedom of expression envisaged in our constitution?
10:37 p.m.
Me: No doubt.
10:39 p.m.
He: I appreciate your concern.
Me: Thanks.
10:40 p.m.
He: Shouldn’t we join hands and minds to protest against this?
Me: Why?
10:45 p.m.
He: Don’t you see your blogs will be available no more to your friends and fans and who-so-ever connected with you through net?
Me: May be.
10:55 p.m.
He: If you are not at all concerned why do you write them?
Me: I write preferably for my own interests.
10:59 p.m.
He: What interests?
Me: Rather, The motives and inspirations, urges, needs and mostly just because I love to write.
11:03 p.m.
He: And are you quite indifferent to the rights, motives, interests etc. of the fellow bloggers?
Me: Indifferent and unconcerned, and incapable to do anything for that. As a matter of fact, I would like if all kinds of published work should be censored by the government through some qualified committee and the committee should classify and certify that what class the referred work belongs to. I think this will help the work to reach the most suitable people. Because then, they can own, view, and get in touch with the work that is most useful to them in many respects.
11:11 p.m.
He: And Government will decide the right and wrong, and ban the wrong?
Me: No, I think the government is to look after and protect the national security measures only. In those areas, where social ethics, religion, and political matters have been dealt with, the censor-certificate from the committee will reflect the government’s views and suggestions about the quality and class of the work. The certificate will be just a kind of acceptance on the part of the government that it is aware about the nature of the work and the government has imposed no ban on it, and the people have freedom to deal with the same. It is just like the ‘Film Censor Board’. Society has to decide what needs to be viewed or kept away from them. It does not mean that government has restricted or controlled their publishing, or is altering them, in any way.
11:25 p.m.
He: What if tomorrow the government restricts your freedom of moving around in your own hometown, city, or place? What if your freedom of speech is also controlled in the same way?
11:29 p.m.
Me: I will think over that.
He: What shall you think then?
11:31 p.m.
Me: I shall see if I really need freedom and deserve it too.
He: So, you believe you don’t need or deserve this freedom?
11:33 p.m.
Me: Yes, I’ve chosen / elected this government and thus empowered her to define and limit my freedom.
He: But let me ask;
“Why then you write blogs?”
11:20 p.m.
Me: I’ve already told you.
He: I can’t believe. It is just unbelievable.
11:22 p.m.
He: O.K. Let me hear from you about your own view, -what-so-ever.
11:23 p.m.
Me: Right, I believe;
- Blogging should not only be censored, but taxed and paid also.
- And in addition only a blogger having a government permission and license should be authorized to publish his / her blog.
- The blogger should also have the intellectual property copy-rights in his / her favor, and should be given due legal protection from the government.
- He may charge reasonable fees from the viewers and pay the government the stipulated tax according to the law.
- He may be a representative, authorized person of some Institution or business concern or any such other legal entity.
11:45 p.m.
He: I just can’t understand. I never expected this from you. Bye and Good Night!!
11:46 p.m.
Me: Gute Nacht! Schlafen Sie wohl!!
(Mr. “Y” is presently ‘off-line’; send him a message!!)
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© Vinay Vaidya, Ujjain 456010, India
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