Censorship In Paradise: New Zealand Thought Police Seize Books From Loompanics

Loompanics ^ | Loompanics 2002 Winter Supplement | by Russ Kick

[ETERNAL WARMING]

As Daniela sums up their unfortunate lesson in government power: “We thought such deprivation of freedom of information only still occurs in communist, Muslim, and Third World countries, but we were so bloody wrong!”

I'd ban them too. WTG New Zealand for protecting your citizens. It's obvious that this couple intended to become the criminal class. To produce and sell drugs to the kiddies. To support themselves by stealing from the business community.

[marktwain]

Nonsense. I've read books about growing marijuana, and never grown it and sold it. I've read books about murder, and never murdered anyone. I've read books about stealing and not become a theif.

Do you think the declaration of independence should be censored because it preaches violent revolution against the government?

[DLfromthedesert]

Bump for later.

[Alouette]

I've read books about growing marijuana, and never grown it and sold it. I've read books about murder, and never murdered anyone. I've read books about stealing and not become a theif.

I have ordered books from Loompanics, and I am not a doper or into porn. The catalog is a valuable source of research information for authors of fiction.

[Physicist]

Another Loompanics enthusiast checking in. The real surprise is that there hasn't been a concerted effort by statists to shut Loompanics down completely.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I'm a New Zealander. For the record, I'd place myself somewhere between being a Republican and a Libertarian. When it comes to censorship, I'd possibly be more of a Libertarian. Taking everything into account, I'd have to say, the New Zealand Censorship Office is a very small and efficient operation. It weeds out quite a lot of crap that helps to keep New Zealand the place it is. We are a small liberal society that is noted for it's friendliness to visitors and immigrants and it's outward looking stance on world issues, without wishing to dominate.

Maybe you could explain something to me? Why did the US State Department fine Ry Cooder $US100k for recording the Buena Vista Social Club's music in Cuba? I don't find anything about their music at all offensive but that seems to be overkill where censorship is concerned.

[gd124]

Don't ask me. Personally I think that ending the embargo on Cuba would be the quickest way to end communism there.

[Centurion2000]

I'd ban them too. WTG New Zealand for protecting your citizens.

Be thankful that you have a first amendment right. Too bad your thought processes are crippled enough not to realize your hypocrisy in the matter of free speech.

People can think and say whatever they want ... it's ACTIONS and DEEDS that make criminals.

[TADSLOS]

I would probably want to learn how to grow mind altering plants and herbs too if I were living under socialist rule.

[shaggy eel]

ending the embargo on Cuba would be the quickest way to end communism there.

,,, exactly. Castro's importance has been maintained by the US stance on him. Capitalism would steamroll him if the US dropped the embargo.

[shaggy eel]

I would probably want to learn how to grow mind altering plants and herbs too if I were living under socialist rule.

,,, you had your chance for two terms from 1992 on.

[TADSLOS]

,,, you had your chance for two terms from 1992 on.

I was under the influence of mushrooms then. What happened?

[shaggy eel]

I was under the influence of mushrooms then. What happened?

,,, mushrooms turned out to be an incredibly safe bet. I won't tell you what Monica opted to be on.

[TADSLOS]

An infantile mushroom?

[shaggy eel]

An infantile mushroom?

,,, I didn't get a peek because of censorship.

[gd124]

And it does seem rather silly that Cuba is embargoed, while China, compared to which Cuba is a paradise in terms of human rights, has most favored nation status.

[shaggy eel]

,,, exactly. Review time.