A blunder by the Beeb
The BBC covers a recent utterance of Elton John decrying social pressure in America against anti-Americanism. (*) Elton John does not understand the freedom of speech. He does not realize that it works both ways. Dissenters can speak up in public, and they can be criticized in public. Dissenters have no right to not be criticized themselves. Elton John’s mistake is grating, but is still relatively minor.
The BBC headline is “Elton attacks ‘censorship’ in US.” Elton John, however, did not use the word “censorship” at any point within the article itself. Hence, the BBC apparently misquoted Elton John, because he did not use the word “censorship.” I’m sure the BBC will immediately apologize for this blunder. What is worse, though, is that the BBC described the situation decried by Elton John as “censorship,” when Elton John did not make such a ridiculous error.
There is no censorship of dissent against the war in the US. “Censorship” means an official practice of excluding statements. (†) (‡) (§) There is no such thing going on in America.
It should be noted that in several European countries and now Canada, one can go to jail for stating an opinion that homosexual acts are immoral. That is censorship.
In America, one is allowed to state one’s opinions, regardless of what they are. That is true freedom of speech, and it is at the root of human liberty.
America is still the land of the free. I wish Elton John would stick to what he excels at—entertaining people—and that the BBC would quote correctly, and in addition buy its reporters some English dictionaries.