Censorship makes life different?

We grow up in a society where some things are taboo. Some words cannot be uttered before they are censored. Before I take you further, let me ask you some questions.

1) What do you think of the censorship on films and television programs?

2) Does censorship on words in films and television programs necessary?

3) If your answer is yes to question number 1 and 2, then how far is the effectiveness of the censorship on films and television programs?

4) Does censorship change the way we live?

5) Does our children stop swearing or use foul language?

6) If censorship is so effective, where the heck our children learn to use all the foul language?

7) Does naming or calling human private parts and any sexual act something else make things different?

8) Have you ever asked your parents when you’re young where baby comes from? What is the answer you get from that question?

Some may wonder why I ask the questions above. The explanation is simple. Last night while watching the television, I couldn’t catch some of the dialogues because it was muted. Words like sex, ass, butt, fuck and many others are considered unsuitable for us to listen. I mean what wrong with these words. I am an adult. I know what the words means. They are just any other words in English language. Ass means your bum or bottom and the word fuck does not necessarily mean sexual intercourse. Lewd? Well how do we explain to the younger generation if we are not allowed to use those words? What is so taboo about using those words? Who are we protecting?

If you say you don’t want you children to hear it, well let’s face the truth. If they don’t get it from the television or from the parents, they’ll get it from school anyway. Don’t you ever wonder where at times your children come out with word like “pantat”(it means ass. But in the state of Kelantan the word pantat brings a totally different meaning) or “babi” (pig)? All these while you teach them to say good words but least we know that sometimes, good words are used to insult people. Ask Shakespeare if you don’t believe me.

Some parents even told their children that their private is called something else. Like calling a boy’s penis a bird or a girl’s vagina a flower. Doesn’t that sound confusing? Then what do you call real bird and real flower. At least if those “lewd” words are not censored, we know where our children get those words. If not from you it is from the television. I have a two-year-old daughter and last weekend she took words from my father in-law’s mouth for about 30 seconds. She uttered the word “pepet” referring to her private part. I mean what’s wrong with the word? It is correct. But my father in-law just laughed it off after a while and I think he was quite open with these kinds of stuff and I know it comes from us. I have no reason to hide the word from my daughter. Even if she goes around now repeating the word to the world. She did that to me and my mother. Just tell her that we have establish the fact that she has “pepet”.

Another reality that hit us badly is the fact that the more you hide things, more questions will come from our kids. Correct? Am I correct or I am correct when I say children learn more at school or from friends more than they learn from us. I’m not saying the television station should show scenes of people frolicking in the nude (but if that’s the case, Discovery channel should stop showing scene of chimpanzees mating. Because chimpanzee are the most sexually active ape as compared to others. They have harem) but if it is for education like in the Discovery channel then it should be okay and it is normal for people (children generally) to be curious and inquisitive. We learn new things every day and I don’t think by learning new words and new things make our lives bad. Do you?

One reason given by the authority was that the words and some scenes from films and television are not suitable for our culture and will lead to immoral activities. But whom are we kidding with? Where do babies come if it is not from two person (man and woman) having sexual relation? That’s natural. If it is taboo, then Asian race would come to an extinction. Further, if we say by censoring all types of immoral act will disappear, then, think again. Television and films are not the only place we learn things and you see every day there’s always new “entertainment” place. Don’t you think place like night club makes your children or you pray to god (whatever religion you are) and thank god for what he has given you? Heck NO. I assure you that more than 60% are involved with drugs (name it they have it all), sex, alcohol and the list would grow longer if I start to think and do some research. They don’t go there just to have fun. Well, think of this. What would you get if you put boys and girls in a dark place together? Yes fun. Not by jumping around “dancing”. Rubbing against each other is more fun than “dancing”. And they call it “dancing”. Some of them can’t even dance (Keras macam kayu). So, if the rationale of censoring television programs and films are meant to curb immoral activities, then, places like nightclubs should be closed as well. Why have this double standard mentality? Censor on thing and allow one other thing.

So let’s be realistic here. May answer to the questions above would be: -

1) Totally unreasonable.

2) Necessary to certain limit but not all.

3) No comment.

4) No.

5) No.

6) School, peers and any other place but home.

7) No.

8) My parents told me that children were born to the world after a complex process of pregnancy and birth but they conveniently leave the part how the pregnancy takes place anyway. But hey, I didn’t get some stupid answer like babies come from the mail etc.