One of the hallmarks of the Dark Ages in Europe was the censoring of ideas and thoughts by the ruling elite and clergy.
This was done by ensuring that firstly, reading and writing skills were only taught to the clergy and nobility so that the general populace were unable to form ideas above their station in life, and secondly, by vigorously persecuting those who dared to hold or speak about beliefs not officially approved.
As the renaissance bloomed and reading and writing became more general; and with technological improvements like the printing press to enable the faster dissemination of books and various papers - other methods had to be found to try to keep unauthorised materials and ideas from taking root.
One of the favourite methods was to have lists of proscribed materials so that any one found in possession of such items could be arrested and brought before such institutions like the Inquisition and other ecclesiastical or judicial bodies to purge the dangerous ideas brought about by possession of such items.
In today's modern and well informed society, one would think that the concept of censorship of ideas would be a complete anathema. How could a society where access to a good education is a mandatory option for all, where universities and other institutions of higher learning abound and access to these palaces of free thought is more available than ever before, tolerate the stifling of thought or the proscription of speech that could lead to ‘unauthorised’ ideas. Not possible is it?
Yet over the last number of years we have seen in Australia a truly frightening re-run of the Dark Ages censorship of ideas by stealth.
If a government came right out and said you are no longer allowed to think or promote certain ideas and if you do, it will be punishable by fine or gaol term, quite rightly there would be an outcry about civil rights and censorship. Yet that is exactly what has happened in our beautiful country.
By enacting various anti discrimination and so called ‘hate crime’ legislation on the laudable premise that people should have the right to be treated fairly. We now have the situation that any discussion on certain topics or the new ‘sacred cows’ of society that does not fit what very vocal special interest groups deem to be appropriate, is effectively muzzled. Should someone speak out then the inevitable cries of ‘racist’, homophobe, extremist or similar epithets abound and threats of, or actual legal action occur to correct these terrible situations of incorrect thought.
George Orwell got it right in his book ‘1984’ - he just got the year wrong. There are now certain terms that are politically and often legally incorrect and therefore unauthorised. And unauthorised or unapproved speech cannot be allowed.
One cannot speak or write on issues of aboriginal health or welfare if it contradicts the official line without being called a racist and threatened with legal action.
One cannot object to the homosexual lifestyle being actively promoted in schools or society without being accused of being a ‘homophobe’ and being intolerant. It seems to many that ‘tolerance’ only extends one way these days. Surely real tolerance means that all views on these, or any subject, should be equally able to be discussed and argued publicly or privately without any adverse effects.
But even worse than the legislation is the reality that the print and electronic media now imposes a very effective censorship by deliberately excluding from publishing any views that don't fit the new correct mould, or go out of their way to denigrate or humiliate those who try to speak out in opposition.
The consequences of this new censorship are that issues are not resolved, real problems are not addressed, and an undercurrent of resentment and anger is built up so that the few who really are extreme in their views feel further alienated and isolated in society and we lay the seeds of civil disruption and terrorism for the future.
Real free speech urgently needs to be restored to Australian society. Let those who advocate any view be allowed to debate it. Let them defend their views against opposing ideas so that the wounds in society are not allowed to fester and unhealthy consequences inevitably follow.
Graham Brown
January 2001
