The Net Neutrality Trojan Horse: Obama & FCC Circumvent Congress on Cyber Security & Censorship – Video

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The Net Neutrality Trojan Horse: Obama FCC Circumvent Congress on Cyber Security Censorship
Senator John (Jay) Rockefeller IV and President Obama plan to utilize #39;net neutrality #39; to pass Rockefeller #39;s proposed cyber security framework as enumerated in senate bills S.773 S.778. Though...

By: Solomon Overboard

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The Net Neutrality Trojan Horse: Obama & FCC Circumvent Congress on Cyber Security & Censorship - Video

Aamir Khan: Not in favour of censorship, in favour of rating system

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Many Bollywood celebs have voiced their opinion on the on-going controversy surrounding the censor board banning cuss words and making multiple cuts in films. At the trailer launch of MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW, Mr. Perfectionist, Aamir Khan said that he is not in favour of censorship, but he is in favour of the rating system.

With movies being stuck because of the censorship, ask Aamir what he has to say about it and he says I think this is not only a time and phase that we all are passing through, but I think all of us who believe in freedom of speech should come together. I am also not in favour of censorship; I am in favour of the rating system.

So, in a democracy, I don't think I should be told what I can say and what I can't say, but the censor board can certainly see my film and say the kind of material that you have made is not appropriate for children below this age, you know 12 and above can watch it or 15 and above can watch it or 18 and above can watch it which makes it an adult film. I don't think adults in our country need to be kept away from material. They will themselves choose what they want to see and what they don't want to see, that person can decide, that is what I think. If we as an industry do face it is a problem then I am quite sure that all of us will come together and face that. He further added.

Also Read - Aamir Khan on censorship issue: Freedom of expression shouldn't be curtailed

Further when Aamir was asked which certificate will MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW get according to him he said, I don't think we should try and preempt what the censor certification will be and how the members will react. We should allow them to see it in the unbiased manner without any pressure. But I feel in a country like India which is a democracy where we have freedom of speech, it will be quite difficult to now allow a film on unreasonable grounds. I have faith in our democracy. It may take a little longer; I think you'll have to go through the procedure and perhaps even approach the court like it has happened in the past. The court can take a decision and help you.

I think, freedom of speech is an important right that we have as individuals and I am sure the justice system will protect that right, I have no doubt about that. MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW is a very beautiful & creative film and in my opinion, I see absolutely no reason why they should have any problem. He added.

Starring Kalki Koechlin, Revathy, Sayani Gupta & others, MARGARITA, WITH A STRAW is directed by Shonali Bose and is set to release on 17th April, 2015.

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Aamir Khan: Not in favour of censorship, in favour of rating system

Free Speech on Campus: The 10 Worst Offenders of 2014 …

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College is the place where students should be encouraged to, as Yale promises, "think the unthinkable, discuss the unmentionable, and challenge the unchallengeable." Unfortunately, schools all across the country not only fall short on promises of free expression and academic freedom but openly suppress constitutionally protected speech on campus by using tools such as speech codes to shut down forms of expression that might be uncomfortable, disagreeable, or even offensive to some members of the campus community.

To give a clearer picture of campus censorship, we at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) today announce our fourth annual list of the top 10 threats to free speech on campus.

While I explained in December why I think 2014 might be remembered as the "Year of the Heckler," the most significant event for FIRE last year was the launch of our ambitious and large-scale Stand Up for Speech Litigation Project. In order to try to end the problem of campus speech codes once and for all, students and faculty members worked with the law firm of Davis Wright Tremaine to file lawsuits against six colleges, including Ohio University, Iowa State University, Chicago State University, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Citrus College in California, and, most recently, Western Michigan University.

We're happy to report that some colleges, like the University of Hawaii at Hilo, were receptive to working with FIRE and our lawyers to swiftly and amicably fix their unconstitutional codes. But as you will see, some colleges, including Chicago State University, acted quite differently.

Note that not every "honoree" is a college or university, the list is presented in no particular order, and several honorees like Brandeis University and the Department of Education are repeat offenders.

Let us know if your school or alma mater should've been on the list, or if you have been censored on campus. FIRE is happy to work with schools to improve their speech codes. You can find more information on our website at http://www.thefire.org.

University of Iowa

Observers were quick to criticize art professor Serhat Tanyolacar's installation of a statue he intended to be anti-racist: a collage of newspaper headlines and images covering instances of racial violence printed on a robe and hood reminiscent of that of the Ku Klux Klan. The University of Iowa (UI), however, responded not with a defense of Tanyolacar's First Amendment rights but by censoring and publicly denouncing the artist for offending students. One public statement proclaimed that there was "no room for divisive, insensitive, and intolerant displays," and UI President Sally Mason publicly apologized to students who felt "terrorized" by the artwork and for failing to provide a "respectful, all-inclusive, educational environment." Despite heavy criticism from FIRE and the National Coalition Against Censorship, UI has shown remarkable indifference to Tanyolacar's First Amendment rights, which most definitely protect the work it brazenly censored. If UI were serious about its legal and moral obligations to protect freedom of speech, it would apologize to Tanyolacar for failing in its duty to reject demands for censorship. And then it would apologize to its students for the exceedingly poor education on freedom of speech it has given them.

U.S. Department of Education

The Departments of Education and Justice mandated an unconstitutional speech code in May 2013 for all colleges receiving federal funding. The federal requirement came as a result of the agencies' year-long joint investigation into the University of Montana's practices and policies regarding sexual misconduct. The resolution of that investigation defined sexual harassment in a shockingly broad way, prohibiting "any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature," including "verbal conduct" (i.e., speech). No wonder Chris Rock said he wouldn't play college campuses anymore! Worse, the resolution was labeled a "blueprint for colleges and universities throughout the country," suggesting that if schools didn't adopt the new definition, they risked losing their federal funding.

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Free Speech on Campus: The 10 Worst Offenders of 2014 ...