Mona Charen`s column regarding artistic obscenity is rightly juxtaposed with a cartoon referring to the ”Arts Police.” Such irrational moral indignation cries out to be debunked.
Ms. Charen states that ”censorship is a defining act of civilization”-
an offense against the 1st Amendment in itself-and then cites anti-discrimination, drunk-driving and price-fixing laws as examples of
censorship.
On the contrary, these are clear examples of laws founded on the highest moral imperatives-fairness and personal safety.
Such are the true defining acts of civilization. Censorship instead is a defining act of a dictatorial society, and has nothing to do with ”ordered liberty.”
”Only the weak-minded find it impossible to make simple distinctions,”
says Ms. Charen.
If she is unable to distinguish between drunk-driving and obscenity, then by her own standards she must herself be weak-minded.
