What is good without bad.
A recent uproar about the introduction of internet filtering in NZ follows on the heels of the great outrage at the Australian government’s choice to enforce internet filtering. In NZ, the filtering is optional and so far Telecom, TelstraClear and Vodafone have all opted in.
EDIT: Orcon is also working to implement this. And MaxNet CEO, John Hanna, says “Filtering out child pornography is also very much in line with our company values — our customers would be disappointed to hear if we weren’t participating. So participation for us has always been a no-brainer.” (source) Ask your customers if they want their internet filtered, not whether they think child pornography should be banned. - LW.
The reason we require internet filtering is because of the prevalence of child pornography in little old God’s Own apparently. Who can oppose this move without seemingly supporting child pornography? I strongly oppose child pornography almost as much as I oppose this internet filter. Child pornography is an evil that needs to be eradicated, sure, but it affects a handful of people and may never have an impact on most people’s lives. Do not read this incorrectly and think that I suggest child pornography is not a big problem and not one that seriously harms those involved because that is not what I’m suggesting.
Child pornography destroys lives. Internet filtering, and the bigger issue, a suppression of freedom and choice, destroys our society.
We all know and have read the dystopian novel by George Orwell, “1984” and we all know that one of the slogans of the Party is “Freedom is Slavery.” The idea that by restricting our choices to only good ones, removing all evil alternative choices, will lead to a better society. This idea is flawed in that it doesn’t understand that good can only exist where evil is an alternative.
Who is a good citizen if they never turn from a bad choice? What makes a good decision good, if there is no choice involved?
Freedom is the foundation of modern society. Yes, some people will abuse that freedom, but most do not. It is our choice what we do, what we see, what we hear and what we say and not that of our government. It is our choice to be good and not to be evil, for if the government take away that choice, then nothing can be evil, or good.
Today filtering is used to eradicate something we all agree is evil, but tomorow it may be used to eradicate something a little more grey, between obviously good and obviously evil. And the next?
Yes, freedom means some people will make the wrong choices, but it protects us from ignorance and allows us to choose to be good.
