[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1153-E1154]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    STATEMENT BY PATRICK EDWARD HOULE, CANAAN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL, 
                   REGARDING CENSORSHIP AND EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 10, 1997

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my colleagues, I would 
like to have printed in the Record this statement by a high school 
student from Canaan Memorial High School in Vermont, who was speaking 
at my recent town meeting on issues facing young people.

       Mr. Houle: Congressman Sanders, imagine if you will a world 
     where you have personal choice and freedom to express your 
     inner thoughts and soul through forms of art and media. It 
     would be a world where if someone was offended, they would 
     make the choice not to listen, but they would not try to 
     suppress your right to express it. In this world everyone 
     respects an individual's right to free expression and speech.
       Recently K-Mart has said they refuse to sell CDS with 
     offensive lyrics. This is blatant censorship. When someone 
     tries to take away your right to hear something, it is 
     censorship.
       There have been many incidents in the United States 
     recently in which censorship has become a factor. For 
     example, in Arizona Newt Gingrich calls for the closing of 
     the Flag Art Exhibit. In Florida a Cuban scholar's visit was 
     canceled after a citizens protest. In Utah a printing company 
     refused to reproduce photos for a women's magazine. In 
     Michigan a ``Where Do Queers Come From'' exhibit at a local 
     college was closed. And finally in Kentucky, ``Blasphemous 
     art'' caused an outcry at the University of Kentucky. In 
     school libraries Ernest Hemingway's novels are banned as are 
     several good pieces of literature. Around the world films are 
     banned and are censored. Film festivals and exhibitions are 
     censored as well.
       Our grounds for this censorship is broad and well-defined, 
     but are speculative and opinionated. Unfortunately, opinions 
     vary and freedom of speech is a right, but unfortunately 
     rights are being ignored and opinions are preordained.
       As you can see, censorship is alive and well in America 
     where our First Amendment right is supposed to be enforced. 
     It has gotten so bad around the world that the life of Salman 
     Rushdie was threatened for writing The Satanic Verses. It's 
     gotten so bad that we've had to turn to a porno king, Larry 
     Flynt as a savior of the First Amendment right.
       Basically what it comes down to is if it offends you, you 
     can always turn the other cheek. Pornography even has its 
     value. Some people just cannot live without their 
     pornography, and if it was not for pornography they could be 
     doing much worse things.
       If you deny someone's right to see something or say 
     something that they want to say, that eventually they are 
     just going to explode.
       I myself do not want a burned flag, but I think if someone 
     wants to protest that way it should be allowed because I know 
     myself I do not pledge allegiance to the flag, I pledge 
     allegiance to the country.
       In conclusion, one can censor a work of art but not the 
     idea. The idea will fester and come out in a much more 
     explosive, sometimes more violent way.
       Thank you for your time, Congressman Sanders. We hope you 
     help us fight for the cause in your position of leadership.


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