Rogier van Bakel points to a bit of trouble in China (and elsewhere) surrounding government censorship in the various media to ban or curtail certain promotions, programs, or publicity starring le cochon, for fear of offending the sensibilities (values) of Muslims.

Perhaps someone would care to explain to me what different principle is in play, there, in communist China, that’s different, say, from the ban of cigarette advertising here and elsewhere. How about restrictions on sexual content, or the uttering of particular words that some people find offensive?

Personally, I don’t see a thing fundamentally different in any of it. Most of you, out there, seem perfectly willing to endorse or stand by while your values are respected by force, or your disvalues restricted from others by force. But then someone comes along and respects or restricts something you happen to disvalue or value, respectively, and you cry foul.

Why? Is that honest? Is that the sort of irrational bigotry and prejudice you instill in your children? (Note: I don’t count Rogier amongst "most of you.")

Wouldn’t it be cool to live in a world where most everyone was self-assured enough to not require official sanction or condemnation of their values and disvalues? In a world that understands that people have different values, and that when they sometimes clash, as they are bound to, it’s no more earth shattering that serving someone your tuna salad, only to be politely informed they don’t like onions?

"Oh, jeez, sorry."

"That’s quite alright. I’ll survive."

If only.

Update: L. Neil Smith has Some [Sensible] Thoughts About Censorship.