"Censorship" is a funny thing to try to think about.

As an experiment, think about it this way. Say I have a strong feeling that I do not wish to say certain words-- swear words (Not my particular problem but imagine! *G*).

I might have any number of reasons.

It might be that I know they cause others pain, it might be I think they are wrong words, it might be that I know some people have filters on their computers at work that keep them out of sites that use these words anywhere in them, it might be I think I am bad when I use them, it might be that I just do not want to use one scrap of my breath to add to the ugliness already freely circulating in the world's airspace.

Whatever-- it doesn't really matter what the reason, it's my speech, I'm responsible for it, and it's my choice how to moderate it.

When I do that, though, I'm not telling someone else how to speak-- that's their lookout! I've made no commitment about that, and wouldn't. I might express an opinion-- but I would not fling that and bail out of the communication, like a lot of folks tend to do (not accsing anyone here, just saying---) nor would I throw it in their face every time I run across it and get upset again-- as others tend to do. *G*G* I might give information about how their speech affects people, especially where I have experience working closely with people who have shared their hearts with me on the matter-- just as informatiom tho, not as "Why, you oughtta..." like a dysfunctional Moe Howard. *G*

Well, back to the music side of this and our experiment. Say I have made a commitment to myself not to use these words, period, period. Now I find a song I want to post for someone else who wants it. It's got words I do not use, for whatever reason. But say I have made a commitment to be helpful, even when someone else's beliefs and commitments differ from mine-- cuz that's their lookout.

I might use dashes, you know, I just might.

I am not censoring a song when I choose to indicate blanks where the word goes and where anyone who cares to can figure out what it is. I am simply speaking as I see fit.

Try imaginging it that way. One person has a right to say things how they choose to, and to pressure them to change that is where the actual censorship is trying to occur! *G*

~Susan