'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Raptor
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:29 PM

I'm a huge fan of Mark Knopfler and dire straits and I'm pretty sure Mark himself is Gay. Not that I give a shit he's onne of the greatest of all time.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Smedley
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 05:10 PM

Gnu, be as anti-gay as you feel you need to be, but why not break a habit and do so with just a glimmer of originality ? The least I can ask is not to be insulted in ways I've heard for the past forty years.

As for humour not being censored here, I look forward to seeing how long the next racist joke lasts.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 03:25 PM

Banned only on the air waves.
I will sing a chorus of "I Don't Care."

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:42 PM

I don't care where he is from. His chops and licks are superb. Many DS tunes are amazingly crafted with intricate music and lyrics. MFN is one as it spoke to a generation, nay, generations, in a new media form... that time was an explosion of creative genius and DS was up there with the best... them guys ain't dumb.

BTW, while we are at it, Tommy Makem originally sang, "...she's the devil, she's black..." Now, we all know TM was NOT referring to ethnicity but he changed the word to "cracked". So glad the mentally challenged police didn't get after him for "cracked". Hey, what would have been next?

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:20 PM

"Mark Knopfler is from the NE of England."

Sometimes both sides of a discussion can be kind of right. The Knopflers were born in Glasgow and Mark lived there for the first 7 years of his life. So while I presume he regards himself as a Geordie he was originally from Scotland.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 01:19 PM

"I will just say this: the (council) is a private body that works with broadcasters, makes its own decisions," Harper said.

It's private? Then how can it impose a ban?

Smedley... "... can we not have the extraordinarily lame and predictable anti-gay ''''quips'''' from a small minority of posters ?"

No. We can not not. Humour is not censored here unless it is personal. Now, if you wanna have a discussion about poor taste, fine, but it will never end. I really don't think my quip was "anti-gay". Poor taste, childish, etc, perhaps.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Smedley
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 12:59 PM

Just to correct a couple of errors around here:

Dire Straits are NOT Scottish - so the Canadian newspaper got that wrong. Mark Knopfler is from the NE of England.

The rich pop singer attacked by the 'narrator' in the lyrics was Boy George.

And a couple of observations:

Just once, in a Mudcat discussion which mentions homosexuality, can we not have the extraordinarily lame and predictable anti-gay ''''quips'''' from a small minority of posters ? There are of us faggots (oh irony) out here reading the site, and enjoy doing so despite its overwhelming heteronormativity (look it up!)

And it's very scary that so many here seem to rate this bland dreary song so highly! I do like some DS songs, but by the time of MFN they were dull corporate FM-radio soft-rock.

I wouldn't ban the song, if you're wondering, but I'd rather never hear it again on the grounds of personal taste!

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Cool Beans
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 12:39 PM

Three things I learned from reading Mudcat today that I didn't know yesterday:
1. There's an album version of "Money for Nothing."
2. Dire Straits is from Scotland.
3. They've got gay people in Newfoundland.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: GUEST,999
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 11:09 AM

Article from The Globe and Mail.

Prepare for the chugga-chugga guitar riff of the Dire Straits 1985 hit Money for Nothing to be lodged in your brain for more time to come as federal regulations seek to continue the debate over the banned song on a national scale.

In a letter to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Commission, federal regulators are asking the commission to rethink its ban of Money For Nothing and the derogatory use of the word "faggot."

In the letter, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission said it has since received a number of complaints, "most of which have suggested that the CBSC made an incorrect decision." The CRTC has forwarded approximately 250 letters from the public to the CBSC, and it is recommending that the standards commission take the issue before a national panel.

Ronald Cohen, national chair of the standards commission, said it isn't mandatory that the CBSC follow the request, but "there is no reason that we would not embrace the opportunity to do exactly what they are asking."

The CRTC, however, "has ultimate authority, as they do in all broadcasting and telecom matters," he added.

Although the original ruling banning the song was by the CBSC's Atlantic regional panel, the ban is effective across Canada. So, the CRTC says it should be re-examined from that larger perspective.

As a staple of classic-rock radio for 2½ decades, some stations, such as Q104 Halifax, have flouted the decision altogether and have continued to play the song.

"I think audiences in general have felt that this impinges on their right to free speech," said J.C. Douglas, program director at Q104, which even played the song eight times in a row from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. a week ago.

Mr. Douglas has called the offending word "ugly, destructive and hurtful," but he also feels that given the context of this song, the ban merely trivializes gay-rights issues. He has received around 1,000 e-mails, mostly supporting the station's position.


The CBSC announced the ban on Jan. 12 in response to a complaint in Newfoundland last February about radio station OZ FM broadcasting the song, specifically its original version from the band's career-defining album Brothers In Arms. Some other versions have had the lines with the word "faggot" altered or edited out, in part to cut down the song's original length of more than eight minutes. Sometimes band frontman Mark Knopfler has substituted a different word, such as a "queenie." The CBSC ruled that stations can play an edited version without the offending word.

With backup vocals by Sting, the lyrics are meant to be from the perspective of a not-too-bright delivery man, who watches rich rock stars on MTV and disparages their seeming ability to have everything in life. Over the years, the song has also been criticized for apparent racism ("bangin' on the bongos like a chimpanzee") and sexism ("get you money for nothin' and your chicks for free").

Supporters e-mailing radio stations like Q104 "felt like we were sticking up for the common man – which is more credit than we deserve, because we were really taking to task a niggling point in the CBSC's decision," Mr. Douglas said.

"It was what the decision was hinged on: Whether or not contextual consideration should be extended to a songwriter in the same fashion they would be to a screenwriter or documentary producer. That's what it came down to for us, that songs should be considered for context the same as any longer-form artwork is," he said.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: GUEST,Mrs Brigand
Date: 22 Jan 11 - 11:01 AM

The Song HAS NOT BEEN BANNED and the CRTC had NOTHING to do with the decision regarding the word faggot. So typical people like you spreading things that are wrong and have so many people to accept lies as being the truth

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Tim Chesterton
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 07:20 PM

Please note that, contrary to the headline, 'Money for Nothing' has not been banned in Canada. An independent body made up of representatives of Canada's broadcasting community has ruled that its member radio stations may not play the unedited version of the song on the radio. That's not the same as saying the song is banned.

Note: there has already been a rebellion .

Also, for those who were complaining about government, the CBSC is not a government agency; it's radio policing itself.

Personally, for all the reasons given above, I think it's a silly ruling. And it prompted me to get 'Brothers in Arms' out again, which I hadn't for a long time.
.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 06:14 PM

Sorry Joe - that might have been me not noticing my cookie had gone missing.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 04:36 PM

If they can retroactively ban oldies based on recently established moral criteria, what's to keep 'em from banning '50s rock-n-roll classics like "Sweet Little Sixteen" or "Little Queenie" ('She's too cute to be a minute over seventeen') because they depict females under the legal age of eighteen as (shudder!) sexually attractive? Nevermind that, at the time they were written, scarcely anyone over the age of eighteen even listened to rock-n-roll and that they were talking about 16-year-old girls being attractive to 17-year-old boys, not to dirty old men.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 04:28 PM

Jed beat me to it - that song is ironic and sarcastic. Whoever filed the complaint is showing their shortcomings as far as understanding what the song is about.

"Money for nothing, chicks for free." That used to bug me, when I first heard it, until someone pointed out the entire song is meant to do that.

SRS

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: terrier
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 04:19 PM

From: Jeri - PM
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 10:43 AM

And on that version, he sings "maggot" and "mother".
................................

and what's this "Mother trucker" he's singing about, LOL
must dig out my copy of Brothers..

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 12:48 PM

It's a great song, who cares if it mentions a person who doesn't know what his backside is for??

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 10:43 AM

And on that version, he sings "maggot" and "mother".

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Jeri
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 10:39 AM

Maybe the correct poklice are after the song, but the English language poklice are gonna kick your ass all over the playground!

Live version of song on YouTube.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: JedMarum
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 10:27 AM

ludicrous! the song does NOT have a homophobic message (the reason the correct poklice ban the word). The song shows the absurdity of small minded guys who talk like that.

But the all-powrful, small minded beuarocrat who imposed this ban - apparently isn't capable of understanding the message.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 10:16 AM

I had better give up on my idea to export Mr Brains's Faggots to Canada I suppose, then. Ah well...

BTW - I am not sure about rissoles either. The other day someone asked me for pissholes and chips. When I said it as an 'r' not a 'p' they asked for r-soles and chips. You can't win:-)

DeG

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 09:55 AM

Howard, there has been some serious discussion about changing that very word in the anthem.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 08:52 AM

CRTC = Canadian Radio and Television Commission. Among other things, it is mandated to allocate frequencies to broadcasters and regulate cable distribution networks. It performs functions similar to the USA's FCC.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Howard Jones
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 08:35 AM

While they're about it, they'd better ban the Canadian national anthem too:

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

Clearly sexist!

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: open mike
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 11:57 PM

what is C.R.T.C.? even though it apparently is not the agency which has banned the song, what do the initials stand for?

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Beer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 11:21 PM

I bet the next thing this particular Newfie will complain about is the word "Newfie". God help us all if this becomes a word that is looked down upon.
When I was there 4 years ago I was warned by the folks I stayed with to be careful not to use the word Newfie in public. i was shocked but thought to myself. Fuck it. I'll use it if I wants to.
Yes B'y.
ad.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 11:04 PM

We shall always have bluenoses [usage intentional] with us.

In this case, the word "faggot" is routinely used by gays to and about each other in common speech, without any sense of insult as is common with many of the users of the "n-word."

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 10:59 PM

bobad
Yer right, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council made the objection to the lyrics. Keep playing the song containing the
offensive "F" and the C.R.T.C. doesn't renew your license or just suspends it.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: bobad
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:57 PM

As previously noted these agencies act on complaints, I would surmise that no one complained 'til now.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Bob Landry
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:55 PM

Oh, good God! My sons (then 5 and 12 years old) and I first heard Money for Nothing on the road near Halifax, NS. I cranked up the volume and all three of us grooved to the guitar riffs. I have the song on vinyl, on CD and on my iPod. It's only due to the sheer volume of tunes on my iPod that I didn't hear it this week on a 707km round trip over the ice- and snow-covered roads of central Alberta. As the stepfather of an adult lesbian who I love very dearly, I can only opine that CBSC fucked up on this one. As for the Newfoundlander who complained, I wonder if he'd object to my posting the lyrics to the Newfoundland song, Saltwater Cowboys to the Mudcat. The word "Newfie" is being considered perjorative in some Candian (dead)heads.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: mousethief
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:47 PM

I prefer the other song made from the same melodic riff in the lyrics: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" by the Police. MFN is just tooooo long. Only song on the album I routinely skipped.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Wesley S
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:40 PM

As noted before - a 25 year old song and Canada is just getting around to banning it? I knew things moved a little more slowly up there in the frozen north - but really - how silly is that? They've closed the barn door a little late. The horse is already dead.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:29 PM

Does this mean I can get Rap music taken off Canadian radio stations by writing a letter of complaint? ;-D Wow. I had no idea I had such power at my fingertips.

I would too...but I never listen to the radio, so why bother? ;-D

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: GUEST,Rose
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 08:23 PM

AFter 25 yrs of listening to this song, I can't believe the CRTC is banning it. It's all I can talk about and think about. There are so many songs out there, ex. RAP, that is way way worse than this. And it seemed Michael Jackson didn't take it personally. Why now? That's all I want to know. I am totally flaberghasted!

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Crowhugger
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:50 PM

For better or for worse, Canada's constitution, statutes and common law lean toward (someone's definition of) protection of group and community rights, not like the US which leans toward individual protections. I still haven't figured out which suits me better.

Anyway coverage of the CSBC decision makes for a nice bit of free publicity for Dire Straits, and probably some sales will result from the press coverage--a few people will probably now go out and update their vinyl to some digital medium since they've been reminded of it.

If the the CBSC continues to make foolish decisions like this (i.e. decisions that prohibit satire), perhaps its members will eventually become obsolete. Some would say this already well under way because of the changes in how music is marketed and sold.

Back to the original complaint, to me it really begs the question: Why wouldn't an unhappy listener simply change the station and inform the station that they did so and the reason? And I wonder: Who gains from the CSBC decision, besides Dire Straits?

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Gurney
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:39 PM

A lesson for all songsmiths. Might try rissole next time. That should confuse censors.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:37 PM

I first heard "Sultans of Swing" on an Austin, TX radio station as I was drifting off to sleep, and it became one of those half-memory/half-dream songs that haunts you until you hear them in the daylight and pin down who the band is. The song still feels a bit mythical to me. Then, on a New Year's Eve maybe 8 years later, a friend played me "Money for Nothing" before we headed out for First Night. It was the guitar into that he loved--the rest of the song was "ok", and we listened to that guitar cranked WAY up.

The whole point of snark is that it often feels like an "in" joke that mostly everyone gets. I guess the government of anywhere getting anything is iffy.

Subject: RE: 'Money for Nothing' Banned in Canada
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:36 PM

Note to unnamed Guests: I deleted your post. If have something to say, use a consistent name.

-Joe Offer, Moderator-

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: gnu
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:00 PM

Indeed... it is to laugh... or to cry.

In any case, the song-video was ground breaking at the time of the song-video explosion. Not to mention the chops in the composition and execution of both. Dire Straights has always been one of my favs. Some of their songs define moments in my life besides being just amazing pieces.

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:48 PM

I haven't thought of listening to "Money for Nothing" for quite a while. It runs a delicious 8 minutes and 24 seconds on the Brothers in Arms album. It's much shorter on Sultans of Swing, but still good. I'm glad my wife is out on snowshoes, so I can turn the volume up.

-Joe-

---

Here's the full text of the Montreal Gazette article:

Canadian censors are in Dire Straits themselves
By MARK LEPAGE, The Gazette January 14, 2011

Read more: (click)

Congratulations, Mark Knopfler. You are the new Eminem.

You, balding Glaswegian fingerpicker, headbanded Stratmaster from another age, have been retrofitted as the scourge of the Canadian airwaves.

When you heard that the Canadian Broadcast Standards Commission had censored the song Money for Nothing for containing the word "faggot," I'm sure you experienced the same fuddled reaction -people listen to radio? The CBSC ruled on Wednesday in response to a written complaint from a listener to CHOZ-FM in St. John's, Nfld., who either doesn't have iTunes or whose parents had no CD collection.

The suddenly-discovered lyric was deemed "extremely offensive" to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Canadians, falling afoul of the Canadian Association of Broadcaster's Code of Ethics: "broadcasters shall ensure that their programming contains no abusive or unduly discriminatory material or comment which is based on matters of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status or physical or mental disability."

Marital status? This may draw Beyonce's Single Ladies into the crosshairs. But it also sparks an idea -rather than the entirely plausible outrage and anarchy we can expect in the wake of this ruling. (They've banned Knopfler, let's hit the #!!*@& streets!) let's help the CBSC with this BS. Round up the usual suspects.)

For space purposes, we'd leave aside the global library of songs with foul language -including Who Are You, Working Class Hero (F-word), Pink Floyd's Money (b. s.) - and concentrate on those that violate the CBSC code.

Line up Dylan's Hurricane, who "to the black folks was just a crazy nigger" and Walk on the Wild Side's "coloured girls." Add the Rolling Stones in Miss You, grading the ladies by ethnicity. In Every Picture Tells a Story, Rod Stewart is taken with his "slit eyed lady." Born in the USA - the "yellow man," that could cause problems. Michael Jackson? "Jew me, sue me / Kick me, kike me." Oliver's Army mentions the n-word. Woman is the Nigger of the World would be self-explanatory, Mr. Lennon, as would the Stones' Bitch, in their very titles. As is Lennon's Crippled Inside, of issue to the handicapped, and Aqualung, for its ageist portrait, and 19th Nervous Breakdown and Brain Damage, for mocking mental instability. And we'll leave aside Short People.

But no, let's be "fag"-specific here. The Stones' are reliably back again with When the Whip Comes Down and the "fag in L.A.", The Who's Helpless Dancer calls out "the lesbians and queers." There was once a rumour that the Beatles sang "baby you're a rich fag Jew" ... but we digress. Green Day's Holiday may be a little obscure, but the Tom Robbins anthem Glad to Be Gay mentions "queer." And Merry Christmas: Fairytale of New York runs "You scumbag, you maggot / You cheap lousy faggot / Happy Christmas your arse I pray god it's our last."

You can add American Triangle and its "God hates fags where we come from." That was written by Elton John in the wake of Matthew Shepard's murder in Wyoming.

One would like to point out to the CBSC that the vexation took fully 25 years to register, as Money for Nothing has been floating around appalling the airwaves offensively since 1985. In any case, even back then, the song was committing something more dangerous than a purported anti-gay slur. It was almost committing satire.

At the time, I remember being annoyed on behalf of the group actually targeted by the song -blue-collar workers, the kind who would supposedly mock rock stars with that Other F Word while humping your new fridge up a flight of stairs -and who were apparently being lampooned for their envy and lowbrow prejudice. Was this homophobia ... or was it classism? Or was it simply "quotation in character"? Either way, I was pissed.

But let's "get real." The genuine fear isn't of a country becoming the Ministry Of Managing Permanently Offended People (MOMPOP), but that this tempest calls into question the meaning and intent of words themselves.

Words -they're problematic. So many interpretations! And so many opportunities to leave in a huff. One man's "I love the dead before they're cold" is another's "lady is a tramp." The censoring of Money For Nothing for its use of a slur for gays, despite the obvious absence of any real attempt to injure that group, calls into question the meaning of another word: standard.

A standard would imply a judgment based on a set of feelings and opinions and moral codes, the latter two themselves based on consideration, understanding of context, and something we might call "wisdom." The CBSC would respond that they were responding to a complaint -so let's get it right, and rename them the Canadian Broadcast Reflex Council. One complaint by one person in Newfoundland, and someone in Victoria 7,300 kilometres away can't hear a song on the radio. One letter, and one new judgment for 32 million people.

There are no real "standards" there at all -certainly none that are consistent, balanced or sensible. Both Gord Downie and Eazy-E have been censored in the past, and one of those guys might receive the Order of Canada one day. And if we have regulatory bodies, why is radio favoured with so much attention? Never mind films, which in theory have age ratings, whereas radio offends across the very air we breathe, passing its filth into every innocent passing ear. What about newspapers? Absent wise decisions on context, we will need a stronger body to censor articles like this one, in which you will now have read the word "faggot" a half-dozen times.

Now, while you watch Frank Zappa own James Lofton in this 25-year-old 1986 Crossfire debate www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ISil7IHzxc), and while Mark Knopfler laughs and laughs on his way to the Bank of Scotland, let's get back to considering that Old Woman who lived in a shoe, whipping her starving children.

[e-mail]

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

---

I moved the thread to the Music Section. Seems to belong there, doesn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Brian May
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:46 PM

When I have faggots, I like lots of gravy, mashed potato and peas . . .

Only in England

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 05:38 PM

exactly... the censors have had a busy month on both sides of the border
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is having the n-word taken out plus Injun Joe is not correct either... Carlin died too soon... so fuck 'em

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: bobad
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 03:56 PM

NB. It is NOT the CRTC which made this ruling, it was the CBSC (Canadian Broadcast Standards Council), two separate bodies.

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 03:44 PM

Try this one on for size!

Apparently, the reference made about the "F" person by the song writer, was in reference to Michael Jackson!
I wonder if that has anything to do with the banning?

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: gnu
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 03:37 PM

I am just happy that Mark, one of the greatest guitarists and songwriters of all time will make some coin from this. As for banning the song from Canuck radio, the CRTC has done done more damage to thier reputation than they have to Mark's.... and so has the faggot that complained. Oops... I meant to say idiot faggot.

Before anyone jumps on me ( >;-) ) I'd like to point out that sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will not reign/rain down intolerance if people are reasonably educated and intelligent. Which brings us to selection of the CRTC executive... ?

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: pdq
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 03:16 PM

The concept of "free speech" as found in the U. S. Constitution allows people to say what they want, even it offends someone else.

If potentially offensive speech is banned, you don't have "free speech", you have "controlled speech".

The ban on yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater is one of safety, not one of speech.

Canadians do not really have private ownership of property either, not as U. S. citizens do, since all land ultimately belongs to "the crown" and you folks are allowed to act as though you own it.

If the Canadian government owns the broadcast system or is in control of the "air waves" in general, their folks can ban anything they want. That doesn't make a given decision right or even reasonable.

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 02:01 PM

Has anyone set Burns's poem to music?

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Ed T
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 01:50 PM

"Would the song have been banned if a different word had been used?"

I find haggis obscene. Maybe I will lodge a complaint. Surely there is a song with haggis in it...though likely not listened to much.

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 01:48 PM

In his opening monologue on Q today, Gian Ghomessi points out that the track in question is the original album version of "Money For Nothing" and that the objectionable verse does not appear on the "radio" version, an abridgement which was included on the Dire Straits' "Greatest Hits" album. He suggests that if the original artists practised discretion in putting the word "faggot" out there, then it behooves the rest of us to chill.

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 12:40 PM

LOL!!! Pretty good article.

It's amazing, isn't it, that one complainer who writes one letter can deny 32 million people the right to listen to a specific song on the radio?

Subject: RE: BS: Banned in Canada
From: Beer
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 12:29 PM

Interesting article in today Montreal Gazette.
ad.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Canadian+censors+Dire+Straits+themselves/4106399/story.html