Censors are 'jackasses'

Recently one of the blockbuster movie events of the year was "Jackass -- The Movie." While I found it odd that people would go to a movie to watch other individuals perform bizarre and inane acts, I found it equally inane that critics of the movie were demanding its censorship. Apparently they believe it encourages audience members to engage in similar destructive and potentially harmful acts. I can't decide who the bigger "jackasses" are: Those who spend their money to go to these types of movies or those who believe that people watching these movies cannot separate reality from fiction. \nTo those favoring censorship, I ask them this: When William Tell shot an apple off his son's head, did that prompt a series of arrow-wielding fathers? Or when David Blaine locked himself in a cube of ice, did that prompt a series of ice-encrusted individuals?\nA decade or so ago, the rage was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. At that time, there was a series of articles and newspaper reports stating that all of the Ninja Turtles' kick-boxing stunts were translating into aggressive behavior prevalent in elementary school playgrounds. A study was commissioned to review this phenomenon and found that children, even at an early age, could clearly distinguish between reality and fantasy. The video tape of these children showed that while they seemed to be kick-boxing and num-chucking, they never actually landed blows on each other. Instead, they stopped short of actually touching one another. Thus we know that even young children can distinguish between entertainment-based fantasy and real life. What we seem to need is a sanity check. Not a censorship check. \nYears ago, my dad went out on a weeknight to a movie. I asked him why he was going on a weeknight. He explained to me that the movie "Gettysburg" had just come out, and he knew no one would go to see this historically-based film. He wanted to see it on a large screen before it inevitably would be cancelled. Upon leaving the theater, he told me he initially was perplexed when he saw, for the late showing, a line literally around the block. He re-examined his view, until he saw that there were two shows playing; one screening "Gettysburg" that had no line and the other, with a line around the block, for that classic feature, "The Beverly Hillbillies." \nPeople can and should be able to choose their entertainment even if many of us find if objectionable. Unfortunately, these choices are more often an indictment of our society than a celebration of our culture. The movie industry has learned all too well that money can be made by appealing to the lowest common dominator. \nIf someone wants to see "Jackass -- The Movie" or the uncut version of "Van Wilder," that is for each individual to choose. A few nights ago, I was flipping through the channels and saw that "Casablanca" was on TV. I chuckled and realized that Nazi sympathizers would have liked to censor that film. I'm glad they couldn't.