Archive for the ‘Censorship’ Category

YouTube Gets Trump’s Censorship Suit Transferred To Calif. – Law360

By Melissa Angell (October 7, 2021, 9:55 PM EDT) -- A Florida federal judge on Wednesday granted YouTube's request to transfer former President Donald Trump's censorship lawsuit against the tech company to the Northern District of California, finding that a forum-selection clause within YouTube's terms of service is enforceable.

U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore ruled in a 24-page order that YouTube's forum-selection clause, which requires any claims that relate to its terms of service to be governed by California law, can be enforced since Trump brought the lawsuit as a private citizen rather than in his capacity as president.

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YouTube Gets Trump's Censorship Suit Transferred To Calif. - Law360

Nevada Senate candidate, Purple Heart recipient blasts Twitter censorship: ‘This is a warning to America’ – Fox News

Nevada Senate candidate and Purple Heart recipient, Sam Brown, issued a stark warning to social media users during an interview on "Fox & Friends First" on Wednesday saying American voices are "at risk" after Twitter admitted it censored his account by mistake.

"This is this isn't just a warning to me," Brown stated. "This is a warning to America that all of us, all of our voices are at risk here."

GOP SENATE CANDIDATE SAM BROWN FIRES BACK AT TWITTER AS TECH GIANT ADMITS HIS ACCOUNT WAS BANNED BY MISTAKE

The Purple Heart recipient stressed the importance of civil discourse and the ability to speak freely in America through the First Amendment.

"The fact of the matter is this is not in alignment with the spirit of the First Amendment and what our country is about, which is being able to have a debate in the public domain," said Brown.

"These companies are definitely censoring some voices and others a lot more than than they should."

WHISTLEBLOWER SAYS FACEBOOK IS A US NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE

Brown's account was permanently suspended for hours earlier this week. He filed an appeal after he realized his account had been affected. Fox News reached out to Twitter amid Brown's suspension, which was lifted less than two hours later.

"We're writing to let you know that we've unsuspended your account," Twitter told Brown in an email obtained by Fox News. "We're sorry for the inconvenience and hope to see you back on Twitter soon."

Twitter added, "A little back background: we have systems that find and remove multiple automated spam accounts in bulk, and yours was flagged as spam by mistake. Please note that it make take an hour or so for your follower and following numbers to return to normal."

"Twitter did not provide a very good explanation as to what occurred," said Brown. "They gave sort of a standard response that I was caught up in some sort of anti-spam initiative and my account was deemed to be something like a spam account, and so with no warning, no 12-hour suspension."

Twitter did not respond to Fox News' multiple requests for comment.

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"I think this is a question that America needs to ask itself is why is this occurring to conservatives?" Brown questioned.

"But beyond that, if this can happen to me, if President Trump was de-platformed completely and never to be allowed back on, what will these big tech companies like Twitter or Facebook do in the future?"

Brown said censorship is an issue he hopes to tackle if he gets elected to represent Nevada in 2022. Brown is running in the Republican primary hoping to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto.

Fox News' Joseph Wulfsohn contributed to this report.

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Nevada Senate candidate, Purple Heart recipient blasts Twitter censorship: 'This is a warning to America' - Fox News

Comedian Jim Norton discusses censorship, flat-Earthers and his admiration for Joan Rivers | 90.1 FM WABE – WABE 90.1 FM

Stand-up comedian, actor, and writer Jim Norton will perform at the Punchline in Atlanta, tomorrow through Saturday. After a hiatus from live shows due to COVID, Nortons spicy and irreverent humor returns to the stage with new material and plenty to joke about. The comedian joined City Lights host Lois Reitzes via Zoom for a conversation covering such weighty topics as flat-Earthers, Lost, and gaining pounds in quarantine.

Interview highlights:

On committing to comedy:

It was honestly the only thing I ever wanted to do. I wanted to be a lawyer at one point, but Princeton wouldnt accept me because I had dropped out of high school. So I said, You know what? I have no education, Im driving a forklift and this is what I really want to do. I left myself no backup plan on purpose because it forced me to be a good comic, or I would have no way to make a living.

On Joan Rivers and other heroes:

I saw [Joan Rivers] at the Cutting Room here in New York She was 80 at the time, and she had note cards on the stage, on the floor, said Norton. She was a barbarian for an hour, and it was great. There was nothing off-limits Shes one of the all-time greats and she doesnt get the credits she deserves.

[Richard Pryor] was my favorite comedian of all time. I imagine if he saw my act now, he would say, Take my name out of your bio. Hed be slightly embarrassed that I love him so much, but he was the guy that made me want to do comedy.

On sensitivities and censorship in comedy:

Comedians have to deal with things through humor, but no one is telling Stephen King not to kill children in his books. No one is telling actors not to play slave-owners, not to play slashers, not to play murderers, or not to play rapists. So for people to think that comedy is harmful, when portraying someone committing a horrible act in seriousness can get you an award, I just reject the idea that comedians as performers should be limited in a way that any other form of the arts is not limited.

I think, as a performer, any subject you want to touch is absolutely acceptable; all that matters is, do you do it well, or do you do it poorly? And I think thats what you should be judged on.

Jim Norton performs stand-up at the Punchline in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 9. Tickets and information are available at http://www.punchline.com/shows.

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Comedian Jim Norton discusses censorship, flat-Earthers and his admiration for Joan Rivers | 90.1 FM WABE - WABE 90.1 FM

Banned Book Week highlights the dangers of censorship – Shield

Have you ever been captivated by the words of a book? Lost in a world created or reflected by the mind of an author? Has a book ever challenged your ideology?

A challenged book is one that has faced a great deal of discourse or received a proposition for a ban. A banned book is one that is made unavailable in libraries or stores including public libraries, school libraries, regions and sometimes even nations.

Banned Books Week 2021 was Sept. 26 Oct. 2. According to the American Library Association, Banned Books Weekis an annual event celebrating the freedom to read.

In honor of Banned Book Week 2021, the David L. Rice Library staff created displays featuring and providing infographics on banned books.

Marna Hostetler, director of David L. Rice Library, said Banned Books Week is an opportunity for authors, librarians, publishers and book lovers to unite over a common cause the freedom to read.

The most common reason for banned books today, according to the American Library Association, is the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters and issues, alongside religious values, sexual themes, racial issues, profanity and stories being deemed inappropriate for their intended age group.

Recently, several authors of beloved books have rightfully faced criticism for insensitive remarks. This has led to question whether or not books can stand alone from their authors, or if a book with a morally wrong perspective can be appreciated for its literature without condoning its content in the modern world.

In my opinion, there are little to no books that deserve to be banned.

There are no doubt books with vile, condemnable content but simply censoring or banning them ignores the issue rather than addresses it. We can use controversial literature to better understand the past and challenging, uncomfortable ideas without the danger of bringing them into the real world.

Because book banning is a modern issue, I reviewed eight banned books to show how literature of all types is censored like classic literature. Reasons for these bans are in accordance with the American Library Association.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Reason for ban: LGBTQ+ characters, sexual content, drug and alcohol abuse, abusiverelationships, abortion, suicidal themes, sexual abuse, bullying.

Synopsis: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is told through a series of letters written byCharlie, a high school freshman who is struggling to find his place in his school and the world. To cope with his familial issues and mental health, the aspiring writer Charlie, who aspires to be a writer, writes about the upperclassman known as wallflowers who teach him about the nature of the human mind and heart.

Despite the very emotionally troubling topics the book covers such as suicidal ideation and abuse, the book was strangely most widely banned across high schools for having a homosexual character. Its a perfect example of the dangers of censoring important issues rather than addressing them.

It is important that we have conversations about the topics in the novel rather than ignoring them. This book has been a favorite of mine for many years, and I would recommend it to anyone who knows what its like to feel out of place in the world.

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson

Reasons for ban: features a same-sex penguin couple.

Synopsis: This sweet childrens book follows two penguins, Roy and Silo, who couple up anddo everything together. One day, a zookeeper notices that another penguin couple were unable to take care of their egg, and so he gives it to Silo and Roy. The egg hatches into baby Tango, and together the three become a family. The picture book is based on a true story of two male penguins from the Central Park Zoo.

Obviously as the only picture book on this list, I doubt many college students would be interested in reading it for leisure. However, this book is important to put on the radar for potential elementary education teachers who wish to include diverse, quality childrens literature in their classrooms.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons for Ban: profanity, being anti-police, racial sensitivity

Synopsis: Starr lives between two worlds: the impoverished mostly black neighborhood ofGarden heights and the rich white population of her private school. Thus, Starr has two identities. Her worlds shatter when her friend is killed unjustly by a cop. Starr can no longer pretend to be somebody shes not.

The Hate U Give released in 2017 is the winner of the Coretta Scott King and Carnegie book awards. It addresses relevant issues including police brutality and racial injustice in an understandable way. It is one of the more popular young adult books addressing serious issues, and one I think everyone can benefit from reading.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Reasons for ban: racism including racial slurs, strong language, violence

Synopsis: To Kill a Mockingbird follows a young family set in the Great Depression as theylearn empathy, humanity, and how to take a stand. While their father struggles to defenda black man accused of raping a white woman, Jem and Scout are fascinated by their reclusive, mysterious neighbor.

To Kill A Mockingbird is the winner of multiple prizes including the Pulitzer and has been a staple for classic American literature for decades. It is one of the most popular fictional narratives of what life was like in the segregated United States as well as the oppressive nature of the judicial system and society towards black Americans.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons for ban: profanity, sexuality, religious conflict, political conflict, underage drinking, unsuited to age group

Synopsis: Arnold Spirit Jr. Has spent his entire life on the Spokane Indian Reservation,surrounded by the only culture and family hes ever known. Junior leaves the reservation school to follow his aspirations and desires to be a cartoonist at an all white school in a farm town. There, his efforts to fit in make an enormous impact on his peers and community.

I read this book many years ago on a whim and couldnt put it down. It is humorous and emotional all at once with characters anyone would grow to love. I personally am not familiar with many other books with a perspective on modern Native American life and feel that this book is worthy of a recommendation for that element alone. It has been in the top 5 of most challenged books for eight non-consecutive years.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Reasons for ban: negative family relationships, witchcraft, Satanism, occult, religious conflict, violence. Recently, the series was challenged in light of transphobic statements made by the author.

Synopsis: Harry Potter is a perfectly normal boy, living a miserable life with his aunt anduncle in a small respectable town in England. He has resigned himself to his aunt and uncles scorn and living in his cousins shadow forever until he is informed that he is actually a famous wizard. Potter is invited to attend a school that will allow him to learn magic.

Harry Potter has been controversial since its release in 1997 because of its depiction of a magical world. Despite the enormous protest that the book was met with, it has become a beloved part of popular culture and one of the largest franchises of its kind.

In addition, the Harry Potter series has fallen subject to modern day book burning due to the authors recent transphobic remarks. While I do not agree with supporting Rowling financially in light of her aggression towards the transgender community, the Harry Potter story lives in my heart.

George by Alex Gino

Reasons for ban: LGBTQ+ characters, LGBTQ+ themed childrens book

Synopsis: George features a fourth grade girl Melissa who was born a boy and known by thename George. Only Melissa knows of her true identity and is caught between the fear of being misunderstood and the desperation to be seen. A school play of Charlottes Web gives Melissa an idea for a plot to be seen by her school and community as the girl that she is.

This book is one of the most widely banned books in schools and has been at the top of the banned book list for several years. The writing style for George is simplistic, making it easier for younger children to understand but not so enthralling for adults. While I wouldnt recommend this book to any college peers, the story is important to share with children to allow them to understand and empathize with others or themselves.

The Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

Reasons for ban: sexually explicit, vulgar language.

Synopsis: The Tropic of Cancer is a dramatized autobiography of Henry Millers life. He laments the struggles of being a writer in 1900s Paris. It follows narratives of Miller, aswell as his friends and colleagues, as they seek to find a place in the world and betterunderstand their passions.

Likely the least recognizable book on this list, the Tropic of Cancer stands out on lists of banned books as it caused a large-scale court proceeding, questioning what content America can label as obscene or pornographic. As a result, American censorship laws were challenged for years thereafter.

This story is definitely a tough read due to its explicit nature and extensive use of racial and sexist slurs, but if you can overlook those elements, Tropic of Cancer may be a worthwhile read if only for its historical significance.

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Banned Book Week highlights the dangers of censorship - Shield

Medical censorship and the COVID-19 vaccines – University of Dallas University News

The United States approach to handling COVID-19 is not balanced nor does it orient itself towards the patients best interest, since doctors have not been using available drugs to treat symptoms of the virus for patients at home and in hospitals.

Dr. Peter A. McCullough, a cardiologist, internist and epidemiologist, who has testified before Congress twice and gained national attention for his extensive work in treating COVID-19 patients, honored UD with a well-attended talk on Sept. 22. Dr. William Stigall, pediatrician and bioethicist at Cook Childrens Medical Center and UD adjunct professor of philosophy, offered a response to McCullough.

McCullough expressed concern about the lack of COVID-19 treatments, the potential risks of the new vaccines and the medical censorship and coercion.

McCullough called American doctors failure to treat symptoms of the virus therapeutic nihilism. McCullough has teamed up with other doctors to treat COVID-19 patients with a combination of drugs, including Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine.

The lack of objective clinical trials and lack of an external safety monitoring board for the COVID-19 vaccines constitute an unprecedented blunder in the medical field. McCullough explained, We always have external bodies as a mechanism of unbiased people because you can imagine how biased the CDC and the FDA [are] for a successful program just like the pharmaceutical companies.

The CDC and FDA are now recommending COVID-19 vaccines for the types of individuals who are always excluded from clinical trials, such as pregnant women.

This is concerning, especially for women of child-bearing potential. McCullough cited a Japanese study of the mRNA vaccines on rats which showed that lipid nanoparticles produced by the vaccine hyper-concentrate in the ovaries of animals, and likely in human ovaries as well.

We know the spike protein circulates in the body for two weeks after the first shot of messenger RNA. There have been no genotype studies, McCullough said.

We dont know if it changes genetic information in the human body. We dont know if it causes birth defects or cancer.

McCullough cited the CDC database, Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, VAERS, according to which there have been 14,506 vaccine-related deaths as of Sept. 9 and over 5,000 cases of Myocarditis, inflammation of the heart linked to COVID-19 vaccines.

These cases, most of them reported by doctors, have been investigated by the CDC and assigned permanent numbers in the database, McCullough said.

It is common knowledge that the new COVID-19 vaccines are dubitably effective in preventing variants of the virus, as evidenced by the Delta variant. Natural immunity is the best solution for containing COVID-19 for if vaccines still allow breakthrough cases, there is no other end in sight.

McCullough fears that medical censorship over anything contrary to the COVID-19 vaccine agenda is sucking the lifeblood of medical science.

He said, Were losing our medical freedom. Thats related to a circle of social freedom. When we break the circle of social freedom, thats related to the circle of economic freedom.

McCulloughs contract with the Baylor University Medical Center was terminated with no explanation given last January. McCullough had served as vice chief of internal medicine at Baylor University Medical Center for six years.

Despite a lawsuit from Texas healthcare giant Baylor Scott and White, aimed at preventing McCollough from associating himself with his former employer, McCullough continues to promote COVID-19 treatment and vaccine safety at great personal risk.

In response to McCullough, Stigall said,Dr. McCullough is on to something [but] theres a lot of complexity and nuance that needs to color these discussions.

According to Stigall, the COVID-19 vaccines must be safe since Pfizer is working with the FDA to design and test the vaccines.

Stigall compared the COVID-19 pandemic to the 1918 Spanish Flu, the deadliest pandemic in recent history, which killed 50 million people worldwide between 3%-5% of the worlds population and had a high mortality rate in healthy young people 20-40.

During the Spanish Flu pandemic, there was widespread medical failure in treating the disease and medical censorship of those who opposed the harmful treatments.

However, the real reason for pandemics, Stigall said, is spiritual. He said, The reason were in 1918 is because of those errors that were made in the 1500s. The reason those errors were made in the 1500s is Genesis chapters 1, 2 and 3.

While sin is truly the origin of our ills, God has given us means for treatment through the intellects of specialists like McCullough.

Charity and standard medical practice demand that no person dies on the altar of corporate interests and political correctness. If the vaccines, while failing to prevent the virus, cause many patients to die from side effects, our medical authorities and experts are failing us.

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Medical censorship and the COVID-19 vaccines - University of Dallas University News