CNN reported Thursday that China has banned "time travel." According to China's State Administration of Radio, Film & Television, officials are referring to TV shows and movies with characters who travel back in time and change history - although I'm sure actual time traveling is banned too.
Movies like "Terminator" and "Back to the Future" are seen as clouding the minds of Chinese youth. The idea of changing history by time travel also goes against the country's cultural beliefs. I'm pretty sure this goes against most Western beliefs too. Certainly the Christian religion doesn't condone the idea of going back in time to change events in the Bible. However, most of us have a keen sense of humor and recognize the notion of time travel as fantasy and entertainment.
Yet I wonder if the right-wing radicals would jump on this band wagon if given the chance. Could we see protests against time travel right here in the United States? It sounds as far-fetched as time travel itself, but I've seen stranger protests materialize.
Just a year ago, Americans protested against quality health care. That probably seems as strange to the Chinese as their time-travel ban seems to us. We also passed the Patriot Act, stripping away our basic rights in the name of security. If Homeland Security deemed time travel movies to be a threat to U.S. security, would we ban them too?
According to Filmsite.org, films such as "Scarface" and "Frankenstein" were banned in certain U.S. states during their initial release.
In 1997 "The Tin Drum" was banned in Oklahoma City. Several sponsors pulled out of William Shatner's new comedy TV series because of it's title: "S#*! My Dad Says." We aren't without our own quirks of censorship and odd government rulings. Before we laugh at the Chinese for this latest round of nonsensical censorship, let's try to keep things open in our own country.
Don't throw stones at glass houses or TV sets. Until we repeal the Patriot Act, we probably don't have room to laugh at the Chinese ban on anything. Let's give a better example to our friends around the world. No censorship or revoking any "rights" ever proves to be effective. Sometimes we don't get it right either.
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