The guy who runs the Myrtle Beach Film Fest thinks so -
Here is our recent e-mail exchange -
From: me
To: mbfilmfestival@***.com
Subject - Festival Comment -
I'm in post production on a dramatic short right now -
My partners and I are seeking film festivals around
the country for the 2007 season to submit to.
I just wanted to drop you a line to say the we
have decided NOT to submit our film to your
festival do to your awarding of a prize to
white supremacists "Prussian blue" and Neo-Nazi
promoter Michael Murrey.
His response
From: mbfilmfestival@***.com
To: me
That is ashamed, we like to think that our fellow film makers do not support sensor ship, but there are many narrow minded people in the world.
As our Festival states, we restrict "No" genre, as long as it is legal.That is the true meaning of art.
Remember, the Nazi's first banned certain content and was heavy into sensor ship.
So if you are into sensor ship of "Any kind" I would look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi.
If you are into any sort of sensor ship, basically your into Nazism yourself.
I respect all other opinions as long as there my own, Right.
Do you see the hypocritical double standard.
It was simply the best music video we received. Maybe more people should have submitted music videos. We are not an agenda based group, we look at all the material we get and select the best one. Not because it has a message that we do not agree with, that would be like a communist.
I wonder if you would feel the same way if we would have had a gangster rap video with lyrics about rape or murder, or killing all white people what you would think. Probably nothing. Once again hypocritical double standard.
Opening your mind, will open your mind. Narrowing your mind, will also narrow your mind!
Good Luck, and we hope that you see we are a true freedom of speech without limits film festival. No group think found here!
A little shocked:
Jerry
My reply -
From: me
To: mbfilmfestival@***.com
If you think it's a matter of censorship you are sadly mistaken.
My not participating in your festival censors no one - You are free to award prizes to whoever you wish. It is a matter of free association and I chose not to associate with those who give prizes to Neo-Nazis -
You ask me to "look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi." But, they ARE NEO-NAZIS - I've been familiar with Prussian Blue and Michael Murrey and their agenda of White Supremicism for years so I stand by what I said.
Are you denying they are White Supremecists Neo-Nazis?
I have never tried to censor them - I have only tried to inform people about their agenda.
As a true believer in free speech - I believe the solution to harmful speech is not to silence it - but to confront it with more speech - Hence me writing this letter.
Your statement about me where you say - "I wonder if you would feel the same way if we would have had a gangster rap video with lyrics about rape or murder, or killing all white people what you would think. Probably nothing. Once again hypocritical double standard."
Without any actual knowledge about me shows YOU are the one who is close minded and misinformed.
You letter shows a poor understanding of freedom of speech and censorship - you say
"I respect all other opinions as long as there my own, Right."
What has this got to do with anything? I can believe in freedom of speech and not respect the opinion of the one speaking - and I will go on the record as saying I DO NOT respect the opinion of Prussian Blue and Michael Murrey - this does not mean I am trying to censor them.
Your response has only strengthened my resolve to encourage my fellow filmmakers to avoid your festival.
And by the way - the word is censorship not "sensor ship" get a dictionary.
So . . .
Is this guy right? Do i have to respect all opinions to not be a "nazi" who supports "sensor ship" (ignoring my snide last line . . . )
Would it have been wrong (or "like a communist." like this guy says) for them to not award the Prussian Blue video a prize because they and the producer are white supremicists?
Here is our recent e-mail exchange -
From: me
To: mbfilmfestival@***.com
Subject - Festival Comment -
I'm in post production on a dramatic short right now -
My partners and I are seeking film festivals around
the country for the 2007 season to submit to.
I just wanted to drop you a line to say the we
have decided NOT to submit our film to your
festival do to your awarding of a prize to
white supremacists "Prussian blue" and Neo-Nazi
promoter Michael Murrey.
His response
From: mbfilmfestival@***.com
To: me
That is ashamed, we like to think that our fellow film makers do not support sensor ship, but there are many narrow minded people in the world.
As our Festival states, we restrict "No" genre, as long as it is legal.That is the true meaning of art.
Remember, the Nazi's first banned certain content and was heavy into sensor ship.
So if you are into sensor ship of "Any kind" I would look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi.
If you are into any sort of sensor ship, basically your into Nazism yourself.
I respect all other opinions as long as there my own, Right.
Do you see the hypocritical double standard.
It was simply the best music video we received. Maybe more people should have submitted music videos. We are not an agenda based group, we look at all the material we get and select the best one. Not because it has a message that we do not agree with, that would be like a communist.
I wonder if you would feel the same way if we would have had a gangster rap video with lyrics about rape or murder, or killing all white people what you would think. Probably nothing. Once again hypocritical double standard.
Opening your mind, will open your mind. Narrowing your mind, will also narrow your mind!
Good Luck, and we hope that you see we are a true freedom of speech without limits film festival. No group think found here!
A little shocked:
Jerry
My reply -
From: me
To: mbfilmfestival@***.com
If you think it's a matter of censorship you are sadly mistaken.
My not participating in your festival censors no one - You are free to award prizes to whoever you wish. It is a matter of free association and I chose not to associate with those who give prizes to Neo-Nazis -
You ask me to "look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi." But, they ARE NEO-NAZIS - I've been familiar with Prussian Blue and Michael Murrey and their agenda of White Supremicism for years so I stand by what I said.
Are you denying they are White Supremecists Neo-Nazis?
I have never tried to censor them - I have only tried to inform people about their agenda.
As a true believer in free speech - I believe the solution to harmful speech is not to silence it - but to confront it with more speech - Hence me writing this letter.
Your statement about me where you say - "I wonder if you would feel the same way if we would have had a gangster rap video with lyrics about rape or murder, or killing all white people what you would think. Probably nothing. Once again hypocritical double standard."
Without any actual knowledge about me shows YOU are the one who is close minded and misinformed.
You letter shows a poor understanding of freedom of speech and censorship - you say
"I respect all other opinions as long as there my own, Right."
What has this got to do with anything? I can believe in freedom of speech and not respect the opinion of the one speaking - and I will go on the record as saying I DO NOT respect the opinion of Prussian Blue and Michael Murrey - this does not mean I am trying to censor them.
Your response has only strengthened my resolve to encourage my fellow filmmakers to avoid your festival.
And by the way - the word is censorship not "sensor ship" get a dictionary.
So . . .
Is this guy right? Do i have to respect all opinions to not be a "nazi" who supports "sensor ship" (ignoring my snide last line . . . )
Would it have been wrong (or "like a communist." like this guy says) for them to not award the Prussian Blue video a prize because they and the producer are white supremicists?
posted by:
|
Indiana
|
-
Re: Do I Support Censorship?
Tue, October 31, 2006 - 8:35 AMI don't think that you're wrong in voicing your opinion on their decisions and awards.
Prussian Blue is most definitely a neo-nazi band, whether the MBFF wants to admit that or not. ("I would look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi." Uhhhh, yeah... because their Hitler t-shirts don't give it away for them?)
What the PR guy for the MBFF doesn't realize is that it's possible to disagree and disrespect someone's opinions or beliefs while simultaneously supporting their right to express those very opinions you don't like. It's all part and parcel with the over-reaching political correctness "zero-tolerance" concept: We say we're anti-censorship, so we must allow EVERYTHING, no matter what the subject matter, as long as it is legal, to be up for submission and prize consideration without accountability for content.
The fact that the MBFF person goes on and makes assumptions about you ("I wonder if you would feel the same way if we would have had a gangster rap video with lyrics about rape or murder, or killing all white people what you would think. Probably nothing. Once again hypocritical double standard." "So if you are into sensor ship of "Any kind" I would look into the mirror, before I started to call anyone a Nazi.
If you are into any sort of sensor ship, basically your into Nazism yourself.
I respect all other opinions as long as there my own, Right.") and continues to base his/her case around these assumptions proves that their logical process is flawed. That's a fundamental of debate, right there.
On a final note: I wouldn't feel too offended, given that the festival organizer can not grasp basic tenets of the English language, such as: Spelling; Punctuation; and Basic Grammar. At the bare minimum, learn to run a spell checker. Yes, picking on these things is poor ettiquette for an argument... But seriously... This is supposedly a corporate correspondence. It should be properly written.
Favourites in this letter:
"sensor ship" (the seafaring vessel laden with devices to detect items/events: "Avast ye! 'Tis the Sensor Ship on the south horizon, and I'll be sure she's seen us and will head this way.")
"...as long as there my own..." (They're, their, there... 3 totally different meanings. THEY'RE going into the garage to get THEIR bicycles, because they left them THERE earlier.)
