Disclaimer: This article may to some readers seem very controversial and much like the characters described here I am walking a fine line. Therefore, the contents and opinions in this article are purely academic unless otherwise stated. I am in no way indorse or condone the actions of the soviet Union or their member’s actions.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)
Shortly after writing about the U.S.S.R. banning the Beatles last week, I read an article concerning censorship. After finishing the article, I came to the conclusion that the article made a point that could help elaborate my point: in particular the metaphor (or more accurately a simile) “Censorship as a Dangerous Tightrope.”
The article gives several examples using teachers as their main example. the authors (Fenice B. Boyd & Nancy M. Bailey) theorize that teachers walk a fine line when they teach their classes. They have to find the fine line between what they know the students need to learn, and “acceptable” or “politically correct” knowledge. The authors go so far as to claim that teachers will get suspended or let go for teaching “controversial” topics.(sound familiar?) Alternatively, if they don’t teach the material they wanted to teach they can still be let go for “not doing their job.” It is this dilemma with censoring oneself the authors describe as walking a “Dangerous Tightrope.”
One amendment I would propose to the metaphor is that politicians often find themselves walking the Dangerous Tightrope as well. Politicians often have to find balance pre-existing policies and their agendas, between one public value and another, and between what must be done and the popular opinion. Politicians walk so many fine lines its no wonder they are (figuratively speaking of course) constantly losing their footing and falling off the Tightrope.
Joseph Stalin is a perfect example of such a politician and he just so happens to relate into my previous story. Joseph Stalin was an active political member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Born in 1878 he served as a dictator of the U.S.S.R. serving under various different titles from 1919 until 1953 ending with his death.
While Stalin wasn’t alive during the ’60s and the beatlemania, he did enforce the policy to outright ban any “Western capitalism” influences including the Beatles. The line he was walking when he made his decision was clear in his mind. Stalin made this choice because he believed that his decision would ultimately help protect the youth from the “Corruptive influences of Western Capitalism.” He knowingly sacrificed their youth’s ability to filter outside influences and, ironically, his decision ended up helping fuel the revolution that would ultimately disband the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
Stalin walking the line
Thought his actions Stalin has unintentionally proved that censorship can be a “Dangerous Tightrope” walk. He decided that the banning or censoring of “Western Capitalist” influences would help protect the youth from corruption. Yet the youth’s desire for the banned material only intensified ultimately leading to the downfall of the U.S.S.R. This rebellion proves that censorship is a tool that is often too dangerous to wield.
Further Reading:
https://ziemanng.wordpress.com/2014/10/24/banned
http://www.unm.edu/~unmvclib/handouts/censorshipin3.pdf
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/beatles-beat-communism-spy-article-1.1360024
DayDream 