Ignorance and social perception have once again trampled all over a freedom that we cherish. And this freedom is one that is constantly under attack by a moral majority that continually imposes some contrived list of good and bad content often viewed through flawed and tunnel-visioned lenses. Of course this is all based on their own personal preferences, with little to no balanced consultation from the entire populace, so how this list can be considered fair boggles the mind. Honestly, this practice of book banning does absolutely nothing to stop a person who wants to view the contents of that banned book, images included. Can we really look around at today’s world and presume to render a judgment on what is good and bad, when much of status quo’s everyday actions and words are causing such unmitigated terror upon logical behavior?
One such case that is making itself known in the comic world is the case of “Brandon X”, an American citizen that has been jailed as a sex offender because of the comic book (actually a Japanese manga) that he brought with him. Actually it wasn’t even a physical book, but a digital book on his laptop. First of all, that laptop is his private information and should not have been privy to an official search without cause. Secondly, there was no attempt to understand the cultural perception and mores of the Japanese artists that created it for their own society, and has luckily spread in popularity throughout the world. Continue reading →
