Super Bowl XL versus Danish Cartoons

Super Bowl XL
The Pittsburgh Steelers won their first Super Bowl since 1980 by beating the surprised team, the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Detroit.

The Rolling Stones sang three songs for the Super Bowl XL halftime show last night and were censored in two of them - not a bad average for a band of sexagenarians who still ride a reputation as provocateurs. As the band played, the vocal suddenly went silent for one word each in "Start Me Up" and "Rough Justice," a song from the latest Stones album. Each unheard word was a sexual reference. But then again, so was most of the Stones' miniset, from the stage shaped like the band's lascivious lips-and-tongue logo to Mick Jagger's hip-swiveling, elbow-pumping, gleefully leering presence. His cropped-top shirt showed his navel, and, of course, he sang "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."

Source: Pop Music Review
ABC Avoids a Lyric Malfunction but Allows Mick's Midriff - By JON PARELES
Published: New York Times - February 6, 2006.


Danish cartoons
It is both inevitable and important that people offend the sensibilities of others. By Kenan Malik In December, before the controversy over the publication of a series of Danish newspaper cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammed became a global issue, the Muslim writer & broadcaster Kenan Malik addressed the key issues raised by the furore and others like it at a conference debate convened by Index on Censorship. Read more: Say what you think – The importance of giving offence

The media can’t give people a platform to stir up hatred, or spread abuse. By Richard Sambrook The decision of some newspapers to publish controversial cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed lead some to argue that the media should be a force for tolerance and cohesion as well as a source of news. Speaking at a recent debate convened by Index on Censorship, the BBC’s head of news, Richard Sambrook, considered this argument. Read more: Think what you say – The responsibilities of the media

Core of both issues are actually about freedom of speak and freedom of write. Emotions have broken loose, discussions have taking place, enough comments or critics have been given by people over the whole world, but for person who are interested, there are many actual interesting articles published on: Index On Censorship or The Brussels Journal.