Agreed. Although I would not want US to be the benchmark for India in many many respects. Example: Foreign policy. Thats a different matter though. As you said, lets hope for the best :)

I agree with your second paragraph to quite an extent. We should not forget though, that India in *evolving* while US has already evolved – if we consider the simplistic definition of developing and developed nations. And it will get better, that is the only reason I don’t think we can compare India to US who have had a head start over us in all aspects.

Of course, the US doesn’t have it all perfect yet just as it doesn’t practice pure capitalism but like I said, it is relatively better than most places on Earth for the varied groups of population it hosts. The law is extremely strong regarding allowing freedom of speech. You’ll rarely seen someone beaten up for saying anything offensive and if violence occurs, the perpetrators are dealt with strictly. That is an aspect I admire.

I understand what you are trying to say about free speech, but if I remember correctly, even the White House and Republican party had jumped in during the DOAP controversy.

Republican Party asked the film for not to be screened.
White House said, it does not dignify a response.
Hillary Clinton said “I think it’s absolutely outrageous. That anyone would even attempt to profit on such a horrible scenario makes me sick.”

Regal and Cinemark refused to screen the film. CNN and NPR didn’t run ads for the movies. There were also rumours that these cinema chains had received word from individuals as well as politicians against screening the movie. Compare that with Fanaa not being screened in Gujarat.

I don’t want to be push my point too hard lest you start thinking I am against free speech or am one of those moronic radicals, which I am not. But the fact of the matter remains that you can’t expect everyone to understand where to draw a line. Agreed, that those people are in the minority but some sort of a censorship is required, I think.

This Gandhi controversy was one such situation. I think the govt should not have justified it with a response in the manner that it did, but something on the lines of what White House said would have been welcome. My view point is contrary to yours. I do think certain people are beyond parody. As we were discussing on Greatbong’s blog, I do think the analogy between MLK and Gandhi is justified. Check this out and if time permits, do share your views.

Freedom of speech can be compared on principle. China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia are the worst violators whereas US and other so-called developed nations are better examples.

During the Danish cartoon controversy, CNN and MSNBC were berating the Muslims for their protests and defending a right to free speech. However, when it came to Bush and the DOAP mockumentary, they started questioning the motives of the UK film maker. Free speech argument disappeared outta the window.

The reason why I say both countries; India and USA are not comparable is because there is huge disparity in the culture and education. Same as you can’t compare citizens of Patna to Bombay. That is a whole different demographic. That comparison is not fair. Bombay can be compared to Bangalore, Karachi, Dhaka, Riyadh, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the like.

Muslims are still safe in the US than they are in Europe today. Opinions of a conservative media may seem to be main voice in America but that is only because they are the loudest. The majority of the people do not believe that.

“I agree that there are still some remnants of censorship in the U.S. but relatively it is one of the free-est societies regarding free speech.”

The comparison between India and US is not fair. Yes, the US wins when it comes to India, but you can’t compare India and US. India should be compared to the developing countries and if you do, India is a hands down winner.

Compare US with other developed countries. Compare it to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium and those countries. I can’t find the article right now, but I had come across this article where the Author was an American and believed that America was the best country it the world when it came to free speech. However, his trip to Belgium shattered all those misconceptions. US is the same country whose media berated the Muslims during the Danish cartoon controversy and the next time around they were on the other side of the proverbial fence with theh “DOAP” mockumentary.

Again, while I do agree that US does have free speech it is not one of the free-est societies in the world.

http://pugettown.wordpress.com/2007/01/19/reincarnating-gandhi/

What happens when the “Man of the 20th century” meets “The Invention of the year 2006″?

Time to get sexy – Gandhi mix???
(Photo: Boing Boing)
A controversial video about Mahatma Gandhi made by NRI Gautham Prasad is generating a…

He hath also helped create the glorious nation of Pakistan with gorgeous women for young Indian men to ogle at (albeit with a tinge of jealousy), but that subject shalt not be broached. In India, padre knows best. Didst thou not know? Obey the padre!

I think this Oracle TOS poster sums it up rather well.

Suyog, I agree that there are still some remnants of censorship in the U.S. but relatively it is one of the free-est societies regarding free speech. There have been a few hiccups in recent times but I consider that a cyclical process or a temporary Bush-spike. Imposing limits on what the news channels should and should not show is going down a slippery slope because then who will decide what those limits are. If racy remix videos are fine then any parody of Gandhi is fine too. Respect cannot be demanded.

– are you serious? How about the wardrobe malfunction episode the fine ensued on TV channels. Or how about The Book of Daniel, which was called off after 1 episode because “Christian sentiments were hurt”.

I agree that Govt should not be banning Youtube or such, but news channels (that too Indian news channels themselves!) showing such videos on TV is not funny at all, and should be fined and reprimanded.

S

Sqrl, are you sure you hadn’t seen it before? Knowing your curious nature I doubt you haven’t :)

Pramod, elevating a ordinary mortal to god-like status is not new for Indians even when the individual in question does not wish it.

Kuttan, if I didn’t know you I would have thought you’re serious :) Ah yes! Death to the Internets.

:)

One another controversy about Gandhi which people in India just refuse to acknowledge or question, is his relationship with younger women, in his brahmachari stage (after 36). He called it his brahmachari experiment, and a test, of his resolve to be celibate. This has been addressed in a few books before. I first read it in Freedom at Midnight by Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre. Is also been questioned as facts or myth in Ved Meha’s, Mahatma Gandhi and His Apostles, Nirmal Kumar Bose in My Days with Gandhi, Erik H. Erikson in Gandhi’s Truth: On the Origins of Militant Nonviolence, and Gandhi himself in occasional public utterances. I am sure someone is making a video ofthat, just as I am typing my message.