“We cannot have a society in which some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States … ” – U.S. President Barack Obama
Is Obama hard up for topics to raise in his year-end interview? It is certain that if the film had been about the assassination of the president of the United States or any other western country there would be absolute hell to pay. There would be court injunctions and peace marches and presidential orders to bar the release of such a film.
Personally, I am absolutely disgusted that a stalwart organization such as Sony, would even contemplate a story line based on the assassination of a current world leader whether that leader is from an enemy dictatorship or a democratic ally, even if it is a comedy. Freedom of speech may be a democratic principle but are there no professional ethics in the movie industry? Comedy is no excuse for immorality!
North Korea says the film hurts the "dignity of its supreme leadership." Whether North Korea was involved or not, the film should never have been created. There is however no question that now it has been publicized it will be released in some form or another. The best thing is for the public to boycott it and send a message to Hollywood that this is unacceptable. We have enough violence on the screen!
Ken Allred, St. Albert
