Forced and Controlled Capitalism

Daniel Malherbe


The right to speak, the courage to do so. None can talk of South Africa without confronting the dark history of hidden words, spoken in silence, words that broke down the walls racial segregation. It is with these words that the world has started revolts, flamed passion and soothed insanity.


Such words where uttered by few, and of South African speakers need not a word be said. The focus seems rather to have fallen on the Americans, again. The capitalist, consumers are once again faced to reckon with the the constitutionally protected freedom poets such as Allen Ginsberg seem to need. The freedom that is free to those who wish to exploit, but hide the passionate under the covers.


Allen Ginsberg wrote a poem called; Howl. It can be heard via live streaming, or download, from this site: http://www.archive.org/details/naropa_anne_waldman_and_allen_ginsberg. His poetry is inspired, or rather on par with, the Beats generation of 50's America. This piece discusses the consumerist capitalist America of the 50's and, yet, it is still very applicable to modern day America.


The reason I mention him is to inform you, my humble reader, of the fact that once again America is intervening. In the 50's the poem, Howl, had to pass through the judiciary system in order for it to be branded as suitable for children to read. This battle being won, makes one wonder why the FCC have threatened to fine any station that plays it.


According to Boingboing.net "WBAI program director Bernard White fears that the FCC will fine the station $325,000 for every one of Ginsberg's dirty-word bombs. If each Pacifica station that aired the poem - and possibly repeated it - were to be fined for airing "Howl," it could mean millions of dollars in fines."


Has the freedom of the West come so far only to allow so little. Fortunately: "Pacifica's attorney for FCC issues, John Crigler, thinks airing "Howl" would be "a great test case" in the current environment."


This makes one wonder as to what liberty truly is when it is constantly being monitored and controlled by government. Leaving us with the sound of Ginsberg's opening lines hollowly echoing in our ears:

"I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,"


bigeyeddeer