Today is a sad day for democracy and artistic expression. American films are now being censored by North Korea. A despotic dictatorship is telling the world’s most powerful democracy what it can and cannot watch. During my 48 years I have seen other film controversies. The one most comparable to this was Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979. Christian leaders were up in arms at what they perceived to be a film ridiculing Jesus Christ. One or two local Councils refused permission to show the film. However most did and the film was a worldwide success. A healthy debate took place on TV between monty Python members and Church leaders. That is the way things work in a democracy. What would have happened if that film had been released today? I shudder to think.