Meet the Maine Christian Civic League, an organisation dedicated to ridding society of all the “drugs, violent video games, and outrageous rock music” that are obviously making everyone evil. That includes banning Modern Warfare 2, a game in which “the player becomes a member of a terrorist gang which guns down helpless men, women, and children waiting at an airport.” With a blithe disregard for context and demonstrable reality, their mission statement goes on to assert that, “This scene in the game is called the ‘Massacre Level.’ The game has already been banned overseas, or modified to remove the offending scene, but unfortunately, the change has not been made where it is most needed, the United States.”
Obviously someone over at Christian Civic League HQ missed the office memo about checking facts before making spurious claims that just might undermine their credibility.
“All decent people should denounce the video game Modern Warfare 2; and join in opposing the sale and use of such games,” shouts the group from their pulpit. “Moreover, it may be time for Maine to begin a debate over the advisability of banning these games completely, giving due consideration to both the First Amendment, and the danger these violent games pose to the public.”
Nevermind the First Amendment and the danger censorship poses to the public, of course. But there’s really nothing quite like making the rules and demanding everyone else abide by them, is there? Anyone would think it was just a simple matter of deciding not to buy something, and leaving it at that. But then, these are the same people who accused a local bookshop owner of being a witch and casting spells on them. There’s that inconvenient credibility thing again.