RE: CENSORSHIP: Matrix Reloaded banned in Egypt

From: Paul Grant (shade999@optonline.net)
Date: Thu Jun 12 2003 - 16:55:29 MDT

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    > On Thu, Jun 12, 2003 at 01:21:37PM -0700, Robert J. Bradbury wrote:
    > >
    > > Now its questionable that "banning" has any serious effect
    > > in this day and age (of downloading off the net, ordering DVDs from
    > > overseas, etc.) but the fact that they attempted to do it and the
    > > reasons provided are quite bizarre having to do with "issues of
    > > existence and creation related to the three divine religions".

    They're banning it because Egyptians don't like the Israeli's
    Given that they fought 3 wars with them, and the references to
    Zion. Normally they cut movies heavily anyway. I watched
    Terminator 2, and its running time was something like 58 minutes.
    it was almost incomprehensible. Furthermore, almost everybody in
    Egypt has satellite service (read: not-edited by Egyptian authorities)
    Because Egyptian TV is state-run, and sucks heavily. Pretty much
    The only thing that's even remotely decent on the "public" airwaves
    is the Egyptian equivalent of novellas, and Egyptian movies filmed in
    1940's (the equivalent of the golden age in film-making, although
    contemporary films are ok).

    Besides which, Egypts got far more serious problems than access
    to the Matrix. Fully 50% of the population is illiterate, 94% of its
    Land is non-arable, hepatitis-C is running rampant, the mosquito-killing
    Programs [sponsered by the government] have lost funding, all the
    high-quality libraries are private, its got 20% unemployment [with
    Mandatory conscription for all males for avg 1.5 years or so!] despite
    loans to the government ranging from 1-2 BILLION dollars a year, the
    quality of education there bites, their courts (which are running off
    A mixture of french & islamic law) are overwhelmed [it takes something
    Like 9 years for the case to get reviewed by the first of 3 judges!],
    police and military corruption is totally out of control, and of course,
    its been under martial law [emergency law provisions] since 1981 when
    Mubarek seized control. Not to mention their sterling (sarcastic
    obviously)
    Infrastructure and their complete lack of any sort of portable credit
    for
    a citizen.

    On the plus side, nobody starves in Egypt, they have great cellphone
    Service [although it's a bit pricey unless you can get a business
    Line], and you can catch a taxi from almost anywhere in Cairo.

    Overall though, I'ld say the censoring/banning of the matrix is the
    Least of Egypts worries. Being a fan of PT Barnum, any press is
    Good press though :)

    Omard-out



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