Youtube - The Gandhi Video - Is censorship productive?

The Gandhi video on Youtube has galvanised the government. They wish to ban Youtube if they do not remove the offending video. But is this sensible? There are several video sites waiting to get attention. If you ban something on one site you have just created a huge ipportunity for another. They will air the video and get a lot of visitors. In addition you have given the video a lot of free publicity. In todays world where advertising pays for the internet publicity is key. If you get publicity you get an audience. If you get an audience you have the advertisers. Simple.
So wouldint the best way to handle the Gandhi video be to avoid giving it free publicity? Censorship is a powerful weapon. It can be used wisely in rare cases. When could it be justified?

One must always remember that banning something gives it free publicity. Salman Rushdie would not be as famous as he is today without the Ayatollahs fatwa.

Society in general has proved over the years to be quite discerning. Take countries where there is no censorship. Have you ever heard of something awful becoming popular? Lage Raho Munnabhai was a huge hit. But if you try the offensive version of Gandhigiri I can assure you it will not get such a big audience.

People need to hear a new insight. A new point of view that highlights the truth. They will not tolerate lies. Give people credit. The only censorship that is worthwhile is not to let children who cannot make up their own minds view things that could pollute their little developing minds. But then they already get to see so much nonsense on TV. Smart parents dont allow children too much TV

But what about malicious propoganda? Should someone who deliberately tries to inflame communal tensions or motivate people to violence not be censored? Under that guideline people like Praveen Togadia of the VHP and several other people should be banned from speaking in public. But even if someone violent tries to encourage violence against another the law should take its own course. If it is proved that someones speech encouraged someones death the severest of punishment should apply. But then our courts should work well. Our people should be gainfully employed and literate.

Politicians have tried with food and liquor to sway the electorate. They figure that people are uneducated and poor and can be bought . Some of them think that an uneducated populace is easier to persuade. Especially since they have the money to sway them with enticements. But election after election has shown rich and corrupt politicians being voted out of office. Even the poorest and most uneducated people are no longer impressed by election day gifts. This is a sign of the maturity of our democracy. Of our people. They do not need people telling them what they can do and what thay cannot do. Leave them alone. Educate them. We wont need any censorship. Let freedom ring