In 1939 crowds flocked to cinemas to see the Hollywood blockbuster " Gone with the Wind ". This film version of Margaret Mitchell's famous book featured Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara and at that time they were the reigning stars of the movie world.
" Gone with the Wind " was probably the first Hollywood movie to stir controversy on a world wide basis. Breaking up with Scarlett O'Hara, Rhett Butler spoke that memorable line of " I don't give a damn " - and this provoked a storm of protest.
Church leaders rushed to their pulpits to order their congregations to avoid seeing the film because of its " shocking use of profanity " ! At that time, the word " damn " was considered offensive and " not to be uttered in the presence of a lady ".
Australia - and the world - had loosened up after the end of the second world war, but people were still being arrested for profanity. The word that had people frowning if used in mixed company was " Bloody " and this became synonymous with the Australian image overseas. The typical Australian was depicted in movies as tall and sun burned, wearing a wide brimmed hat and punctuating every sentence with that word " bloody ": !
Over the years, " bloody " became accepted, but the emphasis changed and what polite society considered offensive language became known as those " four letter words " ! What was tolerable in the closed male bastion of a pub bar was completely unacceptable in mixed company.
How things have changed. For decades those four letter words were screened in written publications by the tongue in cheek use of hyphens. If " Shit " was essential to a story line editors saved the blushes of readers by substitution to present it on a news page as " Sh-t " !
Now it seems that those four letter words have been unmasked and we are free to use them in any sort of context - and in a place of our own choosing. The police brought a charge of offensive language against members of the LGHTI community who were demonstrating against delays caused by opponents of same sex marriage legislation. They were holding up placards in public bearing the message " Fuck Fred Nile ". The Reverend Fred Nile is a member of parliament opposed to the passage of this bill.
One of those facing an offensive language charge told the court that forty-eight hours after the demonstration she received a phone call telling her that the police had her on film footage and she could expect a $500 fine in the mail. She and others were later charged with using offensive language and served with notices to appear in court.
The charges were heard by Sydney Magistrate Geoffrey Bradd - and were dismissed. It was found that the charges were invalid under a law that prevents police from issuing such notices during " an
apparently genuine demonstration or protest ".
Those viewing television news broadcasts may have noticed that editors no longer screen out the use of four letter words uttered by subjects outside courts or where a crowd of people are being filmed. The concept of freedom of speech now apparently now has no limitation.
Those restrictions back in Rhett Butlers day were mild by comparison.
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