Blackout of Free Choice

San Diego’s largest cable-television company, Cox Cable, blacked out a program this week on last summer’s massacre at a McDonald’s restaurant because of pressure from people in San Ysidro, the scene of the tragedy. The San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce and other community leaders said that showing the program, which was aired nationally on Home Box Office on Wednesday night, would cause anguish to survivors and relatives, and would insult the city and county of San Diego.

The feelings of the community are understandable. The massacre, in which James Huberty killed 21 people and wounded 15, was a horrible event. But Cox Cable was wrong to bow to the pressure, even if it represented the views of most people in San Ysidro. No group, even the majority, should be allowed to dictate what others may or may not see. Reality is sometimes grotesque, and may offend some people, but that’s not sufficient reason to prevent it from being shown.

The program was called “Acts of Violence,” and dealt with Huberty and two other violent criminals. Cox Cable was forthright in explaining its decision. No one said that the documentary lacked merit, only that some people might be offended by it. The issue here was censorship, not the quality of the presentation.

Another cable company in San Diego, Southwestern Cable--which does not serve San Ysidro --broadcast the show with a disclaimer advising viewer discretion. Southwestern had the right idea. No one was forced to watch. If some viewers didn’t want to see the show, all they had to do was turn the dial.