In 1972, the iconic pornographic movie, Deep Throat, was released into theaters and lambasted as the central work in a national scandal. Thirty-three years later, two filmmakers are releasing Inside Deep Throat, a documentary which explores the lasting impact of the controversial film. At the time of its release, Deep Throat incited controversy mainly related to the copious amount of fellatio in the film. It was a scandal on the scale of Janet Jackson's nipple slip at the Super Bowl. In a recent interview with the Independent Film Channel, one of the filmmakers commented on the similarities: "It's hard to imagine that 30 years ago this uproar and debate was all about fellatio, and now it's about a nipple. It's like we've come very far... backwards."He's right. The most shocking part of "Nipplegate," as the press took to calling the incident, was that in a world of belly-baring, hip hugger-wearing, cleavage-flaunting female sexual freedom, accidentally showing a nipple on television is a big deal. Think about what else we're watching on television: guns, death, murder and abuse. And that's just on the news, which is something we're supposed to watch.

I don't believe in censoring television, or that violence and sex on television are doing anything to contribute to the downfall of our society. But double standards exist. The neurotic monitoring of our morals and values by the press, government and religious authorities is out of control. No longer can I enjoy a cup of coffee before bed without being forced to ask myself, "Should I be drinking decaf?" I can't try on a pair of pants without worrying about that dreaded word, "slut." And heaven forbid I actually smoke a cigarette indoors during winter so I can avoid frostbite. My pack of Parliament Lights practically makes me a leper.

The smaller things are even more ridiculous. At various points, we have been told that butter, sugar, caffeine, computers, cell phones, polyester, carbohydrates, salt, oil, bread, meat, fish, water and air are bad for us. What am I supposed to do, live on Splenda and vitamins for the rest of my life? Music is bad for me because it puts all kinds of satanic ideas in my head, so I'd better throw out all my CDs now. Books are bad for me because they tell me things that go against the government-approved version of life, so those have to go, too. Movies are too violent or too sexual. Television is worse. Really, what I should do is lock myself in my room with all the lights off, waiting for the end to come.

And I'm leaving religion out of it. If I had to listen to a rabbi or a priest every day, telling me what is right or wrong based on the word of God as it was written several thousand years ago, I think I might go mad. Even the vibes I pick up around campus are driving me nuts.

We have free speech and we have free expression. But freedom is scary and being different is dangerous, so we use our press, our government, our parents and our children as ways and excuses to keep everyone as uniform as possible.

I like drinking caffeinated coffee before I go to bed, and I like cooking with butter. I believe women have a right to choose and that abortion is a moral, justifiable action. I believe in severe gun control and looser drug laws. Moral authority begins where our struggle for personal freedom ends, and no one is the boss of me.