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Standing Up to Censorship

 

            Censorship, or the suppression of words, images, or bad ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever someone succeed in imposing their personal, political, or moral values on others. Censorship is like poison gas: a powerful weapon that can harm you when the wind shifts. ("Censorship - Spotlight on Film, American Civil Liberties Union,") Censorship is most commonly used for controlling language obscenities, pornography, racial speeches, to promote or restrict political or religious views or even to protect national security of a country. Censorship In media is unneeded because it is the right of the people to decide what they want or do not want to expose themselves or their children to specific media.
             In itself, censorship could be considered unconstitutional; the first amendment prohibits "the making of any law abridging to freedom of speech and infringing on the freedom of press."(U.S. Const. amend. I.) Censorship does this by not allowing TV or radio stations to air specific content due to language, violence, or nudity. Though some things may not be suitable for children, it is up to the parents or guardians to make the decision not the government. .
             We live in a country where our biggest accomplishment is freedom and censorship goes against that very nature. ACLU, American Civil Liberties Union, said it best: "A free society is based on the principle that each and every individual has the right to decide what art or entertainment he or she wants -- or does not want -- to receive or create. Once you allow the government to censor someone else, you cede to it the power to censor you, or something you like." (Spotlight on Film | American Civil Liberties Union, n.d.).
             Government regulation of media would possibly be the beginning of stripping people of their right to free speech. Here is a prime example from china written by Lydia Laurenson: Their primary finding was that the Chinese government doesn't appear to censor criticism on social media, but it does censor social media posts encouraging collective action.


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