Censorship is Not an Effective Way to Protect Children

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Teachers suspended, radio and television personalities fired, authors disinvited to speaking events, all because their words, opinions or shows did not agree with what a handful of people consider appropriate. One would think these types of situations regarding censorship happened decades ago, not in a time now, where people pride themselves on having an open-mind and the ability of forward thinking. However, censorship still prevails in America today, and not only censorship of pornography or violence on television, but it seeps into our textbooks and classrooms too, all in the name of protecting the children.

Many reasons exist for people to favor censorship, both by the government and in schools. These people may feel that internet filters and rating systems insufficiently block obscene material. Some people believe that children exposed to inappropriate material will become promiscuous or will become desensitized by violence on television. Although censorship may be necessary in protecting national security, there is no evidence to support that it protects children, and therefore censorship should be abolished, as it lessens the freedoms of everyone and diminishes a democratic system.

Obviously, parents want to do the best things they can to protect their children. However, their fears misguide their thinking when it comes to censorship. As Charles Taylor points out, censorship does not only include pornography or excess violence on television, classrooms and libraries all across America can feel its presence. (Taylor) According to the National Coalition against Censorship website Congress passed the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA) in 1981, which provided funds to charitable and religious organizations t...

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...Kids Points of View: Internet Censorship." 2011. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 March 2012.

National Coalition Against Censorship. National Coalition Against Censorship. Ed. NCAC. n.d. Web. April 22 2012.

Saltzman, Joe. "Why Can't You Say-or Show-That on TV? USA Today." Vol. 132 ed. 75 May 2004. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 2012 February 2012.

Taylor, Charles. "Censorship is Not an Effective Way to Protect Children." n.d. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 8 April 2012.

Thierer, Adam. "Parents Shold Be Responsible for Monitoring Their Children's Televsion Viewing." 2007. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 February 2012.

Unknown. Censorship in America. 2012. Web. 22 April 2012.

Witherbee, Amy and Cushman, C. Ames. "Counterpoint: Sometimes Censorship is Necessary." 2011. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 21 March 2012.

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