The Debate of Censorship

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The United States Bill of Rights guarantees its citizens the freedom of expression, but how far does that freedom extend? Does the right to express yourself include the right to observe the expressions of others? According to pro-censorship view holders, it does not. But to those who feel strongly against censorship, the freedom of information, or the “right to know,” should be an absolute right granted to the American public. Censoring material is the responsibility of the individual, not the institution itself, and certainly not the job of a separate institution. Also, the definition of what is censor-worthy is by no means clear. Exercising the freedom of speech has two sides: the speaker and the listener. Censorship is unfair to both sides. When it takes away the speaker’s Constitutional freedom of expression, it simultaneously revokes the listener’s right to develop an informed opinion based on unobstructed truth. This opinion has been supported by the courts. In 1982, an informal agreement between several broadcasters from major media outlets known as the Code of Broadcaster Conduct, which banned “depictions of sexual encounters, violence and drug use, as well as excessive advertising,” was nullified because it was a violation of First Amendment rights (“Broadcast Decency”). Excessive censorship is viewed as unnecessary by both the American public and by the government that endorses it. When regulating the content that someone sees or hears, it is the sole responsibility of the individual to block harmful or offensive content from themselves or their children. In an article by Dan Gutman, a children’s book author, he states that if a piece of literature is banned from a school library, it is not only blocke... ... middle of paper ... ...NCAC.org. National Coalition Against Censorship, 5 Mar. 2001. Web. 15 May 2011. . Hudson, Mike, and Chad Graham. "CENSORSHIP THE BIG CHILL." Advocate 914 (2004): 48. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 15 May 2011. Jarvis, Jeff. "Can The FCC Shut Howard Up?." Nation 278.19 (2004): 11. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 15 May 2011. "Obscene, Indecent and Profane Broadcasts." Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Home Page. 27 Apr. 2011. Web. 15 May 2011. . Rubiner, Betsy. "Who Can Say What? (cover story)." Time 169.17 (2007): 32. MAS Ultra - School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 15 May 2011. Thom, Cathleen. "Invisible Censorship." Humanist 59.4 (1999): 31. MAS Ultra School Edition. EBSCO. Web. 15 May 2011.

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