Censorship And Free Speech

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Censorship is defined as the suppression of speech, public communication or other information which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined by governments, media outlets, authorities or other groups or institutions. Censorship is the suppression of free speech, often on the grounds that an act of expression harms or offends the public. Expressions are sometimes restricted because they are judged to be vulgar or obscene. The term “censorship” usually applies to governmental restrictions in free speech in public places, such as a law that restricts displaying a Nazi flag or showing a nude body in a movie that is for children. One consequence of censorship and other challenges to free speech is that it creates an environment that doesn’t let people or artists really express themselves, sometimes more than is …show more content…

Provocative and gruesome art and television entertainment put our commitment of free speech to the test. Why should we oppose censorship when scenes of murder and mayhem dominate the TV screen, when works of art can be seen as a direct insult to people's' religious beliefs, and when much sexually explicit material can be seen as degrading to women? Why not let the majority's thoughts and taste dictate what others can look at or listen to? The answer is simple, a free society is based on the principle that each and every person 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’s ideas, words, or music. You allow it the power to censor you, or the type of art that you may find inspiring. Some of these studies suggest that watching TV violence may temporarily induce "object aggression" in some children (such as popping balloons or hitting dolls or playing sports more aggressively) but not actual criminal violence against another

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