Censorship :: essays research papers

CensorshipThe freedom to read is essential to the democratic way of life. Buttoday, that freedom is under attack. Private groups and public authorities everywhere are working to remove both books and periodicals from sale, toexclude certain books from public schools, to censor and silence magazines andnewspapers, and to limit controversial books and periodicals to the generalpublic. The stifling of reading existents is suppression of creative thought.Books and periodicals are not the only occasions being suppressed by pressures tothe political and social systems. They are also being brought against theeducational system, films, radio, television, and against the graphic and landing field arts. Censorship occurs often in todays society, much of which isjustifiable, but in some cases is simply unnecessary.What is Obscenity? Obscenity is difficult to honestly discuss. Afterall, what makes a thing obscene? It is something too vague to be defined.People often see things differently. So me see obscenity in nude pictures,statues, paintings, etc. While opposites decree less obscenity in these things.This is where the discrepancy is found between what should and should not becensored.The world is filled with obscene things. And it would seem that parentsare just laborious to protect their children from the outside world. But does itreally help? My friends sister was upset with her parents for raising her insuch a sheltered environment. When she went away to college, she got a savoring ofwhat the real world was really like. These days, an average elementary schoolstudent knows many things. They are influenced by a wide range of sources, fromtelevision and other forms of media, their environment at home and school, totheir personality and background. What they read does not necessarily mean thatthey will follow it. Literature is a valued source of fellowship for thesechildren, and should not be held back. So rather than applying full censorship,it should be made an age-related censorship. Many complaints were issued aboutthe immaturity of the readers. Younger children should be prevented fromborrowing material think for an older age group. Controversial materialsshould still be held for special order, available on request, or under a sectionfor parents and teachers who can decide for themselves whether the material issuitable or not.The concept of censorship is a notable effort to clean up society, butcan be over used in areas where it does not apply. Our world is not perfect.We live in a world filled with violence, sex, racism, etc. Certain literaturelike hard-core pornography should be censored to the general public.