Censorship -- Pro
The First Amendment has been part of the Bill of Rights since the creation of the Constitution in 1789. It was created to ensure that people would be able to express their ideas, whether they be political or religious, without fear of repercussion from the government. The Amendment would create a country where people could practice their own religion without fear of persecution like their ancestors did in England. The Amendment has protected the country from descending into various forms of censorship. Members of the press can publish information and opinions about political leaders and others without being stifled should their opinion make someone in the political arena look bad. However, there is also a darker side to the First Amendment. The right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech has been used to ensure that books about pedophilia and child molestation can be published even if they are designed to enflame. Anti-Semitic and racist speeches can be uttered in public because they are protected. The First Amendment gives people the freedom to say whatever they wish. In recent times, this has been the only part of the Amendment to matter. Some argue that there should be exceptions to the First Amendment. Yes, people can say what they wish or congregate peacefully or print the truth, but they must also be held accountable for their actions. Freedom should be equally met with responsibility. The Supreme Court ruled recently that the Westboro Baptist Church, a group focused on homophobic, anti-Semitic, and hate centered protest, had the right...
Some people are beginning to wonder if there should be limitations to the First Amendment.
In his article following the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, musician Marilyn Manson defended himself and other artists who supposedly influenced the killers. He does however admit that a great part of the problem with violence is the fact that young people are perhaps too knowledgeable about the larger world. This article is not to be taken as a valid argument against censoring material. In one point, Manson explains, "This kind of controversy does not help me sell records or tickets." This indicates a very mercenary perspective of the issue. Obviously censoring Manson's music would not help him sell records either. In the article, the author actually makes a point against himself. Manson writes: "Now America has become one big mall, and because of the Internet and all of the technology we have, there's nowhere to run. People are the same everywhere." Now Manson uses this as an excuse for his own responsibility. Unwillingly, he makes the point that there is too much negative information and negative perspective out in the world. It can reasonably be assumed that this point is made because children are in fact, definitely influenced by the information they receive from the outer world.
Censorship has a negative connotation, but really it ensures that children and other young people are not exposed to material…
