Censorship Violates Our First Amendment Right - 1550 Words

In the pursuit of education, students strive to learn and develop their understanding of the world that surrounds them. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the school administration to provide the means to that end. Yet, there is a polarized divide among schools and their interpretation of freedom of speech. This occurrence is experienced primarily at the university level but can be seen at all levels of education. At the epicenter of this dispute is the notion of censorship, specifically whether or not it is feasible to restrict what can and cannot be said by faculty and students alike. Advocates of freedom of speech assert that censorship violates our First Amendment right, a liberty that is inalienable. Proponents also argue that†¦show more content†¦In defense of Shurtz, the use of blackface falls within the realm of freedom of speech, as it does not cause harm, but does create discomfort because if its historical significance. Garcia argues that regardless of the i ntention of the user, the use of blackface is inherently racist because of its historical context. The lack of knowledge as to why such actions are considered racist is more detrimental than the action itself. However, the case of Nancy Shurtz is not a singular occurrence, but a common American experience. Garcia describes Shurtz as a â€Å"symptom, and we make a grave, possibly fatal error when we treat only the symptom and leave untreated the underlying malady† (Garcia). Therefore, executing a quick suspension of Shurtz does not resolve the large issue at hand, which must be dealt with in order to see significant progress within our society. Allowing academic dialogues about controversial issues, such as racism and sexual violence, within our education system is paramount because only through the understanding of other perspectives will we begin to remedy the underlying disease that has plagued our nation since its inception. An increasing trend among college campuses is th e use of â€Å"safe spaces† and â€Å"trigger warnings.† The term safe space refers to an area where discriminatory and offensive notions are barred and a person can feel secure. A trigger warning is a forewarning of content that couldShow MoreRelated Censorship on Television Essay1204 Words   |  5 Pagestelevision. Censorship does not violate the first amendment and it prevents the harmful effects of graphic television. Many people are in favor of censorship and it may be accomplished without violating the rights of broadcasters or any other individuals. Censorship refers to suppression of information, ideas, or artistic expression by anyone, whether government officials, church authorities, private pressure groups, or speakers, writers, and artists themselves (Grolier, Inc.). Censorship can be aRead More Censorship in the United States Essay1275 Words   |  6 PagesCensorship on Television Censorship on television in the United States has been an issue ever since the television was invented. The public holds a variety of stances on the topic, and no matter what law is ever passed regarding censorship, it will never suit the needs of everyone. Some believe that censorship violates individual rights in the law, and others believe that censorship should be available through members in the family, not the government. On the other hand, some people striveRead MoreThe Amendment Of The United States Constitution833 Words   |  4 PagesThe right to express ones opinions without censorship or restraint can be considered as a basic provision enshrined in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. To elaborate, the first amendment to the constitution prohibit the legislative arm of government in making of any law abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press and prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances. Post t his amendment, there have been several cases where the SupremeRead MoreInternet Censorship and Government Regulation Essay1058 Words   |  5 Pagesgovernment should not regulate or censor information on the internet because doing so violates the first amendment and citizen’s right to privacy, degrades the educational value of the web, prevents the promotion and facilitation of innovation and technology and it would promote civil unrest. First of all, if the Internet was regulated by the government, this would violate the first amendment and the citizen’s right to privacy (Parrish). More than 55 percent of U.S citizens agree with the fact thatRead MoreStudies in Contemporary Literature: Free Speech1622 Words   |  7 Pages Censorship is the suppression of speech or other public communication which may be considered objectable, harmful, sensitive, politically incorrect or inconvenient as determined as determined by the government, media outlet, or other controlling bodies (Wikipedia, 1). This can be done by governments and private organizations or by individuals who engage in self-censorship which is the act of censoring or classifying one’s own work like blog, books, films, or other means of expression, out of theRead More Freedom of Speech vs Censorship Essays1231 Words   |  5 Pagesthat has many rights, the most important is the freedom of speech which provides an umbrella of protection over our remaining rights; however, all of our rights are under attack beginning with the First Amendment which is under constant assault by censorship. The Constitution of the United States says that â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the peopleRead MoreCensorship Of Public s Privacy1321 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"First Amendment freedoms are most in danger when the government seeks to control thought or to justify its laws for that impermissible end. The right to think is the beginning of freedom, and speech must be protected from the government because speech is the beginning of thought.†( Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, Ashcroft V. Free Speech Coalition (00-795) 198 F.3d 1083, affirmed,2002) In the 21st century, technology has advanced significantly, making invasion of privacy much easier andRead MoreImportance Of Censorship In Society1406 Words   |  6 PagesCensorship is beneficial to our nation because it keeps harmful activity out of children’s m inds, protects our country, and prevents children from seeing offensive language, while censorship is also harmful to our culture because it invades privacy. I believe censorship is necessary, especially in the social media world we live in today. Censorship is the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to securityRead MoreThe Debate About Censorship1495 Words   |  6 PagesThe Debate about Censorship Censorship, the control of the information and ideas circulated within a society, has been a characteristic of dictatorships throughout history. In the 20th Century, censorship was achieved through the examination of books, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other forms of communication for the purpose of altering or suppressing ideas found to be objectionable or offensive. There have been assorted justifications for censorship, with some censorsRead MoreCensorship And Censorship Of The Internet985 Words   |  4 Pagesnature and the laws of our country have given us a right to liberty of both exposing and opposing arbitrary power (in these parts of the world at least) by speaking and writing truth.. This influenced freedom of the press rights and embracing those rights to the constitution (Linder). Recently the issue of Censorship of the Internet in America has become a trending topic. The internet has been commonly censored to comply with the Digital Mi llennium Rights Act, but in recent times our government has been