My Definition Paper On Censorship

What would Thomas Jefferson think of his country today? Anyhow...

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Censorship is defined as the systematic use of group power to broadly control freedom of speech and expression. Essentially, censorship includes any attempt to suppress information, points of view, or methods of expression such as art, or profanity, but it may also include sensitive matters relating to national security.


In what circumstances would censorship aid a free society? Certainly, most would agree that certain subjects are appropriately censured. For example, most would agree that censorship is needed in controlling the production and distribution of child pornography. Similarly, censorship may also be deemed as necessary in protecting intelligence and/or ”top secret” information relating to national security.


On the other hand, most Americans take a dim view of censorship because it runs counter to the First Amendment. For example, many people find book burning to be offensive because we remember the book burning days of Nazi Germany. In fact, many associate censorship with the Nazis.


Ironically, this country faced censorship during John Adams’ administration in 1798. In a vale attempt to protect the United States from "dangerous" aliens, the Alien and Sedition Acts were used by the Federalist Party (now known as the Republican Party) in an attempt to stop the growth of the Democratic-Republican Party (now known as the Democratic Party). The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish "false, scandalous, and malicious writing" against government or government officials. Fortunately, our country was blessed with champions such as Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. These two gentlemen led the fight to expose The Sedition Act as being contrary to the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. The Sedition Act was repealed and ultimately contributed to the Federalists' loss in the election of 1800.


In conclusion, censorship is neither good nor bad. In censoring ideas or philosophies, one must be careful, however, not to allow religious and political leaders to advance their agendas by encroaching on the rights of others. As a result of two of our freedoms, press and speech, we are today better informed of what our government officials are doing than ever before. Censorship is healthy, however, when it is used to either protect our country and protect those who cannot protect themselves. As with anything worthy of deep thought, we must be cautious in limiting rights of expression, however.

-- BamaLefty

"We are today better informed of what our government officials are doing than ever before."

"bullshitting." Getting through a sentence...

But in reality, more and more places are passing Sunshine Laws.

" I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too. "

" Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. "

" Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. "

" A society that gives up a little freedom for a little security will lose both and deserve neither. "

" A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit. "

" And to preserve their independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude. "

" He who permits himself to tell a lie once finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time till at length it becomes habitual. "

" Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day. "

" A little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. "

" The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. "

And last:

" Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. "