INTERNET CENSORSHIP

"Internet Censorship." What does this mean to us? What is restricted? Censorship is summarily defined as the suppression of objectionable material. That means that material such as pornography, militant information, offensive language, anti-religion, and racism would be restricted in use. Freedom would not only be restricted to material placed on the web, but also what you could access, and where you could explore. Should the right of Freedom of Speech be taken away from us on the Internet? Having stated this, should there be any restrictions and if so, what's the limit of censorship?

The Internet, with its unlimited access to any kind of information, is today’s most commonly used tool used worldwide. This poses some complex questions that challenge liberal and conservative alike, the most recent defenders of the First Amendment, and the most passionate exponents of censorship. With the rush by our President to make the Internet accessible to every U.S. student, the problem extends far beyond libraries and into our schools. This censorship problem would seem to have no easy solution. First, let's assume pornography is a bad thing. It encourages poor behavior and disrespect toward women in general. Yes, any respectable human being would agree with that. But why does this have to be a problem in our schools? Isn't it the responsibility of the parents to guide their children? Isn’t it up to the parents to teach their kids stuff like that is morally wrong? Kids should already know behavior like that does not belong at school. Schools have a fear of this happening so they take action and put a block on all key words that are linked with pornography. Great, now how will students learn about subjects such as breast cancer? Important information that is now not accessible. Why, because the word breast is one that would be linked to pornography. As you can plainly see, censoring the schools Internet by putting key word blocks in is a loss of educational information for students. We need to give them back what they need and get ride of all the pornography and terrorist sites on every school computer. As you can see, the problem with censorship the Internet is that it takes away your rights, freedom of speech and the chance of acquiring useful information.

What people don’t realize is the Internet is a medium of publication like books and magazines. They are so close to given the same rights that I don’t see why it’s the Internet that needs some censorship. The internet gives you the right to: access pornography sites if you are over the age of 18, Have cyber sex with anyone on the internet who will have it with you-no matter age, To visit sites that contain terrorist, racial, or militant activity, To practice any religion you choose. The real world gives you the right to: Rent or buy pornography in the form of magazines and videos if you are 18 or older, Have phone sex with anyone who will have it with you-no matter the age, To buy books, magazines, and videos that contain terrorist, racial, or militant activity, To practice any religion you choose. The Internet is no worse the what’s out in the world today. It is merely just an easier way for people to communicate. Putting a censorship on the Internet when the same problems accure all the time in daily life is a complete waste of time and effort. At least nobody is murdered through the Internet. Also, in a couple of years the Internet will most likely replace public libraries for good. Where will our freedom of speech be at then? After all, the definition of censorship reads; is the control of what people may say or hear, write or see or do. If censorship of the internet tends to lean the way it is now, just think of how big of a grip the government will have on who we are. It will be impossible to act on our creative thoughts and speak our minds. I guess that means you can take the 1st Amendment and throw it in the trash.

The best thing about living in America is the right to freedom. We are free to explore the Internet and go to any site you so desire. We are free to learn hacking techniques, about tools, or even acquire hacking information. Which is not always a bad thing. You have the right to go on Yahoo Chat and let the person your chatting with know that you don’t like them. It’s that thing we call freedom of speech. So why do we want to get rid of educational information, and put a hold on Internet users freedom of speech when it not being done out in the real world.

Word Count: 800