Media Censorship

Watching South Park should be a wake up call for those who love morality and uprightness in society. The greatest challenge for the next generation is how the current one treats the use of censorship in general. Censorship is not an infringement on the freedom of speech; rather, it is a moral duty to make sure that we raise men and women who can be trusted with steering the nation to greater heights. Although freedom of speech is an institutional right, which allows people to speak freely and express facts and opinions without censorship, this freedom must be subject to reasonable limitations. Indeed, people ought to speak freely without interference or intimidation from the government (Batura 23). However, although freedom of speech is necessary for a nation to be democratic, it should not be allowed to the extent that it ruins young children, and by extension, the next generation. This essay will discuss why music censorship is necessary. The paper will show that sexual content (as used in the South Park), the use of offensive words (Hip-hop music), and profanity (2 Pac) are harmful for the young generation.

Censorship describes the deliberate act of restricting the type and amount of information and ideas that flow into the public domain (Watson 41). Such information is filtered to the public through various channels including, public speeches, Television, radio, books, films, and news reports, among other channels of communication. Censorship practice may take various forms some of which include; censorship based on religion, censorship based on moral grounds, military censorship, politically instigated censorship, and corporate censorship (Magoon, 42). In contemporary society where technology is advancing so fast, censorship is good to keep the value systems upon which both current and future generations are founded.

Censorship is good for security reasons as well as socio-economic emancipation of any society. Every society needs people of high morality for it to continue experiencing growth and prosperity. To draw an analogy from the military, it is not wise to expose a country’s military intelligence because this would compromise the country’s security. If this happens, there would be a high possibility for external attack. Indeed, it is a fact that women and children suffer the most if any war breaks. Other than external aggression, internal discontent may also emerge if media is allowed to send military discrediting content to the public (Batura 103). This scenario will replicate itself in the leadership structure of any nation. A morally rotten generation of leaders, those exposed to dirty music, has little to offer in terms of development. Studies show that young people try to put into practice whatever they see or hear. Therefore, there is a need to secure the young generation from any content that might injure their moral inclinations.

Society should allow the greatest good to flow from one generation to another. This would require censorship of any music content that does not have the right input on young people. South Park has songs written by Parker and sung by Hayes. The songs have a sexually suggestive connotation as in R&B, which might not be good for young children. Indeed, listening to music should be relaxing. Music should educate society and should carry words that are less offensive unlike what we see in hip-hop music. However, if music has content that is explicit and profane, then it is not good for people to listen to such music. 2 Pac is a good case of music with a lot of profanity and content that is not good for raising responsible citizen.

Censorship is a good thing since it would remove content that is obscene or indecent in the eyes of the public (Batura 104). One of the main reasons why censorship is good is because it allows for control of the content of the information going out to the public across various age groups consisting of both children and adults. Society has a moral duty to protect children from “vulgar, violent, and racist” information contents such as is found in the South Park. This is necessary to preserve morality in modern-day society where values are eroding at a very fast rate. For instance, children who are exposed to violent contents may grow up to become aggressive because of value perceptions they develop as they grow in such unprotected environments (Senker 35). Similarly, exposing girls to sexually abusive contents and pornographic videos may lure them into prostitution (Watson 41). Racist contents, even those for discouraging racism, must be regulated and applied with caution. Indeed, such messages are likely to generate negative attitudes in children towards others in society (Senker 36).

Those who oppose music censorship have several points, which are essentially valid to some extent. The main argument is that music is a way that people express their thoughts and feelings about an issue. In addition, they argue that it is one avenue of exercising freedom of speech as enshrined in the constitutions and protected under the First Amendment. According to the Universal Declaration of Human rights, all people have a right to freedom of opinion and expression (Goldstein 23). Therefore, freedom of speech forms part of the Universal Declaration of Human rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights empowers people to hold public opinions without interference from the government. Mass media face strong challenges in passing information to the public due to lack of protection against pre-censorship by radio and television talk shows. The media often determines in advance, what should be communicated by callers on talk shows. However, it is necessary for broadcasters to bar the callers who have discriminatory opinions (Batura 45).

It is necessary for people to have a right to their opinions, and a right platform to express their thoughts and feelings. The term freedom of speech might sound easy. However, ignorance towards freedom of speech may make the world to an extremely uncomfortable place. Furthermore, without the right to speak freely, most people would not be able to receive information of the happenings around the world. In addition, it would lead to no free religion, as well as, free thought. In most countries, freedom of speech provides protection in the free publication of issues of public interest (Goldstein 67). Freedom of speech is essential in securing matters that involve free discussion of public issues and measures. Consequently, freedom of speech can enable any citizen to accuse the government or any authoritative person by just criticism. However, it must be appreciated that music censorship is not an infringement on the rights of the citizens. There are explicit and obscene things like the sexually explicit content in the South Park. Hip-hop is full of offensive words that should not be uttered in public. On the other hand, 2 Pac uses profane language in all his music. Such content is harmful to society, and especially the young people. People appreciate censorship in many ways. For instance, football payers are punished for uttering unnecessary words or for obscene actions. This is a form of censorship, and most people do not complain when players are punished for the same. It is the same if society wants to see children grow in a disciplined and responsible way. Indeed, for society to achieve socio-economic emancipation, respect and order are necessary. These can be achieved by exposing people to good moral always.

Works Cited

Batura, Paul. Good Day!: The Paul Harvey Story, Washington D.C: Regnery Publishing, 2011. Print.

Goldstein, R. Justin. The war for the public mind: political censorship in nineteenth-century Europe. Wesport: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000. Print.

Magoon, Kekla. Media Censorship. Minnesota: ABDO Publishing, 2009. Print.

Senker, Cath and Gifford, Clive. Violence on the Screen. London: Evans Brothers, 2010. Print.

Watson, Chris. In the public good? Censorship in New Zealand. Dunmore Press, 1998. Print.