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Is Censorship American? Nothing is more un-American than violating the Constitution. So how does it happen everyday in our country without even a blurb in the newspaper? Freedom of speech and freedom of the press were granted to United States citizens when the Bill of Rights was amended to the Constitution in 1791. By adding this to our constitution, it makes it illegal to restrict Americans from voicing their opinions.
Yet these rights are hindered and completely revoked constantly in our country. With terms like radio edit and edited for television becoming part of our daily vocabulary, Americans seem to neglect the injustice they stand for. Even before Americans right to freedom of speech was established with the Bill of Rights it was already upheld in our colonial courts with important cases like that of John Petter Zenger. The case of John Petter Zenger vs. Governor, William Cosby established freedom of speech in America before the United States of America was even established. In 1743, prior to the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791, John Petter Zenger was charged with seditious libel for his publication of the New-York Weekly Journal.
Zenger had created the Journal a year earlier to voice opposition to the policies of the newly-appointed royal colonial Governor William Cosby. After eight months in prison, Zenger went to trial under the defense of Andrew Hamilton. Zenger was released and all charges were dropped setting the precedent for cases of freedom of speech in America. This was a monumental decision in the history of the United States.
Although the Bill of Rights established many of the freedoms that our country is based on, it was not the end of Americans fight against censorship. Americans are being put on trial every day for exercising their right to freedom of speech, whether it is a trial held in the court room or the more common media trial. Many times these disputes are over song lyrics. Court cases like that of Ozzy Osbourne s song Suicide Solution shows that after 200 years American s still aren t quite sure of the meaning of free speech. It seems the most prevalent reason for quarrel over this issue resides in the censors mindset. Instead of trying to relate to the artist in question, they only see the few words or statements that make them uncomfortable.
Other cases are not taken to court, but given what some call a media trial. Trial is definitely not the best word to describe the swift judgment that has occurred with such modern rock songs as Nirvana s Rape Me and Everclear s Heroin Girl. Both of these songs were written in opposition of the topics they discuss, but the artists intent was deemed evil by the title alone. Democracy seems to mean that it is much easier to take someone to court than it is to try to relate to them, or even understand what they are trying to say. When we take away the right to express our views about controversial or uncomfortable topics we are not making them any better. Sweeping dirt under the rug is not cleaning, it is merely lying to yourself to save actual work.
In the same way, quieting bands or songs that are potentially offensive does not make the problems expressed disappear, only their voice. By bringing up issues such as premarital sex, drugs, homosexuality, or violence we are not promoting them. We are merely creating a forum in which to discuss and further understand them. Topics such as racism and more recently gay rights have been helped tremendously by television. The programs that accomplished this were not monumental or blatant about confronting these topics. They simply included ideas or type s of people that we may not run into in our daily life.
By taking away the people s voice, you take away their power. Democracy is based on power of the people, and assumes that the participating citizens are informed and conscience of their surroundings. Unfortunately, in the American definition of democracy neither one of these is true. Americans are conscience only of the filtered reality that is fed to us day after day from birth to death. If you take a step back you might start to wonder what you ve been missing. 334
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Research essay sample on Freedom Of Speech Bill Of Rights
