What is censorship and what place does it have in democracy?
Censorship is the prevention of speech or other public communication (books, newspapers, movies, internet) which may be considered objective, sensitive or harmful to the general public as determined by a Government, media outlet or other controlling body (What is Censorship? 2002).
Democracy means a form government in which people have an equal say in one way or another in the decisions that affects their lives (definition – government by people) (Miroslav Kolar 2005).
There is not place for censorship in democracy. The government should not be able to hide important information to the public, just because it might hurt people’s feelings. For example the bill that the Christian Democratic Party introduced in the Upper House for to make it an “offence (maximum penalty $550) for a person, without reasonable excuse to wear a face covering in public place”(Funnell N 2010). Critics were quick to label the Bill the “burqa ban”. It should be up to the general public to decide whether or not they want a “band of the burqa”.
“There isn't as much censorship today as there was in Roman times, but people still disagree about what behavior is appropriate”(‘What is Censorship?’ 2002).
Reference list
Funnell N 2010 intolerance and censorship have no place in democracy, viewed 23 september 2011, via <http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/intolerance-and-censorship-have-no-place-in-democracy/>
Miroslav Kolar 2005, what is democracy, viewed 23 September 2011 via
‘What is Censorship?’ 2002, The Washington Post, issn. 0190-8286, p. C14 viwed 23 september 2011, via ProQuest Central database.
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