<p>On the surface, censorship seems objectionable because it limits our freedom. But all societies need to suppress or restrict information that is offensive or potentially harmful. People depend on the establishment of some limits, some way of making distinctions between what is right and what is wrong. Censorship is actually beneficial to a society because it helps to establish ideals of what is proper in such areas as art, music, and literature.</p>
<p>Assignment:
Should society limit people's exposure to some kinds of information or forms of expression?</p>
<br>
<p>The first step in making a decision is research. Without the gathering of information, we are left in the dark either to become a sitting ducks or impulsively agree to whichever option sounds best in the moment of offer. A society is only able to progress if all citizens have the ability to make the best decisions. This ability can only be made in a society free of sensorhip, as demonstrated in Orwell's 1984 and in the Tennis Court Oath of the French Revolution.</p>
<br>
<p>A society censored to the extreme is painted b Orwell in his quintessential novel on government control. The normal citizen knows only what the government chooses it to know, subsequently acting only as the government wants it to act. In a culture wehre the everyday man believes any government propaganda to be true, no matter how contradictory to his previous knowldege, people are fated to a form of emotonal and intellectual slavery. The governments' refusal to allow its constituents to know its plans in actions guarantees the loss of social mobility and economic progress. The genius of a lower class is oppressed, thereby robbing the world of her potential. The people cannot improve if they are barred from knowing their possibilities.</p>
<p>Not only should society avoid censorship for the people, but alo to avoid the collapse of society itself. During the Estates General, tensions were high between the privileged classes and the bourgeoisie. The middle-class constantly assumed all action taken by the king and aristocracy to be contrary to its aims. Because they were not given all information, chaos ensued. At one point the kind decideed to join the seperated Estates in one large meeting room. The Thrid Estate was not told of this. They were left to find their meeting room locked and so interpreted this as a sign of oppression. As a result, the Thrid Estate held a meeting at a nearby tennis cour and swore to ablish the ancien regime. If only there had been freedom of the press, the middle-class would have avoided such radical, and later violent, actions.</p>
<p>As discussed, censorship can only handicap progress and stifle freedom. Rather than enforce limits, society should encourage people to learn the truth.<</p>
<p>i'd love to hear what sort of score you think this would receive. thanks so much for any constructive criticism, as well!</p>