on CENSORSHIP

In order to better identify my opinion on censorship, I decided to find the source of censorship, since it certainly hasn't been around forever.

Censorship, although now divided and widespread, was at first simply the filtering of ideas. Greeks and Romans as well as the Chinese censored public opinions and transcripts in order to maintain order in their people. The job of censoring these things was considered honourable for that reason. So, as the efficiency of type improved and authors were able to distribute their works more freely, censorship laws cracked down. Especially the Catholic Church did not want anything to do with ideas they deemed heretic. The more complex and connected a society, the more the authorities wanted to regulate the flow of ideas and thus, we get lots of different kinds of censorship.

Obviously, it all goes downhill from there. It took the whole renaissance to halt the laws spread by the church regarding nudity. Michealangelo's Sistine Chapel cieling even revolted some church officials due to its' "lude" depictions of the human body. And that wasn't even a total reformation, as shortly afterwards people decided to "artfully censor" "distasteful areas" of the human body with leaves and such. People seem to be really conflicted with genitalia and what it means. In my honest opinion, it means nothing if depicted in a tasteful and understated manner. Even that's a conservative opinion considering genitalia and even a woman's breasts are part of the human body and there's absoltuley no reason why people should try to eliminate such "taboo" parts of the body from public society.

"'Taboo' parts of the body" sounds ridiculous anyway, because it is. Americans in particular are very touchy about censorship of the human body, and it is thus considerably rare to find a nude or topless beach here, compared to in Europe. Frankly I'm appalled at the way Americans deal with censorship. They censor everything, from exposure to tobacco, drug and alcohol use in films and television to very minor nudity such as exposed buttocks. It's even a bit sexist as to what is considered the most unnaceptable here, since female nudity is considered less severe than male nudity.

What's in nudity that's so bad anyway? It's not like we're showing people "in the act" if we allow a little bit here and there. Women's breasts are just like mens' only fuller, and they certainly aren't just sex symbols. Hell, some men have larger breasts than some women. There's no reason why we should censor them just because they belong to a woman. In fact, I refuse to associate breasts with sexual intercourse whatsoever. They feed babies, of all things. Many times I've been appalled at the reaction my fellow students take to the exposure of breasts in classical art. It shouldn't be such a big deal. It just shouldn't.

A lot of times when you're trying to maintain order,  you don't need to be so strict. It's probably this country's refusal to deal with safe sex and human sexuality (which are HUGE parts of society whether we like it or not, even if not especially in teens,) that gives it unacceptable percentages in STDs, pregnancy, and sexuality-related suicide amoung teens. The same thing goes for alchohol abuse.

Anyone can have their beleifs and play by their own rules, but the thing we need to understand is one group's ideals should not, should NEVER play into the lives of others. I have a lot to write about censorship especially the extreme and subtle varieties of censorship which this country has developed regarding gay couples and gay marriage. Most appaling is the censorship of current events, but, I will save that for another day.

I'd really appreciate it if you commented and told me your own opinions about censorship, if and why you agree or disagree with me, etc. I am truly and passionately interested in anything any of you might have to say.