Issue: Censorship

“In some countries, television and radio programs are carefully censored for offensive language and behavior. In
other countries, there is little or no censorship.”
In your view, to what extent should government or any other group be able to censor television or radio programs?
Explain, giving relevant reasons and/or examples to support your position.
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Censorship is an issue, which is local to the country. It deals with people's perception of certain things. I strongly believe that censoring offensive languages and behaivior is important and should be done, but the extent to which it is done is really a question worth answering. Is the government a right representative of the society as a whole? Does giving vote to certain political party euivalent to giving right to such ruling bodies to decide what is good or bad for you? My opinion is that Censorship should be left on the individual, if he or she is grown-up or on the parents.

The chief reason for my view is that certain practice may be viewed as offensive to one set of people and absolutely fine to other set of people. So, if any local representative or government addresses such issue, this may be lead to differences within the society. The practice of purdah system, for instance, was clearly welcomed few years back but same act is now penalised. If a governemnt, which represents India as a whole, is headed by a person of different religion than that of people who practice purdah system, then this might give rise to riots.

The second reason for my view is Media and entertainment are reflection of the society. The television programs and news reflect the society's mindset. The scenerio is based on the maturity of the people around us and moreover, sometimes I ask myself "Is the society a reflection of violence shown in movies and news? or The movies and news channels are reflection of society." Today, the marriages of celebs, road accident of some person becomes a national news, but the actual news are never shown and we are made to run after the newpaper vendor to get the actualy news. Latest among these fads is "Sting operation". I ask the readers that aren't sting operations a violation of human right and should be censored. But yes, this might come under freedom of media from politics and thus government choses to air such stupid operations on prime time, no matter who is the viewer.

However, some people might argue that there is a need to draw a line. One can not just go and protect himself under constituutional right and until and unless Government takes a serious step, no one will understand its necessity. But, in my opinion, Governement is not the representative of our views. It is an individual who should choose between the good and bad. Hence, comes the need of fundamentals of childhood, the education and right oppurtunities. If these fundamentals are strong, there is absolutely no need for censorship.

So I conclude that Censorship is important, but Goverment should not decide on the content and the extend of doing it.