Humanity cannot thrive where there is censorship – Corrections

Humanity cannot thrive where there is censorship

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Censorship is important to keep things in order. Censoring certain content from society can prevent people to from becoming morally depraved. Censorship can be a great tool when used and handled correctly, but at the same time, it can be a powerful tool used against society because it sets limitations to knowledge, it keeps people from progress and and development, not to mention it also shelters the harsh realities that are present in today’s world.

Firstly, censorship sets limitations to knowledge, as exemplified in the novel Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury.

The novel explores how perusing books is against the law because books symbolize knowledge and inventiveness/individuality.

When Montag shows the books to his wife, Mildred is shocked and terrified to know that her husband has been stealing and hiding illegal books in their house. Mildred tries to burn the books. However, Montag stops her and convinced her to read a novel. Mildred becomes angry and says “Books aren’t people. You read, and I look all around, but there isn’t anybody… Why should I read? What for?” (Chapter 2.)

In this quote Mildred views TV’s as her family; TV shows have become her reality and a source of happiness as she says, “They tell me things, I laugh, they laugh and all the colours” she views books as irrelevant and trouble provoking, she fails to see why reading is beneficial and asks Montag for what reason should she read, when TV tells you what you need to know.

Not to mention China’s government has control over any sources and media Chinese citizens get to access, their ability to access media and news are strictly controlled by the government therefore citizens don’t connect with people from other countries and are rarely informed about political and social issues that are not related to China. Censorship has also affected people’s business deals, for instance Chinese investors in Africa have suffered huge losses due to their instability and lack of knowledge on the continent and the failure of some mainland companies to fully grasp local conditions.

 

With some countries applying media censorship, people from unprivileged countries, may experience a lack of innovation and advancement in technology. Having access to the internet can have an effective impact on learning, which can be used to the country’s privilege. By being able to use the internet, society can access information that is readily available unlike books and TV. When people are withheld from accessing information, there will be lesser improvement in people’s lives and the country.

Some countries use censorship as a weapon against society, to mask the truth about social and political issues that people deserve to know. Powerful and influential people censor information from people that can harm their reputation and wrong doings. Government takes advantage of this opportunity so that illegal activities between governments and private affairs are not known to people.

In the movie V for Vendetta, by Alan Moore, the government is not allowing the public to have access to certain types of literature, music, and art. However, V has access to it all in his private library. V was determined to make a change in the government and make a new start, that is why he started a war against the government “Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.”

V has access to the books that are forbidden by the government, because people will figure out how to make explosives easily if books are provided. Although the government was not able to censor them from V, he gave access to the books to people. He Impersonated and lied to Evey to help her open her eyes and realize the reality they are living in.“Artists use lies to tell the truth. Yes, I created a lie. But because you believed it, you found something true about yourself.”

In conclusion, Bradbury was right: Humanity cannot thrive where there is censorship because it hides the truth that the people deserve to know, it controls and leaves less room for progress in countries that are less privileged, and it creates problems within society

 

Reflection:

two things I’m proud of is the research I put into this essay and I was able to reference V for Vendetta which I really liked.

There was mistakes that I had to correct but after the corrections it turned out better. I’d work on wording things in a better way.