Censorship In The Literature - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1811 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Censorship Essay Did you like this example? Censorship is defined as the practice of removing explicit, vulgar, and highly objectional material. Free expression is one of the base roots for the first amendment, although the first right had been tested and altered throughout time. From elementary to secondary education, books have been banned for racial issues, sexually explicit, offensive language, and many more reasons to protect kids. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Censorship In The Literature" essay for you Create order The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was banned based on the racism in the book, but in 1885 when the book was written, racism was how the world lived back then. Books should not be challenged or censored at the elementary or secondary educational levels because they offer students a look into reality and the world of imagination. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 was signed by President Bill Clinton, sparking a great debate about freedom of speech that is protected by the first amendment. The act was first made only via internet, but the same reason books are banned is the same reason the act was signed and passed because of obscene or indecent messages. Congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right to petition the government for a redress of government (LII). More than 11,300 books have been banned since 1982 and the growing trend of banning books will not stop. The right to speak and the right to publish under the First amendment has been interpreted widely to protect individuals and society from government attempts to suppress ideas and information, and to forbid government censorship of books, magazines, and newspapers (Admin). People often feel the need to protect children and omit offensive material, but it is cruel to show children and to make them think that there are no flaws in the world. As literature became much more realistic, dealing with social and personal problems. Books started to become real and for parents that scared them. People complain about the use of language and obscenity, but they are actually denying the authors ideas presented. Many Books in todayrs society are important to people because of their historical value and the factual value. Donelson concluded that censorship is increasing. He also found that many of the books protested are considered important literature by critics, that some constructive items did not appear in the list of those challenges, that many young adult novels are under increasing attack, and that protesters are trying to protect young people from reality and dangerous books. (Hansen) Books that have historical value and factual value have been proven to be banned for examples, the book Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl because the book was too depressing but in the real-world Anne Frank lived in poverty because of the Holocaust. In todayrs society parents are known as Lawnmower Parents because parents will mow down any person or obstacle that stands in the way of th e saving their kids from problems. Life is not all roses, in the real-world racism, alcohol, drugs are a nonfictional and should not be censored. The book Huckleberry Finn is banned because of the word Nigger but in the real world using that word in 1883 was normal and wasnt considered being racist. The book has been adjusted but it teaches people that during the 1800rs that was the way of life. The same way goes with a modern books for example, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The book is about a native American boy who leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation so that he can attend an all-white high school. The book was banned based on drugs, alcohol, smoking, offensive language and more, but in real life Indian reservations get money from the government and some people often spend it on drugs and alcohol. Also, the book was banned because of the factual value that Indians dont believe in higher education, and the book talks about a boy who wants out of t he reservation and attend an all-white school, but Indians often blame the white people for putting them into poverty and giving them underdeveloped houses and schools. Books are banned for the inanest reasons, but people all over the world want to make a world where drugs, alcohol, and sexual illustrations do not exist and thatrs where the term lawnmower parents comes alive. Historical books are not the only books that are banned, even fictional books are banned for example, Harry Potter series, and The Hunger Games series. Harry Potter was banned for magic and leading kids to read and attempt spells and curses that are in the book. In the later series of Harry Potter concerns came more towards the violence and the increase of darkness. But mostly the books were banned based on religious reasons. Parents were outraged with the imagination that magic was fun and happy, but the real world was opposite of that. Anyone who practiced witchcraft were burned alive or even worse. People including parents want to censor educational and fundamental material so that children wont have to realize the past mistakes society produced. The Hunger Game series was another fictional story that was banned for many reasons including, Occult/satanic, offensive language, and religious viewpoints. If protesters actually read the book, no magic or witchcraft happens. The only th ing not normal was how the future was advanced in technology where it was better than what people have now. The words in the book are pretty mild for swear words, buy each family is different about what their kids hear and by the time they are young adults, they most likely heard curse words on tv or from the observation of people. Not only was offensive language and occult/satanic reasons for banning, but a religious viewpoint was one of the many reason the book was banned. The novel has no religious viewpoints. There are no symbols of religion or churches, but some people believe hope is religious, but hope can be there for everyone, through anything, and that is what the book series is based on is finding hope in the most impossible environment. These two books are only a small fraction of fictional books ever banned based on ridiculous accusations. Every person who gets involved with debates over literary censorships think they are doing the right thing for students. Advocates for censorship think that exposing children to books like Huckleberry Finn in high school will pollute their minds with racist slur at a time where they have to find out what to believe in. The debate over literacy censorship in schools was never a debate about whether literature should be banned overall. Most of all parents, teachers, and administrators would agree that censorship is the right step to make it necessary to maintain a good environment for students to learn: People who believe that parents and other adults should be able to remove or ban books from libraries argue that they have the right to decide what material their children are exposed to and when; that children should not be exposed to sex, violence, drug use, or other inappropriate topics in school or public libraries; and that keeping books with inappropriate content out of libraries protects kids but doesnt stop people for reading those books or prevent authors from writing them. People who believe that no one should be able to ban or remove books from libraries argue that parents may control what their own children read, but dont have a right to restrict what books are available to other people; that frequently challenged books help people get a better idea of the world and their place in it; and that books are a portal to different life experiences and reading encourages empathy and social-emotional development. (Banned Books) The debate was over whether or not to have the line was drawn at Huckleberry Finn because if the book was great twenty years ago, then why all of a sudden is the book is not a good read for students? Anyone who has read the book is doing alright today. If the book was able to survive the battle of time, then the book has to be worth something. The point the author was trying to make when the racist slurs was a simple misinterpretation. Students, when given the opportunity would always turn down reading a book. Therefore, the teachers expose students to unconventional literature books. There is a huge difference between the meaning of removing books from curriculum and removing a book from the library. When the book is still in the library, the students will still have access to them. It is better to read books and learn through class discussions. The reason why itrs better is because the teacher can help explain parts of the book that are unclear and point out why racial slur, and profanity was used for a purpose. When students read the book by themselves, they often dont understand the meaning of what the author is trying to show. Authors have the right to say whatever they want in the books they are writing. High schools censor and ban books because they think that some material is inappropriate for high schoolers. When schools censor ideas, students become increasingly interested in such subjects and typically discover some clandestine means to gain to these taboo ideas (Petress). Schools nowadays are not like schools in the 80rs. Schools have to be prepared for a rapid change in technology and change in society. The role censorship plays in schools vary; in some schools they are against censorship, they usually discuss and read books or material that is highly censored. Other schools are for censorship; they believe schools should not teach the youth about sex, or violence in historical moments. It is argued that censorship is only valid, ethical, and required when it appears to be only way to avoid that censorship is only valid, ethical, and required to be the only way to avoid or to mitigate provable outc omes for students, teachers, or the school itself (Petress). In a famous court hearing Tinker v. Des Moines school District (1969) two fifteen-year-old boys and a thirteen-year-old girl wore black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War and showed that they were for Robert F. Kennedyrs promise to extend truce in the war. But when the studentrs peers joined in on their protest, school administration wanted to play chess and make a move to stop the protest, isolate the students, and punish them for doing a harmless act. The effects of book banning affect more than students, it affects many more such as authors, religious groups, and other citizens. When books get banned, it puts limitations on the amount a person can read or learn about topics. The act of banning books is a key component in the book, Fahrenheit 451, as well as in society.

Institutionalized Ritual in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, is a terrifying, tension filled masterpiece of an ancient human practice set present day America, 1948. Jackson’s dark, short story is about a rural farming village on the east coast, who, like other villages around them, conduct a yearly â€Å"lottery.† It begins in the town square in the month of June, where the schoolchildren are gathering stones while awaiting the arrival of their respective families. When the lottery is formally started, roll call is initiated followed by that particular person walking up to the â€Å"black box† and removing a slip of paper without looking at it. Once the names of all the villagers are called, everyone looks at their own slips of paper, even the woman and children. The villager with the black circle is the winner of that year’s lottery and as such, is chosen to die by stoning from the other villagers. It is important to note that The Lottery is written just after World War II, in the years following the holocaust. Jackson moves to reconstruct how Germans, at the time, were able to turn a blind eye and accept a barbaric act of purging their neighbors as a societal norm. The reaction to this short story made Shirley Jackson famous; she set off emotional waves coast to coast of hatred and denial in regards to the meaning of the text. Through a Marxism analysis, it is easier to understand how a society as a whole accepts an institutionalized ritual as a part of everyday life. Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery was publishedShow MoreRelatedThe Theme Of Luck In The Lottery And The Rocking Horse Winner1514 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Thesis Statement This paper will examine the theme of luck in both The Lottery and The Rocking Horse Winner and show how in both narratives good luck and bad luck are excuses for good and bad decisions. Outline Introduction The Theme of Luck How Both Stories Use the Theme of Luck to Unearth the Real Causes of Tragedy in Peoples Lives The Lottery and Institutionalized Stoning The Sinful Nature of Men The Inversion of the Golden Rule Mrs. Hutchinsons Death Whose Fault?

Immigration Policy of Donald Trump Free Essays

string(148) " hearing before a neutral decision maker and a chance to tell their side of the story before the government unfortunately takes away their liberty\." President Donald trump throughout his campaign leading up to his presidency has expressed his desire to fix what he liked to call a big problem in immigration policy. Such as building a larger wall at the United states Mexican boarder. December 2015, Trump proposed a temporary ban on foreign Muslims entering the United States. We will write a custom essay sample on Immigration Policy of Donald Trump or any similar topic only for you Order Now This Ban caused major concerns and cries for help leaving many stuck at the Airports. The Ban of only Muslims in the United States is illegal so therefore people were outraged. As mentioned throughout Donald Trump’s campaign there were three core ideas he mainly focused on which I believe won the â€Å"White Vote† and those whom agreed with his views. â€Å"A nation without borders is not a nation. A nation without laws is not a nation. Nation that does not serve its own citizens is not a nation† (Donald trumps immigration plan PDF). Most can agree plenty have suffered and have risked their life’s to come into our country to work and achieve the â€Å"American Dream†. America is the land of the free and we welcome everyone and anyone. According to Mark Kirkorian (2014) â€Å"Amnesty, is of course the most controversial part of any immigration plan. It permits illegal immigrants to keep positions that could be filled by Americans looking for full time work† (p.141). However, jobs that these immigrants are working at, most Americans would not consider working or even have a desire to work at. Some may complain that jobs do not pay enough, price of living is expensive however if you came into this country with just the shirt on your back and are working to provide for your family those jobs are being taken with pride. On January 25, 2017, Trump signed Executive Order 13768 which, among many other things, significantly increased the number of immigrants considered a priority for deportation. During Obama’s presidency, an immigrant ruled removable would only be considered a priority to actually be physically deported if they were convicted of serious crimes such as felonies or multiple misdemeanors. When Congress passed the 1965 law, it hoped to protect not just immigrants, but also American citizens in general, who should have the right to sponsor their family members or to marry a foreign-born spouse without being subject to discrimination. Many Americans felt Trumps agenda was not American like and plenty did not agree which sparked large protests around the country, which definitely made a movement to protect those who fell under the term most call â€Å"immigrants†. The Immigration Act of 1924 shortened the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States through a national origins quota. The quota provided immigration visas to two percent of the total .The quota system which is a policy of shortening the number of minority group members in a business firm or school. Prior to the passage of the Immigration Act of 1882, the United States Congress had passed two significant acts regarding immigration. The first was the Page Act of 1875, which restricted the immigration of forced laborers coming from Asia. â€Å"The clear aim of this law was to restrict the entry of immigrants from the southern and Eastern Europe while welcoming relatively large numbers of newcomers from Britain.† (U-S History.Com) This order obviously arguably violates both a federal statute and one or more sections of the Constitution depending on whether the immigrant is already in the U.S. In the end, opponents’ best hope for undoing the order might rest on the separation of church and state. Trump’s order bars the entry of any refugee for 120 days, and Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also bans citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days. This order can potentially affect more than 20,000 refugees, along with thousands of students nationwide which is definitely a major issue . Depending on how it is enforced, it could also impact as many as hundreds of thousands of green card holders, or immigrants with permanent residency in the US in fear of not being let back in if they are to leave and visit family members. Many have disagreed and challenged the order in court. A U.S. District Court judge in Brooklyn, New York, issued a ruling that halted the enforcement of Trump’s ridiculous executive order the day after he signed it. According to Mark Karlin (2012) â€Å"The overwhelming majority of migrants from Mexico who seek undocumented entrance to the US are desperate, not gold diggers. They are often victims of an indigenous subsistence agricultural and rural economy that is disappearing, due to NAFTA and US subsidized of American farmers, who can sell for lower competitive prices just south of the boarder† (p.121) Judges in at least four other states followed suit seeing this as a threat and how this can become a major issue with our new President. Trump’s supporters of course defend the order’s legality based on a federal immigration statute passed in 1952 that allows the president to suspend the U.S. entry of â€Å"any class of aliens.† I believe there are several major arguments that can challenge the legality of the order. There is, critically, another federal statute that outlaws discriminating against a person regarding issuing visas based on the person’s â€Å"nationality, place of birth, or place of residence,† which Trump’s order is based on and claims it is not. This second statute was passed in 1965 and is more specific. Courts have enforced this anti-discrimination ban strictly. This is the strongest argument against President Trump’s order. But Congress can repeal the 1965 statute, as it can with any law. A Republican-controlled Congress might do that, however concerns have raised by some GOP lawmakers may make that unlikely. Recent court orders placing a pause enforcement of the Trump order relied on a legal argument that it violated due process or equal protection under the Constitution. The due process means people receive safeguards, such as an advance notice, a chance at a hearing before a neutral decision maker and a chance to tell their side of the story before the government unfortunately takes away their liberty. You read "Immigration Policy of Donald Trump" in category "Papers" Equal protection means that the government must treat people equally as they should always, and can’t discriminate on the basis of race, alien status, nationality, and other irrelevant factors. Several people can agree with the Supreme courts view, even immigrants who are not citizens or green card holders have due process and equal protection rights, if they are physically here in the U.S.. That is why the recent court orders on due process and equal protection help only individuals who were in the States at the time the court ruled. The repulsive manner in which the recent order was drafted and enforced, with no set chance for affected individuals to plead their case, maybe there are some valid due process arguments against the ban. But, those can be fixed by letting people have their say as that is the American thing to do. Once that’s done, the remaining issue is whether the executive order violates equal protection by intentionally discriminating against Muslims. Trump of course denies the order is a â€Å"Muslim ban,† even though he called for exactly that during the campaign, and each of the seven countries subject to the ban is majority Muslim. When explaining why those seven countries were chosen, the order cites the Obama era law stating that persons who in recent years have visited one of these seven terrorism-prone nations would not be eligible under a â€Å"visa waiver† program. Similarly, says Trump, the defining characteristic here is terrorist danger, not religion. That’s why only seven of more than 40 majority Muslim countries are affected. One big problem with Trump’s argument is that the order also seems to prioritize admitting Christian refugees which can certainly cause concern as to why they were singled out to be prioritized. By saying that once the 120-day ban on all refugees expires, priority goes to those of â€Å"a minority religion in the individual’s country.† Supporters can rightly argue this â€Å"minority religion†. It never mentions Muslims or Christians. But, with the country-specific ban targeting seven Muslim countries, the two can’t help themselves to want to reach out and help Christians. However days before signing the order, Trump told the Christian Broadcasting Network he intended to prioritize Christian refugees. Another argument against the president’s order which many will find interesting as well as agree. By picking favorites among religions, it certainly violates the separation of church and state under the Constitution’s Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Though Establishment Clause law, it basically states one clear point is that the government cannot favor one religious denomination over another, that is not what our leader should be doing. This just might arguably be the most important of the constitutional rights. As mentioned to the big story on Trumps executive order â€Å"If the case does end up before the Supreme Court, it could prove difficult to find the necessary five votes to undo a lower court order. The Supreme Court has been at less than full strength since Justice Antonin Scalia’s death a year ago. The last immigration case that reached the justices ended in a 4-4 tie.†. (â€Å"Travel Ban Case† 2017) In conclusion, I believe illegal immigrants should be allowed into America. These hard working immigrants are a vital part of the American economy, they contribute way more money to the government than they receive in benefits which is to me is incredible and it makes you wonder how they manage to make ends meat but want a better future. I feel as though current immigration policies are undoubtedly discriminatory. It is Americas responsibility to insure that all people seeking freedom and a better life can have a chance to fulfill their dreams. Restrictive immigration policies are intrinsically discriminatory. Any immigration policy, except a completely open-door policy, is considered discriminatory to most. Many Americans fear open border policies because of the rampant illegal immigrant stereotypes. Most people feel as though Mexicans are trouble makers. Some might feel jobs are being taken as mentioned before. Those who live in the US I feel are and should be well aware not everyone is willing to work nor do they have the desire to better themselves. By welcoming everyone and anyone into our beautiful country can help with economic growth and make our country into the hard working and friendly country we have been looked at as. Immigration also gives legal immigrants opportunities for employment as normal Americans, providing that they know English. I believe the stereotype of the lazy Mexican is untrue. Me personally Ive never met a lazy Mexican in my life. If everyone were to ask an illegal or even legal immigrant why they came to this country I can be certain they will be honest with you and inform you they wanted a better life. Illegal immigrants have a positive effect on the American economy. History has shown that prosperity follows immigration. Trumps new rule on those whom are hoping to receive asylum into the US hasn’t been much of an uproar but im sure it will be. According to the Daily breeze â€Å"Last year US Citizenship and Immigration services which deals with asylum claims handled 94,048 cases, nearly double the 48,042 cases the agency handled in 2015 and more than 16 times the 5,523 cases in 2009.† (â€Å"Asylum rule†2017) Illegal workers provide a flexible, low cost labor pool for United States companies, therefore allowing local companies to compete with inexpensive imports from cheap labor companies. The fear of being taken and losing everything you have worked so hard to build in a new country due to a new President would be devastating to those. Some have questioned if the new President is the modern day Hitler by which he wants to clean house firing a handful of those who once worked close to president Obama. Another issue is the fact that President Trump is slowly making it to become a dictatorship country such as what Hitler had done. Our nations main priority should be to find ways, within reasonable national security policies, to welcome refugees not to just turn our backs on them and deny them sanctuary. Everyone has a dream when coming to America we should welcome them with open arms and boarders. We should also be reminded that many of the refugees from Muslim countries became displaced because of wars in which the United States has participated. To conclude my research I would have to disagree with President Trump and all of his actions he has taken to place chaos inside the white house as well as in the United States. I along with plenty upset Americans would have to say I am personally offended by the disrespect and behavior our new leader if you will, has behaved. Presidents are meant to lead and be a voice of all people. However this is not what he is doing and is not taking his job seriously. Immigration has given the United States some positive factors. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, â€Å"Remember, remember always, that all of us are descended from immigrants and revolutionists† (Cornelius 197), which I feel is true, because if we were not here the United States would not be as prosperous as it is now these facts are true, I still feel that immigration should be restricted. We are all human of different Race, Color, Gender and religion, however this does not give the right for anyone to be treated unfairly or single any one out for their differences. God has created us uniquely different and if we all stick together we can make the positive change that we so deserve. President trump as many have protested against in hopes for him to change and be a better president and fight for not one specific race but for all of the races will be determined. I feel as though he took on a job he can not fulfill and is causing more problems than what he is doing to help our country. â€Å"In 1948 Congress passed the Displaced Persons allowing more than 400,000 people made homeless by the war to come to this country† (Kennedy, 1962, P. 125). America is and will always be a great country, our president does not define who we are as people individually and we all will fight for what is right. The news as well as judges do not agree on what he is doing and they have stood up for what is wrong in their eyes. This research has made me dig deeper into this situation and has made me realize how policies that may affect everyone can have a major impact to all. How to cite Immigration Policy of Donald Trump, Papers