Hate Speech and Pornography - Essay Example

Philosophical Issues - Hate Speech and Pornography - Table of Contents I. Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 3 II. Definition of Words ………………………………………………………. 3 III. Philosophical Issues Behind Censoring Hate Speech ………………. 4 IV. Philosophical Issues Behind Pornography ……………………………. 5 V. Discussion and Conclusion ………...…………………………………… 6 References ………………………………………………………………………… 7 - 8 Introduction The U.S. Supreme Court highly regulates speech and other reading materials that contain images or information that could create social issues through censorship. In relation to the human rights, there has been an on-going debate with regards to the censorship of hate speech and pornography in the study of mass communication, political science, social psychology, education, and the library science in terms of the degree of drawing a limit in the freedom of expression. (Lambe, 2004) Each individual has their own attitude, personal opinion and views to consider when deciding as to whether or not it is right to regulate hate speech and pornography. For this study, the researcher will first define hate speech and pornography to give the readers a better understanding of the subject matter. Prior to the conclusion, the major philosophical issues behind censoring hate speech and pornography will be discussed in an details. Definition of Words Censorship – is the act of removing, suppressing or restricting the circulation of literary, artistic or educational materials that contains images, ideas and information that are not in morally accepted by the majority. (Reichman, 2003) Hate Speech – speech that is highly motivated by race, religion, gender, creed and sexual orientation which could de-humanize, violate, harass and intimidate a person’s civil rights. (Kingsley, 2004) Pornography – “the graphic sexually explicit subordination of women through pictures and/or words.” (Dworkin & MacKinnon, 1988) Philosophical Issues Behind Censoring Hate Speech Based on a research study, young individuals and religious groups are more willing to support the censorship behind hate speech as compared to the older people. On the other hand, the more educated the person is, the more they prefer not to censor hate speech. (Lambe, 2004) In general, hate speech is considered as a serious social and political problem since it could lead to a civil war causing a massive environmental destruction and deaths between two different states or neighboring countries. (Staub, 1989) A good example wherein a hate propaganda has resulted to a civil war happened in Congo back in 1998 up to 2003 wherein hate speech was used in developing a social and ethnic conflict between the tribes of Hema and Lendu causing as much as 7,000 deaths due to intention violent killing or massacre. (Vollhardt et al., 2007; Fisher, 2000) The media such as the TV and radio stations including the newspapers are the common tools used in delivering hate speech. The president and some of the government officials as well as some of the local tycoons have the political and financial capability to manipulate the people around them in order to satisfy their own personal interests. Since powerful individuals often have a direct access to different sources of media, it is easier for them to disrupt the social and political peace by being able to influence the publication or publicity of hate speech. In the end, hate speech causes a great impact over the people’s emotional responsiveness and an unfair misconception of certain politcal and social issues. Philosophical Issues Behind Censoring Pornography The survey study conducted by Lambe (2004) shows that the young individuals particularly the male population prefers not to impose any restrictriction to their access on pornographic materials as compared to the women and religious population who are more than willing to censor pornography. The problems with pornography is rooted on the social and psychological distraction which could negatively affect the life of another person. In general, young men who has an access to pornographic materials may become obsessed and addicted to sexual explicit materials which could encourage them to personally act what they have meticulously observed from pornographic images and texts. (Cline, 1990: 11, 1974; McGaugh, 1983: 161) Many people believe that an easy access on pornographic materials could increase the incidence of crime related to rape and murder cases since majority of sex offenders use pornography to arouse them before or during their sexual assualts. (Marshall, 1989; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1985) In line with this matter, statistics show that pornography has a significant effect to the increase in number of child molestation throughout Louisville and Kentucky back in July 1980 to February 1984. (Rabun, 1984) Aside from the fact that the use of pornographic materials could result to unreasonable exposure to sexual acts, incest, adultery, homosexuality and prostitution, religious groups are pro censorship of pornographic materials due to their personal belief that sexual acts is a gift of God to married couple and should not be exploited in any way outside the context of marriage. (1 Cor. 7:2-3) Discussion and Conclusion There is a strong need to censor hate speech due to the fact that this type of speech is often contains a one-sided or bias opinions about social and political issues. (Radio Netherlands Media Network, 2004) In most cases, hate speech contains unsupported and a whole lot of negative perception or expression which is pertaining to a specific person, a group, or the representative of a group. (Tsesis, 2002) In the absence of censorship on hate speech from the radio, TV, newspapers and the Internet, it is more likely for the political and social tension to increase due to the fact that it encourages and provoke violent acts between the different races, ethnic and social groups; two major political opponents who are fighting for the public sentiment or personal interests; or two different countries due to the conflicting political goals of each country. (Vollhardt et al., 2007) To minimize and avoid the possibility of a civil war, the U.S. government has no other choice but to regulate all forms of inappropriate programs and hate speech by implementing a total ban on airing offensive and bias information throughout the different communication networks. (Human Rights Watch, 2006; International Crisis Group, 2006) On the other hand, pornographic materials should be cencored in order to protect the social welfare and dignity of women agaisnt men. Due to the fact that the use of pornographic materials could sexually arouse men, this type of materials could motivate them in doing sex crimes and murder which could generally disrupt the social peace within the United States. *** End *** Conclusion Cline, V. B. (1990). Pornographys Effects on Adults and Children . New York: Morality in Media. p. 11. Cline, V. (1974). Where Do You Draw the Line? Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press. Dworkin, A., & MacKinnon, C. (1988). Pornography and Civil Rights: A New Day for Womens Equality. . Organizing Against Pornography. p. 36. FederalBureauofInvestigation. (1985). The Men Who Murdered. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 2-31. In Beasley, J.O. (2004). Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders. Behavioral Sciences and the Law , 22:395 - 414. Fisher, I. (2000, February 13). The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Congos War Overshadows Tribal Fight: http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/africa/021300congo-war.html Human Rights Watch. (2006, October 26). Retrieved March 21, 2008, from D.R. Congo: Halt Growing Violence Ahead of Elections: Presidential Candidates Must Act to Reduce Tensions Ahead of October 29 Vote: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/25/congo14441.htm International Crisis Group. (2006, October 2). Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Securing Congo’s Elections: Lessons from the Kinshasa Showdown: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=4412&l=1 Kingsley, A. (2004, April 16). The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Hate Speech Tough to Define: http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2004/04/16/University/Hate-Speech.Tough.To.Define-1358982.shtml Kutchinsky, B. (1973). The Effect of Easy Availability of Pornography on the Incidence of Sex Crimes: The Danish Experience. Journal of Social Issues , 29:163 - 181. Lambe, J. L. (2004). Who Wants to Censor Pornography and Hate Speech? Mass Communication & Society , 7(3):279 - 299. Marshall, W. (1989). Pornography and Sex Offenders," in Zillman D. and Bryant J. (eds) Pornography: Research Advances and Policy Considerations. New York: Academic. pp. 387 - 388. McGaugh, J. (1983). Preserving the Presence of the Past. American Psychologist. p. 161. Rabun, J. B. (1984). Testimony by John B. Rabun, deputy director of the National Center for Missing and Exploited children. Radio Netherlands Media Network. (2004, August 1). Retrieved March 21, 2008, from Counteracting Hate Radio: Definitions: www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/dossiers/definitions.html Reichman, H. (2001). Censorship and Selection: Issues and Answers for Schools. 3rd Edition. Chicago: ALA. Staub, E. (1989). The roots of evil. The origins of genocide and other group violence. New York: Cambridge University Press. Tsesis, A. (2002). Destructive Messages: How hate speech paves the way for harmful social movements. New York: New York University Press. Vollhardt, J., Coutin, M., Staub, E., Weiss, G., & Deflander, J. (2007). Deconstructing Hate Speech in the DRC: A Psychological Media Sensitization Campaign. Journal of Hate Studies , 5(15):15 - 35. Read More