Freedom

Freedoms of speech and Internet censorship have been arguable issues since before I became the web designer of www.true-emotions.net. Individuals express logical complaints and concerns according to their personal beliefs. In doing so, most fail to realize we live in a diverse population. Different cultures have different beliefs. What one society finds offensive may be acceptable in other societies. Individuals do not have the right to judge each other and force their values on them. On True-emotions.net I proudly display the Blue Ribbon Campaign button. This campaign helps to bring attention to on-line censorship and freedom issues both locally and globally. The first amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." This means that everyone should have the right to these freedoms.

With all the crime going on around us, as a mother, I realize that our children's safety has become our number one concern. I realize that the information on the Internet can influence our children in a negative way. However, my opinion about Internet censorship remains the same: Every man, woman, or child should have the right to access information about any subject they deem of personal interest. If a parent wants to prohibit their child's involvement with diverse information that conflicts with their beliefs, then they need to take full responsibility for the child's values. Public information isn't the problem. There are greater concerns a parent could have, such as drug abuse, peer pressure and Education. The Internet though a carrier of all three, can be used to inoculate a child against potentially harmful issues.

Parents don't realize the day-to-day dangers that their children face. Public bathrooms are full of pornographic information, drawings and plenty of chances to understand the meanings of them. Television provides graphic views of explicit material including talk shows, soap operas, cartoons and even the 6-o-clock news, Today's music is full of sexual, violent material that leaves impressions on our children. Social experiences between peer groups provide children with information they hold in high regards. Ever realize how we become stupid as we grow older in the eyes of our children? Peer pressure from an in-crowd influences their judgment. This is how many females lose their virginity. This is how many kids begin experimenting with drugs. This is how we lose them.

How about Internet censorship at the libraries? Do parents realize the books at the library contain pages and pages of diverse information? One day last summer I picked up books written about prison issues. Explicit stories about rape, drugs and violence filled the pages. There are photos in some of the books that are explicit; they show non-educational photos of human anatomy. Isn't that what you want to censor? If stories about intimacy, premarital sex, teen pregnancies, and all other issues are against your beliefs, how do you control it? I don't see the parents that are rallying for Internet censorship taking the books off the local library shelves.

As a student at Highline Community College, I had the privilege of taking Psych 120 taught by Dr. Bob Baugher, Ph.D. In his lectures, Dr. Baugher explains that parents should spend quality time with their children and psychologically inoculate them. This term means to educate the child about the subject of concern. Educate them with the good, the bad, and the ugly concerning problematic areas. He says, " If you don't someone else will!" I have always done this with my kids. When I told them about sex I told them sex is a wonderful experience. I told them I prefer they wait until marriage before engaging in sexual relations. I told them about sexually transmitted disease, and how condoms can prevent the spread of them. I also told them that condoms don't always work.

Education is diverse, it comes in many forms and it's our responsibility to explain the different types. When a child is taught sexuality is bad, dirty, and wrong it interests them more. When they are shown the human body is a piece of art, a spiritual temple, an admirable thing, they hold different values. A child who is raised with this frame of thought will be less likely to let go of their virtue. They are also less likely to hold physical beauty as such a high quality when choosing friends. If a person catches their child reading "Playboy" magazine, or looking at porn sites online, a parent then has two choices. They can jerk the child away from the situation or sit down and explain why you don't agree with this kind of situation. By jerking them away you reduce the chance of open communication and respect, not to mention the child will just find another way to see it. What I'm saying is: show the child the difference don't just lecture them.

While doing research on this project, I came across an article on the Internet, written by a seventeen-year-old young man named Daniel Silverman. Daniel is a student at Foothill High School who was been affected by Internet censorship in his school. His article explains how many sites have been blocked because they contained diverse subjects at one time or another. He goes on to say that even if the various materials are removed, the censorship of that particular isn't. He lists sites he has found banned, including "stop prisoner rape", Atheism sites, free speech sites like peace-fire; even Planned Parenthood is on the banned list. Sadly while these important information sites are banned others, such as the Christian coalition and anti-gay movements are left open for student viewing. When Daniel launched a campaign concerning censorship, he found many supporters. In this article, he proves a very important point. He shows that children are going to get a hold of diverse material despite the censorship barriers we place on them. They will use whatever means they must to find out what they want to know. He said, "I revealed my method of by-passing the censorship software." Daniel was punished for his honesty. He was stripped of his Internet privileges. The school board threatened him with Suspension and possible prosecution. These were meaningless threats. Daniels stand on censorship is a controversial subject, but he has the right to voice his concerns. Children need to be taught to value their rights. Children should never be punished for standing up for their constitutional rights. After all, our children will lead this country one day.

As a citizen of the United States I am concerned with censorship as a whole. We have the obligation to our children to guarantee the rights we enjoy are available when they become adults. The Constitution is a book of laws. They are the laws of our nation. We have a responsibility to up hold these laws. Our founding fathers didn't put their blood, sweat, and tears into the creation of that document for their work to slip away. These men built this country on diversity. They knew people had the right to their own values. They gave us the right to express ourselves in the Constitution. Expression without retaliation in my opinion is a comforting thought. Then again, I am an activist by nature. I believe that when we allow the government officials to dictate what words we can use, photographs we can see, or what media we can view, we are allowing them to molest our Constitutional rights. I believe that by allowing one area of our constitution to be molested, we chance losing everything. Without a fight we may as well surrender and toss the values in the garbage.

With this I ask, when are Americans going to open their eyes and take a stand? Is it going to be when we are told how many children we can bare? Is it going to be when cameras are placed in our homes by the government to baby-sit us around the clock? I know these issues seem far-fetched but I fear they are closer than we care to admit. I love my country, and am grateful to live here. I respect the founding fathers. I pray that we can maintain the security of "Free Speech." I am going to continue to stand up for my beliefs. The question here is what are you as an American citizen going to keep a hold on your freedoms?