Censorship and New York Times

Susan Jacoby was a journalist since the age of seventeen and she is well known for her feminist writings. Susan Jacoby was referred as a “First Amendment junkie” by some other women for her personal views concerning the censorship of pornography in society. She gestated that censorship of any kind against pornography was wrong. Susan Jacoby did not necessarily agree with pornography, but still she felt that its rights guaranteed under the First Amendment should not be excluded. She is not advocating for off seen material but she is worried even important and vital issue for women may be censored.

It takes away the choice of the individual, when government steps in and censors something. This is what she believed as there is no such thing as an overdose of the First amendment. Ans2) Though writer talks about some feminists who try to censor pornography that appeals to some heterosexual adult male but, in last two paragraphs she discuss about the television and children. Yes, in my opinion second last paragraph about television and children are connected with Jacoby’s overall argument. This is because, she relates the feminist porn opponents.

She also believes that pornography is more harmful to women then other forms of hate or offensive speech. She disqualifies the “kiddy porn” argument as kiddy porn being an issue of child abuse, not an issue of free speech. She argues that women’s reactions to the same nude pictures are as varied as the women themselves. A main argument made was that censoring of porn could lead to the censoring of other women’s issues. She is even worried that if these kinds of issues are ignored or considered as a part of first amendment, the serious issues of women, such as; rape and other vital issues of women could be censored.

So, in my opinion, her argument is correct as all her arguments are related and a serious issue. Ans3) In final paragraph she has specified that she is amendment junkie, because she has written in second paragraph of her article that she was called first amendment junkie by her friends and even by some booklovers. At the mean time, some other women tagged Susan Jacoby as a First Amendment junkie for her personal views regarding the censorship of pornography in organization. Hence, her views and ideas along with some examples of involvements in her life, she admits that she is the first amendment junkie.

Ans4) Susan Jacoby, the writer of the article first appeared in the New York Times magazine, doesn’t believe that First Amendment is applicable in all terms and conditions. Well, the First Amendment includes the right to freedom of press, assembly, speech, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances and implied rights of beliefs and association. She is against mainly the kid porn and pornography, she clarify that these stuffs shouldn’t be published or censored. Therefore, some of the feminists and readers believe that she is the First Amendment Junkie and as well as she is often exaggerating.

Ans5) The First Amendment, best known for liberties and securities, bans the establishment of a state-supported church, requires the split of church and state, and guarantees freedom of adoration, of speech and the press, the rights of amiable assembly, association and petition. But this amendment does not permit racket pointless on the road or spreading false news about others in the society or even hurting and offending the member of the society and disturbing them without any reason.

Hence, this amendment as inferred by Supreme Court today does not authorize unnecessary claims but only supports in related and necessary claims. Ans6 ) Jacoby in the ninth paragraph of her essay implies that, permitting prosecution of persons on obscenity charges will lead eventually to censorship of “open discussion” of important issues such as “rape, abortion, menstruation, contraception, etc”. Yes, her fears are convincing in my view. Censoring pornography is a real threat to women.

This issue can slowly reach to the height where it can destroy many things. She relates her fear with some of her experiences as evidence. She says, when she was a kid, her parents would turn off the television if some adult scenes were being censored but now she shares the incident of a movie theater, where she saw a women taking her daughter to watch such movie. Therefore, she is worried about these issues and thinks these issues would be under-estimated some day. This can really be a serious problem and can be offensive along with harmful act for women’s.