Throughout this essay are reasons against the effectiveness of censorship and reasons why censorship should not be tolerated. They are condensed below. Art is important to us. Art lets us see the world in new ways, and gives us pleasure. It is a unique language in which we can say things that cannot be said otherwise, regardless of quality. Music lyrics are of value because they are an artform and because they comment on reality. …showed first 75 words of 383 total…

…showed last 75 words of 383 total…actual target. Censorship is contrary to the political philosophy on which the United States was founded. The Bill of Rights ensures an individual's right to free expression. The use of this freedom to criticize the ruling party agrees with the Constitutional conviction that there must be checks on government. A democracy assigns the individual the task of choosing the most appropriate manner of life. Censorship restricts these choices, and is therefore in conflict with democracy.