Should pornography be protected?

     This past week we have been discussing the subject of pornography and the government.  Should pornography be protected by the first amendment?  Should it be censored from the public and communities?  Does the government have the right to censor it?  These are all valid questions and do cause quite a debate.

     "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." (The First Amendment)

     This article discuses whether pornography rights are protected under the First Amendment.

     A film that goes along with the theme this week is The People Vs. Larry Flynt.  The movie follows the life of Larry Flynt, who was the original publisher of Hustler magazine.  Throughout his life Larry goes back and forth through the courts in regards to his raunchy magazines.  Larry Flynt was the first person to try something new and the country apparently was just not ready for Hustler magazine and the images that it portrayed.  The people were not ready for such a public display of obscenity.  If you walk into a store today and see Hustler magazine behind the counter (which we usually do) we think nothing of it.  In 1973, however, this was just unheard of.

     I do personally agree with pornography being protected by the first amendment, but I do not agree with it being completely censored from communities.  I know there are still small towns in our country that do not want to be subjected to obscenity, however, it is just impossible with the amount of media outlets available to the population.  I found an article that is very interesting.  It is in regards to the  UK and France, these countries are largely looked at as leaders, as is the United States, so I question whether or not other countries may follow suit.