Journal #14: Censorship

Censorship is a very delicate topic, in my opinion. On the one hand, it can be seen as the government trying to keep the people safe, but on the other hand, it can be viewed as the government deliberately keeping information from the public.  Part of me thinks that censorship can actually be a good thing.  Leaving details out of something so as to not worry someone is a perfectly common thing, and at its core is censorship.  So, I think censorship on a scale like that is mostly harmless.  However, when it comes to the big issues, I think less fondly of it.  I understand that the governments a lot of times are trying to keep people safe, but in the case of China's censorship, it seems as though the government is using censorship as a power over the people.  This, I think, is the reason that the word "censorship" has such a negative connotation, because it is being exploited to gain and maintain power.  In the case of smaller-scale censorship, I don't think it's a big deal if the uncensored version is offered, as well.  For example, it is possible to buy both "clean" and "explicit" versions of some songs, so it is up to the people to decide what is right for them.  If they buy the "explicit" version and then complain about it being vulgar, I lose all respect for them.  But, I digress.  I think the larger-scale censorship can get out of hand really quickly, but it is difficult to change a system that has been in place for as many years as China's has.  Censorship is a double edged sword--it can be both good and bad, it just depends on the observer's point of view.