Cultural Vandals Hide behind Free Speech 1st Amendment
“’Cultural Vandals’ Hide behind Free Speech,” - First for a Reason
I disagree with the essay, “’Cultural Vandals’ Hide behind Free Speech,” by Jeff Durstewitz. The author believes that the First Amendment should not allow our children to be stripped of their innocence. He thinks that the constitution should set limits and standards to protect them, but I strongly disagree. I think that parents are very capable of protecting their own children themselves, and that freedom of speech should extend to the so-called “cultural vandals” in our society today (Durstewitz 530). The First Amendment was first for a reason, it shouldn’t be taken away for anything.
In his passage, the author starts off talking about how guns are mistakenly blamed for teen violence in our country. He deems that teen violence is much too vague a topic, and the real damage being done to children isn’t physical. He insists that our society is dedicated to corrupting the young people of our country. He goes on to talk about how violent movies are a problem, and he says that “the evidence of moral and cultural degradation is almost inescapable,” (Durstewitz 530). In his conclusion, the author challenges the application of the First Amendment when children are affected. He believes that “we have the right to set standards and limits where children […] are concerned” (Durstewitz 530).
I believe that the First Amendment rights of the Constitution should not be compromised to protect our children. I feel that parents are very much capable of taking care of their own children. Let the parents do the parenting. It should be up to them what their child may or may not be exposed to. The author uses the example of, “nine-year olds and younger watching South Park,” as a problem, as the cartoon is geared towards more mature viewers since it uses adult humor. Adult-oriented programming, in most cases, is unfamiliar to young children. They do not usually understand the very jokes and adult humor that is “corrupting them”. Since many children are very curious, they may ask their parents what something means or just laugh (without knowing what they’re laughing about) and forget about it. If the parents decide that they do not want their child watching a particular show or channel, cable television allows parents to block...