Consider the merits and demerits of censorship and state your reasons why you think it is un/necessary.

As defined by Longman Dictionary, censor is to examine books, films, letters etc to remove anything that is considered offensive, morally harmful, or politically dangerous etc. Censorship prevents others from accessing information that should be made readily accessible. This is often so that conclusions drawn can be verified, or controls certain information and/or is using this control improperly or for its own benefits. I personally feel that censorship is necessary to a large extent.

Indeed, censorship maintains national security and ensures peace of the society. This is especially true for multi-racial and multi-religion countries such as Singapore. Ever wondered why her people are living together harmoniously under one roof regardless of race, language or religion when out there in other parts of the world, racial riots are breaking out with a snap of the fingers? Ever came across any article that criticizes another religion’s beliefs in our local newspapers or in other written materials sold here in Singapore? This is solely because the publication of these issues has been censored by the government of the Lion City. Unlike in other countries for example America, where freedom of speech is practised, the discrimination of the Blacks by the Whites has caused much pandemonium in the country. Countless of lives and properties have been destroyed. Clearly, when lives are at risk, censorship is no longer just a want but a necessity.

In addition, there is a growing concern with the rap music and hip hop industry. Research has shown that rap stars are encouraging early sexual behaviour and the demeaning of women. These increasing rates of early sexual activity have serious public health implications. Teenagers who have unplanned underage pregnancies are more likely to contract sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. However, should these videos, containing the disturbing messages, have been censored earlier, the situation would not be so serious now. I believe that censorship is the cure to stop this poison from spreading as with its content not made known, adolescents will not be exposed and thus will not be badly influenced.
The internet and the world wide web are equally problematic. In the virtual world of these media, there is a potential for a kind of anonymous intimacy that can be very seductive in many of our fragmented, disconnected lives. Young people, often eager to explore these new media, are at the same time coping with the usual ‘coming-of-age’ problems in our society, may be susceptible to such seduction. After all, “the forbidden fruit is sweeter”. Thus censorship must be brought in to "protect" these weak-minded children from dangerous or disturbing ideas and information. For example, CyberPatrol, software that can filter out sites, blocked the access to the Ontario Religious Tolerance Site because it included Wicca among its 62 religious and ethical systems. Information of abortion, cults, the death penalty, and Satanism could also be found in this site.
However, I have to admit that we are burying our own heads in the sand with the mistaken notion that, therefore, children will not be exposed to these dangerous ideas. Such ostrich-like behavior focused our attention on banning things, thus diverted our energies from the very real educational process of helping them sort out, select, and look critically at the information and the individuals they would encounter in this virtual world. What is needed is perhaps not censorship but powerful and thoughtful dialogue focusing on inquiry and the development of personal judgment. The reality must not be sheltered for only then will tomorrow's adults be prepared to deal with the difficult decisions that will face them in the 21st century.

Hence in conclusion, I strongly feel that censorship is necessary when it is dealing with sensitive issues such as the above-mentioned. I am sure as a society, we want our people to be healthy both physically and mentally. No point in time must it be overused such that education is delayed.