Essay On Prior Restraint

Prior restraint is censorship imposed, usually by a government, on expression before the expression actually takes place. An alternative to prior restraint is to allow the expression to take place and to take appropriate action afterward, if the expression is found to violate the law, regulations, or other rules. Prior restraint prevents the censored material from being heard or distribute at all; other measures provide sanctions only after the offending material has been communicated, such as suits for slander or libel. In some countries (e.g., United States) prior restraint by the government is forbidden, subject to certain exceptions, by a constitution. Prior restraint can be effected in a number of ways. For example, the exhibition of works of art or movie may require a license from a government authority before it can be published, and the failure or refusal to grant a license is …show more content…
It is the freedom to speak one’s mind without fear of retaliation, now or at any time in the future. We don’t have perfect freedom of speech in any country, yet. It is still a goal we need to strive for. It’s just not authorities that may crack down on uncomfortable or irreverent opinions; the public may be just as harsh a judge when somebody challenges a stigmatized falsely held, but still stigmatized truth. In such circumstances, it is the role of the government to suppress those people and activities that would make people feel threatened by stating opinions that are out of line with commonly held beliefs. Also freedom of speech helps the world to change. Without this kind of expression, the world wouldn’t be aware of all the problems we have, and wouldn’t help to change them. For example, with the Charlie Hebdo problem going around the world and France got aware of the problem of religion, as well as Nelson Mandela. That kind of people broke the limit of speech and it helped to change life