Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 2-15-2005
Keywords
Libraries, Filtering, Myths, First Amendment, Censorship, ALA
Digital Commons Citation
Herring, Mark Y., "Free Speech and Filtering Myths" (2005). Dacus Library Faculty Publications. 46.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/dacus_facpub/46
Comments
I’ve always been dumbfounded by the splenetic debate on the library filtering. Last time we ended with the question, “Is free speech always protected?” If the answer is in the affirmative, then there should never be a question. On the other hand, if the First Amendment allows for exceptions, and it can be proved that pornography is one of them, then the debate should be ended. The simple fact of the matter is this: Never in our country’s history has pornography, obscenity or anything remotely resembling the same been considered protected by the First Amendment’s free speech clause.