Can the U. S. government censor media if... ?

Question

I was watching South Park's Cartoon Wars, where a cartoon wanted to show Muhammad's image. Can your government forbid any medium to do that? After all, it's not a top secret material, but it does risk national security. So, supposing the medium is stupid enough to air the cartoon, can the government interfere?

Answer 1

The quick answer to your question is "Yes." Generally.

The U.S. government has the power of prior restraint on free speech where the government can successfully show a clear and present danger to the national security of the U.S. The party attempting the publication also has the right to file suit to prevent the government intervention.

That said, however, you seem to ask essentially and specifically if the U.S. government could invoke prior restraint of a publication depicting images of the Prophet Mohammed.

My quick answer to that is "No."

Not legitimately. The depiction of images of a historic figure is not, by itself, a threat to U.S. national security even where the act might cause parts of the world population to violently react and oppose the publication. (And you should keep in mind that not all Muslims would react violently to the publication of images of the Prophet Mohammed.) The rights of free speech still have some strength in the U.S. even under the Bush Administration.

This is not legal advice. You should consult a licensed attorney-at-law for legal advice and representation before making decisions that may affect your legal rights.

Answer 2

They sure can. Although i thnk that the South Park episode (I saw it myself) was supposed to be a satirical take on the idea of censorship and political correctness taken to the extrimes it has come to, and that they never intended to show the image ni the first place.

And beside, the FCC can do pretty much anything they want and all they have to do is disguise it under the guise of protecting some segment of the population and no one objects. I, personally, am tired of the PC CRAP and long for the days when when people could laugh at Archie Bunker instead of picking apart the inappropriate undertones of the show.

ABOLISH THE FCC!!!!

Answer 3

Well, it's not technically illegal for Mohammed's picture to be aired. But by doing that it causes him to get more "publicity." The more famous Mohammed becomes, the less people concentrate on the people in this world that are worth concentrating on. Plus, showing the terrorist's dead leader on tv makes people sympathetic to the terrorists cause, which is evil. I'm assuming that you know that they hate you and every other American. They are actually required to according to their Koran. (I'll find the verse and list it below later) But as long as the media is not giving information to the terrorists about our national security or saying stuff about the terrorists that would be a threat to national security then it's allowed. I don't think it should be.
~A Born Patriot
Ok it's kinda hard for me to say exactly where in the Qu'ran this is, but I think it's in AL-BAQARAH 002:191 I don't read the Qu'ran, but this verse seems pretty clear to me.
Here's the verse:

AL-BAQARAH 002:191
And kill them wherever ye shall find them, and eject them from whatever place they have ejected you; for civil discord is worse than carnage: yet attack them not at the sacred Mosque, unless they attack you therein; but if they attack you, slay them. Such the reward of the infidels.

P.S. I updated this post. I didn't realize that you were actually talking about the "prophet" Mohammed. lol Sorry.

Answer 4

Its not national security, Its a cartoon......just because you have a cult or group that has absolutely no sence of humor doesnt mean it deems censorship, its up to the network itself, like the path to 9/11 thing where the democrats were crying about it before anyone saw it and wanted thing they heard were in it editted out, ABC or as the case was Disney had the right to run it or edit it or throw it out, look at when schindlers list came out and the passion of the christ, it had major negative and positive feedback or protests but nothing violent, but it didnt say crawl under a rock because someone doesnt want to be talked about....live your life not in fear but fear you living your life in nothing but joy..have a great day

Answer 5

No, the government can't censor.
The New York Times helps terrorists by printing National Secrets.
However, the Democrats censored ABC by threats, to cover Clinton's involvement in pre-9/11.
They just mostly used pressure, but it was censorship.

Answer 6

If it's a case of national security, the goverment can censor. I don't think anything else should be censored. It's a good thing South Park didn't show the face of Muhammad, because we've already been attacked once, don't need that again.

We would all need to live in caves, then.

Answer 7

There are very few things that the government can censor. Troop movements in time of war is one I'm sure of. A picture of Muhammad is not one.

Answer 8

All media is very tightly controlled by government, especially the US media
Look up operation Mockingbird, and discover that 3000 CIA people were injected inti editorial and reporting positions to ensure very tight control.
Listen to the tapes below for great insights

Answer 9

Government censorship of any kind violates our Constitutional right to free speech.

But then again since the current administration has shown such contempt for the US Constitution lately, I'm not sure that it matters to them any more.

Answer 10

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