First Amendment and Pornography

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First Amendment and Pornography These articles have opposing viewpoints on laws concerning pornography. Both authors argue their side of the issue while having many of the same ideas as each other. To begin, “The First Amendment Junkie” by Susan Jacoby states that certain restrictions on pornography would be a violation of the first amendment. Susan Jacoby is known for writing about women's rights and issues for popular magazines such as Glamour, McCalls, and The Nation. The next article is "Let's put Pornography Back in the Closet" by Susan Brownmiller. She is a Journalist, Women's rights activist, and a founder of Women against Pornography. Her article appeared in Newsday, a Long Island newspaper. Jacoby observes the issue of freedom of speech from an absolute unconditional perspective whereas Brownmiller is of the view that is more rational as it takes into account the various other aspects of this complex socio-cultural dilemma that goes side by side with constitutional freedom of expression. Both of these articles are geared towards audiences who have an interest in the issue of pornography. Susan Jacoby believes in the absolute interpretation of First Amendment that says Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. (U.S. Constitution) She is of the view that feminist and other feminist groups try to manipulate this amendment by interpreting in various ways. She further asserts that these feminist groups, who negate absoluteness of First Amendment, use their interpretation to serve their purposes. She does not accept their claim that pornography and its various manifestations are of a different nature than a simple question of

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