What is a child-friendly community? According to Children's Commissioner Robin Sullivan, it is "one which values and respects children and caters for the diversity of their cultural backgrounds and circumstances. It recognizes the impact of political, social and economic decisions on children and their caregivers. It acknowledges the rights, needs, and interests of children and builds these into its decision-making processes." (Sullivan, R.) So, keeping this in mind, I ask you, where is the line between "the people's" rights to freedom of speech and "the people's" responsibility to protect the children? (Carr, J.) Adults have a social, moral, political, and human responsibility to hold our children close to their hearts because they are the future. We must provide censorship of the Internet to accomplish this great feat of defending our children and their rights to live out their childhood.
             This great country of ours has accomplished protecting our children in many ways thus far. We have made it necessary for a person to be of age and show proper identification to purchase liquor, cigarettes, and sexually explicit materials. Why is the Internet any different? Why can't I hear everyone yelling about the fact that dirty magazines sit on a high shelf out of the reach of small hands willing to explore? Will any owner of an adult video and bookstore allow a child to walk in and browse the shelves just because they are naturally curious? I think not. Yes, this country is built upon freedom. Let us not confuse that with the idea that people can push their views of sexual behavior onto the innocent. This country was not built upon immorality, and I doubt if our four fathers had passed out pornography to minors on their minds when they wrote the declaration of independence. It would be illegal to hand them out. I believe most of us agree with that law. Why can we not agree that to publish it on the Internet without warnings or proof of po...