Ben Allison, Peter Huene, David Paroulek, Robert Rossman, and Mark Shapiro

Comparison: Germany and The United States

Germany Censors Content:
Neo-Nazi propaganda
Anti-Semitism
Political Radicals
Positive portrayal of Nazi past

USA Allows Content:
KKK Can March
Mein Kampf allowed to be sold

Germany VS United States: USA Censors Obscenity
Decency Laws
Movie Ratings
FCC "dirty words"
"Parental Advisory" stickers on CDs

Germany Allows:
Obscenity Radio, Television
Can say "dirty words"
Mild nudity on day-time television
"Soft core" pornography after prime-time

Germany VS United States:
Both Protect Youth
German has provisions in Constitution USA has laws that protect minors, children

When comparing censorship laws and customs between the United States and Germany, there are several differences. The major difference is what gets censored. In the United States, decency and language are censored more than content. Take, for example, the Howard Stern show. Radio censors take an extreme effort to "bleep" out the bad words. On the televised version, nude content is blocked out. However, the content of Stern's show remains untouched. This theme of blocking obscenities but allowing controversial content seems to be reoccurring when looking at U.S. censorship. This is in contrast with Germany. In Germany, decency is not censored but content is. On German television, even commercials have mild nudity. After prime time hours are over, some stations go as far as to air soft pornography. Bad language is not censored, although it is used very rarely. What does get censored is controversial content. The main target of censorship in Germany is Nazi or neo-Nazi information and propaganda. All art, literature, and music promoting anti-semitism is banned.

A German citizen who recently moved to New York, when interviewed, remarked that in the United States, "the Church" seems to be responsible for most of the censorship. While it is a stretch to suggest that religious groups control the content of the media, censorship does echo the ethics prevalent in dominant United States religions. According to the interviewee, religious organizations do not have the same influence in Germany. The main influence for censorship in Germany is the prevention of a fascist uprising. Neo-Nazi material is restricted to prevent a return to the past.

Another example of comparison is the Movie Industry. In the US, all filmmakers are required to put a rating on their movies. These ratings, G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, X, XX, and XXX are required by law. Persons ineligible to view a particular movie are simply not allowed to see it. In Germany, however, movie ratings are voluntary. These ratings, a number representing a required age, are instituted by movie theatres, stores, and rental stores on a voluntary basis. No laws exist to enforce these ratings.

Both countries make an effort to protect youth. Germany has a specific section of the constitution which defines the efforts to keep certain information from the country's youth. Similarly, the United States has passed laws, most specifically the Child Online Protection Act, designed to keep controversial and obscene material away from children. Both represent an effort to keep sensitive material away from the youth, who have not yet formed their own moral and ethical guidelines. The subjection of material to young children could lead to a skewed and misguided view later in life.