Banned! Books You Won’t Find In Your Public Library…

[Dan And Jennifer]

Is it ever right to ban a book from a library or bookstore? A. Absolutely Not. B. Maybe. If the content is reviewed. C. Yes. Our libraries need constant checking for "appropriate" material. D. Not Sure.

Read the Full Story...

[GeekyJenn]

"I know why the Caged bird sings" has been on a banned list for probably decades well at least for a long long time! I have never actually read that one. I am surprised about "the Colour Purple". But that is more about abuse and slavery. I am not sure why they would consider that BAD. "The Golden Compass" was actually really good... now the books after that made the storey get a little weird but over all they are good stories.

As for Ideas, no, the ideas will never die even when the books are gone. I still laugh at those churchy people who think Harry Potter is trying to teach kids about the evils of satan and witchcraft. Being that I consider myself Pagan, or Wiccan, those people have NO CLUE what that religion or ideology is about. Plus: there is no satan in such religions. Only with Christianity and Satanism Golden Compass does seem to paint the "church" in a bad light, but the church in there isn't realy going with "God" they are making their own rather bad choices to make them look horrible.

I guess I wonder why any Church woudl have hold over a library. I think libraries are WONDERFUL things. I used to spend a ton of time at the library growing up. I would help the school librarian on many occasions and I actully thought about being a Librarian at one point: Mostly because I LOVE BOOKS! Books open to new ideas, grow current ideas, and provide more information on old ideas.

As for the books about "Heather has two mommies" and such, those types of books will allow kids in those situations not to feel unloved or "abnormal". These books will also allow other children to think on such families as loving and accepting.

I guess I never understood why mainly the church and other religious orginzations often felt the need to oppress such thoughts and ideology.

I lost my other thought... i'm sick so it's getting in the way of my thought process...

[K. in Cleveland]

My vote is A, never ban books. I subscibe to the "If you don't like it, don't read/watch/do it" philosophy. I happen to be engaged to a man who owns a number of banned books. Why are they banned? Because a lot of their content is considered "terrorist related" after 9-11. Funny, before the terror attacks that leveled the WTC towers they were mischievious and slightly deviant but not terrorist related...
It's not like if the books weren't out there that people couldn't go online and do some digging and still find the same content. And what about sexually related books and magazines? Do they belong in the children's section at the public library? Probably not, but why can't mommy and daddy have a place they can get resources (books, videos) to help them enjoy grown-up time a little more? By the same token, what if the little ones are hearing things in school or on tv, or they are noticing things about themselves that they don't want to talk about... if the library happened to have a book that was available for them to check out, maybe they could have a little less angst about themselves when they read and realize everything is normal....

Oh, wait, there is a book I think should be banned, and that's Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss because I don't like green eggs and ham.

There is a time and a place for everything. Maybe we need to care more about what we don't know and don't have access to specific information readily (like what exactly our governments are doing with our money or how they are spending their time addressing the issues that matter to the people... than the books that are out there that are offensive to some.

[SnakeBabe]

Just for argument let’s offer this.
many right wingers do not believe that books should be banned from being printed, sold and distributed but some books do not belong in public places. Public libraries are public places and underage children can get access to them. Its not that the content wrong but only the parents have the right to allow what they see fit for their child.
Next argument is they do not want tax dollars paying for a guard to watch over an area designated to “18 and over” or tax dollars funding books that they find to be offensive. So, that leaves books that agree with community standards. Once a person is of legal age let them go to a book store like the rest of us. Its not banning books at all.

Any thoughts?
Hugs and Hissessss,
Maria

[Alexander_Sedai]

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is arguably one of the most interesting books I've ever read: and I read it in High School IN a High School class.

Same with The Color Purple - they are literary masterpieces and should be read for the pure bliss of the writing style and depth. Any book that makes you want to throw it across the room is a good book: Because the only reason you want to throw it is because the Author has hit you deeply, whether because it's so beautiful that you hate them, or so painfully tragic that you hate the book; but love the way it was written.