Well, it has been quite awhile since I posted on my blog. Perhaps I haven't had much to say . . . Today I would like to suggest something a little radical--at least for an independent bookseller-- Something I feel all around me but don't hear expressed much.
In honor of Banned Book Week, I want to ask a question: Is it ever okay to censor or ban books? The whole idea with recognizing a week like this is to acknowledge the freedom we have in our country to read anything by anyone whenever we want to. We Americans DO love our freedom. I am very thankful that men and women have sacrificed for the many freedoms we often take for granted, including the right to have access to information. It is only too easy to find a list of countries that do not have this right.
In honor of Banned Book Week, I want to ask a question: Is it ever okay to censor or ban books? The whole idea with recognizing a week like this is to acknowledge the freedom we have in our country to read anything by anyone whenever we want to. We Americans DO love our freedom. I am very thankful that men and women have sacrificed for the many freedoms we often take for granted, including the right to have access to information. It is only too easy to find a list of countries that do not have this right.
But freedom can get in the way of common sense sometimes, I think. Do you agree?
"Banning" is a loaded word. Dictionary.com defines it as "to prohibit, forbid, or bar; the act of prohibiting by law." Sounds very final, doesn't it? No wonder authors, publishers, librarians, journalists, parents, teachers, and American readers of all ages reject this concept!
Books that have been banned or frequently challenged in U.S. schools and libraries have been so for a variety of reasons. The largest number of the 5,099 formal challenges in 2013 were due to sexually explicit material that was not appropriate for the age-group to whom it was being offered. (credit: American Library Assoc.) Other common reasons are "offensive language," "deemed unsuitable to an age group," "violence, " "occult" themes. Many challenged books are challenged on multiple grounds.
Before you think, "Well, I wouldn't want to read a book that is sexually explict, full of violence and offensive language!", let me share a few of the most commonly challenged books for the last couple of years: Hunger Games (Collins), Captain Underpants (Pilkey), The Kite Runner (Hosseini), and The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald). These are all best sellers on the New York Times Best Sellers List. But someone finds them inappropriate for a particular age group. I have looked over banned book lists to see how many of them (not if, but how many) I have read. (Confession: I have even read banned books BECAUSE they were banned . . . and felt rather radical for doing so :-) .)
I think here is where I want to make the point that those who want to "prohibit, forbid, or bar" certain books are not usually against literature, reading, or freedom. But they are for protecting children.
E.L. James was asserting her right to freedom of speech when she wrote Fifty Shades of Gray. And everyone who reads it asserts his or her right to freedom of expression when reading it. But, certainly, we can all agree that it is not appropriate for all ages groups. Not everyone should have equal access to all reading material. We put Playboy magazine on the top shelf for a reason.
We might disagree about standards--potty humor to some is as unacceptable as explicit sexuality is to others. I would even go so far as to say, I would encourage anyone to write anything, thankful for the freedom we have to express ourselves. But I wouldn't ask that a children's library carry any and everything. Besides the argument for limited space and providing essential educational reading materials, libraries and schools have a responsibility to help nurture the children to whom they cater.
And it is parents that have that right before any school, library, or institution. Not all books are for everyone. And parents are the ones who get to decide what is best for their children. If you don't want your 8-year-old to read Captain Underpants, you get to make that decision. If you don't want your 12-year-old to read Looking for Alaska (Green), you get to make that decision. If you don't want your 16-year-old to read Perks of Being a Wallflower (Chbosky), you get to make that decision (but good luck with that . . .). If not parents, who?
I wouldn't choose to read every book. But I support those parents who feel their school libraries shouldn't house books that are offensive to them. Exposure to literature is vitally important, but it does not supercede parental responsibility.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on censorship, banning, and protection.
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I look forward to hearing your thoughts on censorship, banning, and protection.
