I've never liked being told what to do.So, you can imagine that I like even less being told what to think.
September 26-October 3 is Banned Books Week.
I posted about this event (I won't call it a celebration, because it's just too tragic) last year and ranted a bit about intellectual freedoms and slippery slopes.
This year, I'm going to be more blunt.
Because - like another civil rights issue I feel strongly about - the answer to this one is so simple: Mind your own freakin' business.
Yeah, that about covers it.
Here's the deal, people: If you find the content of a book so objectionable, then I don't think that you should be forced you read it. But, contrariwise, I don't think that anyone else should be forced to NOT read it.
What offends your delicate sensibilities might be balm to another's soul. Vive la différence.
So, do the world - and your brain - a favor: Read a Banned Book this week.
I will.
If only because I take umbrage to being dictated to by the fear and ignorance of others.
"When any government, or church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, This you may not read, this you must not see, this you are forbidden to know, the end result is tyranny and oppression no matter how holy the motives." ~ Robert Heinlein
A sampling of the books banned or challenged in 2008-2009:
Shut up and come over here and get on your knees. NOW.
ReplyDeletesee? sometimes you DO like being told what to do ;-)
I love your headline. I also love this particular rant. Man, when I was a kid, tell me something was banned and I'd climb mountains to get my hands on it.
Think it's an elaborate PR hoax? "You canNOT read about Boo Radley!" (hushed page-turning ensues while using a flashlight to read the quite used copy after bedtime hours)
I didn't think so, either. I was just hoping.
All those folks who banned books 80 and 60 and 50 and 30 and 10 years ago (and last week) must be on literal fire right now with their brains exploding over the accessiblity of the internet. I'm going to open two windows now, one for porn and one to read 'The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn'
Sounds like fun. It always amuses me what people will find so objectionable in books, when what kids can see on tv and the internet is so much more hardcore than "Are You There God, its Me, Margaret?"
ReplyDeleteI scrolled through that list of challenged books and was surprised to find Brave New World on it.
ReplyDeleteIf that contains objectionable content, I don't know what book doesn't.
Simply ridiculous, I have read alot of those books and have never found any of them questionable....some of them were even required in school for me and I turned out just perfectly fine. I dont know exactly what people think is gonna happen is a kid happens to read one of the books lololol
ReplyDeleteI will read a banned book. I haven't checked the list yet but I would bet money Catcher in the Rye is on there and I love that book. We read A Brave New World in high school (saw SciFi's comment). Isn't the point of a book supposed to be about challenging our ideals and seeing the world in a different point of view?
ReplyDeleteI think I'll make it my goal to end up on the banned books list someday. Now that sounds worth achieving!
Okay dang it. The Kite Runner is on there -wth? That book was great! Yes it's sexually explicit - he's detailing a rape in part of the book what else do you expect?? Aghh!
ReplyDeleteLOL...of those books you highlight I own three. People who feel they need to control other peoples lives down to the the level of what we read or listen to (I'm looking at you Tipper Gore) really need to sit themselves down and take a long hard look at themselves. Deflection is never pretty.
ReplyDeleteMintz: You incorrigible reprobate. Like you need an excuse to look at porn. But kudos on the Twain. ;) Oh, and thanks for reminding me - The post title is a line from one of my favorite Barenaked Ladies' songs. I've edited the post to add attribution.
ReplyDeleteASM: I know, right? It's okay for kids to watch people to kill each other violently every night on television, but we mustn't discuss puberty?! WTH?
SFD: My favorite irony on the most-often challenged list is Fahrenheit 451.
MF: HEY! Good to see you! I hope you know that Auntie Zen plans to send your little podling lots of challenging reading material in the years to come! ;)
Andrea: Exactly! How are we ever to learn if we never consider anything that challenges our own ideas?! And if your own ideas are so weak that they can be threatened by reading the ideas of others ... well, that sounds like a personal problem to me.
Starrlight: I'm proud to say that I've read a few books on the frequently challenged list ... but I'm determined to read more. If only to be ornery like that. ;)
Amen Sister!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Reading Lukas 'In the night kitchen' Shows a little boys parts to clearly so was banned.
ReplyDeleteYou are working it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. I posted about this last year and must do again.
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprised at what gets banned.
ReplyDeleteI never think I'm that liberal, but then I relearn just how conservative people some are.
I hate the idea of banning books. Seems like a short step to start burning them.
It's so pathetic it's laughable. People should get a hobby and stop being so ignorant. I like the quote at the end of your post - sums it up exactly.
ReplyDeleteWe need to look no further than Salman Rushdie to see the danger in intolerance. Nobody should be killed for writing a book. We have similarly closed minded people right here too. If many of these ultra fanatical christians (not to say this is the majority of christians) had their way, there would be no Harry Potter. Some ultra liberals have even tried to ban Tom Sawyer because of it's racial language. It runs though all political and religious extremes. It's a shame and a travesty no matter who is the idiot suggesting banning of books. Sorry, that was a ramble.
ReplyDeleteWicked is on that list? Really? Maybe after it got turned into a musical, they got worried about our kids becoming too fabulous.
ReplyDelete