Even though I've been distracted by other things (like working for my clients) and not keeping up with this blog very well, I can't let Banned Books Week pass without a comment or two. Special interest groups or individuals who force the banning of certain books from school and public libraries are anaethma to a free society. Restricting access to information is not a component of a free and democratic society. Period.
Many wonderful titles have suffered the indignity of being challenged by people who have appointed themselves as moral watchdogs of their communities. The list of banned books which you can find here, always surprises those who see it for the first time. Not only are dictionaries on the list but also such beloved classics as the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Farenheit 451 (ironically), and Catcher in the Rye, etc.
For a wonderful essay on Banned Books, check out Cheryl Rainfield's blog. Here is my review last fall on the wonderful Higher Power of Lucky - also a banned book. And, as always, the most up-to-date information about challenged and banned books can be found at the American Library Association.
Don't let someone else make the decision about what you will or won't read.Freedom to choose our own reading material is a critical success factor for vibrant societies.
1 comment:
I love how you put that--not allowing someone else to make the decision for you about what you will or won't read. Lovely!
And thank you for the link/shout-out to my post on banned books--it was so nice to see that.
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