Read a Banned Book
Every year, in the last week of September, the American Library Association sponsors "Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read". The freedom to read is on many people's minds these days.
We just finished listening to the end of the Biden / Palin debate. I still think Palin is a dolt and dangerous believer in creationism who should never be in a position to set public policy, but my point is not to critique the debate. But listening to the debate and thinking about Banned Books Week I am reminded that Governor Palin, when she was first elected mayor of Wasilla, asked how she should go about removing a book from their library.
Yes, I realize that it was a "hypothetical" question and that she never demanded the removal of any books. I couldn't care less. She asked how she, as Mayor, could go about removing a book from a public library. I think that's unforgivable.
It's unforgivable because it reveals 1) a lack of understanding of the law; and 2) no understanding of the US Constitution and bounds on government censorship. That the book she had in mind was reportedly "Daddy's Roommate" I also find unsettling, but in this instance I am more outraged that Palin would consider banning a book than I am about her homophobic attitudes, even though it's an invidious choice.
The ALA maintains list of "Frequently Challenged Books", and the lists are always interesting. Not surprisingly, the books that people most wish to ban frequently are the best at reflecting the diversity and most creative thought of society. Ideas have a history of being threatening.
Here's their list of the "10 Most Challenged Books of 2007". I'm a bit disappointed that I've only read three of these titles, but that's a great motivation to read more. Let's read a book that someone wanted to ban!
1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
Reasons: Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group
2. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Violence
3. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
Reasons: Sexually Explicit and Offensive Language
4. The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
Reasons: Racism
6. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language,
7. TTYL, by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
Reasons: Sexually Explicit
9. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
Reasons: Sex Education, Sexually Explicit
10. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
P.S. Moments later I read a reference to this article on censorship by Philip Pullman: "The censor's dark materials", The Guardian [UK], 29 September 2008.
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Friday, 3 October 2008 at 22.12
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I've seen all these references to "And Tango makes three" in many posts on banned books week. It's hard to believe it caused that much fuss; it's about penguins, people! I know, I know, how dare two penguins of the same gender raise a penguin chick together. Shameless of them! And as for it being "unsuited to age group", hardly true — I've used it in preschool penguin-themed storytimes.