Banned Books Week starts today and runs through next week (September 25 - October 2, 2010).
This annual event celebrates the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Promoted by the American Library Association, sponsors are many, including Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
What to do during this time? Find a title that has been banned somewhere, and read it. I'll probably read an Alexie Sherman title (pick one, any one, and it's probably been banned); maybe Huck Finn, or Animal Farm. I already have Ayn Rand's Anthem on my Kindle.
This is a Freedom issue. If there's someone reading this who thinks book banning is okay, think of the other types of bans that could be forced on us that would take away our right to choice. If you don't like a book, don't read it. If you find a certain title offensive, that means your curious self probably DID read it, and now you're in a tiff. Get over it. And don't attempt to proscribe for others what they should or shouldn't do.
For sensible thinkers, trot off to your public Library and Indy bookseller and get involved. Click here for lists of Banned Books.
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing. It just astounds me at just how many books are challenged or banned. I mean, To Kill a Mockingbird? Really? Makes me sad that people want to control what others read.
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