Books are one of the most important tools for
learning in existence. Books can communicate controversial ideas and issues to
those who need a solution or are just curious and want to learn about the world
around them. Book banners may believe that by getting rid of books, they can
get rid of topics that make them feel uncomfortable, such as suicide, magic or
homosexuality. They may think that without the support of popular literature in
such subjects those subjects will just go away. This obviously is incorrect.
Interestingly, many worthwhile pieces of
classic literature have been challenged and banned. This shows that banning
might not be wholly on content but be also based on popularity. Jen Doll of the
Atlantic Wire said, "The list of “most frequently banned books is like a
who’s who of great American Young Adult and kid literature.” Also, she said
that authors take banning as a metaphorical badge of honor. These examples show
that book banning is biased toward well known books.
One negative outcome of book
banning is that kids can’t learn about issues that have been controversial and
concern them. Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why, claimed that he
received an email from a girl saying that his book kept her from committing
suicide. If a book so commonly challenged can save a life, why not give all
books a chance? Another book that received challenges was And Tango
Makes Three, the story of two male penguins hatching an egg. The authors
said they were writing it for all the people with families like those in the
book. It is always nice to know one isn’t the only one with particular problems
and that there are other people experiencing these things as well.
There can’t be really be any
consensus about what’s appropriate for kids. For example, Harry Potter
typically is seen as a wholesome book, but was banned by a Catholic school. On
the other hand, Ender’s Game has very violent content, such as animal
abuse and small children killing and beating each other up. Yet even though it
is a very well known book, everyone seems to find it suitable for children to
read. Which just shows all the varying views on whether books should be banned.
And if so, which books?
As a society, we may want to
protect children from ideas and themes that are harsh or disturbing, but
children will need to grow up and live in the real world. Parents should take
responsibility for their children and monitor what they are reading when
children are young. But, book banning of any sort, no matter the intent, is
unconstitutional. The first Amendment gives the freedom of speech which the
banning of books restricts greatly. In a country that prides itself on being a
"melting pot", no one voice should ever be allowed to quiet the others.
Works Cited
CNN.com "Banned Books Week:'Captain Underpants'
tops list of challenged books"
Web. September 24
2013
Doll, Jen. "The Banned Books We Have
Loved." The Atlantic Wire 12
April 2012. Web. 14
Nov. 2013.
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