WWDD - NEVER ban books

[Doris Herrmann]

Please excuse me as I'm about to step on my "soap box."

(Does soap come in boxes anymore?)

A friend recently pointed out a story in the UnionLeader about a school district that decided to ban the use of certain books in their classroom. They school did this because ....
*looks both ways to make sure the book police are not watching*
The books discuss homosexuality and drug use!

No, I'm not kidding, this is the year 2009 and we are STILL banning books.

Here is a blurb from the article about the short stories that were removed from the high school classroom.

The stories included Sedaris' "I Like Guys," which deals with homosexuality; "The Crack Cocaine Diet" by Laura Lippman, which includes explicit sexual material, rape, murder and drug use; a Hemingway short story that includes statutory rape and discussion about abortion; and a King story called "Survivor Type."

I've read EVERY ONE of these pieces. They are all valuable in our society. Steven King, Earnest Hemingway and David Sedaris are incredible authors and each piece of work is in a district approved text book for AP high school English students. (so young adults around 17-18)

Just to make this even more disturbing, a lawyer for the 15 parents who disapproved of the text made this comment.

"We are not Cambridge, Mass., or L.A., or even Hanover," said Smith, who added that he and many others moved to Litchfield because of the community's traditional values.

So, I'm sorry let me see if I understand this, If I live in this town, I can't be or support anyone struggling with a drug addiction, or just accept the fact that anyone I love can be gay because it's not a "traditional value" in this community or God forbid if I've been raped, know anyone who might have been raped OR be struggling with anger issues and need help before I commit a hate crime.

I obviously don't fit the "mold" for this town and should not live there!

Here is what a parent has to say about the topic ...

"My children are being forced to accept homosexuality when this is something I don't agree with," said Gandia. "When did acceptance of homosexuality become part of my child's education?"

*head on desk*

Please, lady homosexuality is not just part of your child's education, it's part of our world, of our lives even. And dear lady, there is nothing wrong with it. Intolerance, now there is something wrong with that.

So, what does this have to do with Dumbledore? Simple, "Fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself." We can't teach understanding and universal love for all mankind if we're scared to allow any references to these things in our classrooms.

I'm sorry if this blog seems to be more of a rant then an actual intellectual thought process, but here is the deal.

Vernon Dursley wanted his son to be just like him. He taught him intolerance of those who were different, but in Order of the Phoenix and in Half Blood Prince we saw something. Dudley realized that Harry was a worthwhile and valuable person, not because of his parent's teaching, but because of Harry's action. Dudley realized this when Harry saved him from the dementors.

There are dementors all around us. Sometimes, they don't suck out our souls, sometimes they ban us from reading books about our lives. It's our job to take some action to save the world from its dementors.

*Steps off soap box*

[Doris Herrmann]

Monika I agree. It's very frustrating to see someone acting like these people are doing and not just react out of anger. But not just reacting, being rationale is a human characteristic. While I'd love to react out of rage and intolerance I just won't.

[Monika]

Oh, and something I kinda want to go scream in the face of Gandia lady "Nobody's being forced to do anything lady!"

[Monika]

Kinda makes me want to go bite the head off of that Gandia lady. People gotta be more open, I mean seriously. Old fashioned beliefs have no place in a modern society. This is the 21st century, it's time for a little change cuz without it wr will just drive ourselves to extinction trying to wipe out everyone who looks different from us, thinks different from us, or acts different from us. People have a right to read what they want. These stupid banned books list's are just that, stupid. Rather than just preventing everyone from reading a book, can't they just give people the opportunity to chose whether or not they want to read it? It just makes more sense to me.

[Doris Herrmann]

Patrick you are correct, the right way to deal with any topic is to openly discuss it. I adore the Emu metaphor for ignorance.

Ignorance is the cousin of intolerance.

Karen - Thanks so much for your support.

Doris

[Patrick E. Fleming]

Guh. Certainly the best way to deal with a topic with which you do not agree is to prevent any exposure to it. NOT!!

Nothing breeds intolerance quite as effectively as encouraging ignorance. Just ask the Emu how effectively hiding ones head in the sand removes the dangers that frighten it.

Or - maybe we can educate people so that they are able to deal with the difficulties and stresses that they encounter in life. What a good idea . . .

[Karen B]

Wow - amazing. I don't hear as much about book restrictions here in the UK as I do there, but it amazes me that those kinds of thoughts still exist.

Thanks for writing about this subject with such passion.

[Madeline]

Excellent, Doris!! I agree with every word...Banning books has always been a ridiculous practice, because it only makes people want to read them more. Thanks for being a crusader for sanity!! :)

[flora lovegood]

Amen! Ho! And Huzzah! I cannot stand the mentality that a book should be banned or censored b/c certain ppl do not agree with its content...there are a whole bunch of books out there that I disagree with and refuse to read {anything by Ann Coulter comes to mind}
We live in a military area and there was a case in which a parent wanted a book banned from a school b/c it discussed war and the affects on children {from a child's pov}. Talk about shielding your child from reality!
I am with you on frustration, Dorish :)

[Doris Herrmann]

LOL - thanks, I was a bit enraged. (Can you tell!) This kind of thing frustrates me beyond belief.

[MirandaV]

Awesome blog entry Doris!