THOUGHTS

Banned Books Week

September 26, 2019

This week is Banned Books Week, an annual awareness campaign and a way to celebrate the freedom to read. And, if there is any group of folks who need to be aware of what is still going on in the book banning disgrace, it is us, here at Writing.com!

Think about it! Authors put a lot of time, their being into a story not only to write it but to get it out into the market only for some group to say that your story should be banned! It breaks my hearts just thinking about the ugliness of these people who want to judge creativity as they are doing! There is a new "stupid" among these folks who have the power to do this dirty work. I mean, you know things are bad when Charlotte's Web is on the "hit" list! WTF??

The best I could find on this is that, in Charlotte's Web the story deals with death, the powers to be believe that children under the age of 10 cannot handle processing what death is. I say that an emotionally health child can handle the concept of death and should if they are going to function properly in society! It is part of the life process.

Another child's book I noticed that was attacked is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. According to Google (if I can trust it anymore), the picture book was banned from a public library in Colorado in 1988 because it was interpreted as being sexist. If you know of the story (it is a cute story with pictures), you say WHY, HOW? Google's explanations continues that some readers believe that the boy takes from the female tree, without giving anything in return. Take about a stretch in over thinking!

So, for those who may want to know more, I have added a few links below for your perusal:

https://bannedbooksweek.org/
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/books
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_books_banned_by_governments

Personally, I think it is part of the dumbing down of our children when you banned children's stories. It seems to be okay to have a drag queen read why Johnny has two daddies and no mommy or try to push alternative life styles on kindergarten children, all for the betterment of the children??? I think not.

Why say you??

Seabreeze