What Do You Think About Book Banning (of YA novels)?
Do you think that it is unfair? Do you believe there is a need to ban books? What do you think about book banning compared to what is available on cable television and the lyrics that make up today's hottest music?
For those book bloggers + readers who are still fairly new, this whole concept may still be fairly foreign to us. So please ignore the repetitive nature of this post and those that were posted last year. I'm playing catch up.
My Thoughts:
[If this is too much to read, skip to the bottom and just read THE SHORT OF IT for my quick answer.]
[THE LONG OF IT] SO being new to this whole book blogging world... and to the concept of book banning, with some very superficial digging I found this.... Top List of Challenged Books of 2009
1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
2. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality
3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
4. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group
5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
6. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
7. My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
9. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
10. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
2. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality
3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
4. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group
5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
6. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
7. My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
9. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
10. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
Ummmm. Speechless!
Do people not notice the 4 and 5 year olds singing Lady Gaga's music? "I wanna take a ride on your Disco Stick." and what about the little kids popping around to Katy Perry? "I kissed a girl just to try it, I hope my boyfriend don't mind it." If You Seek Amy, anyone? What about the latest sex scene on The Bold and The Beautiful? How many toddlers do you think were scarred by that while their moms were indulging themselves in fantasies of the way-too-old-guy and that girl who was just 5 years old at the close of last Friday's episode?
Look, I'm not hating. My 5 year old can sing along to most of these songs, and more. I don't make my child turn his head at the sight of two guys kissing. And I sure as heck don't throw my hands over my sons ears if there is a naughty word spilled. I also don't wear turtle necks and jeans during all seasons of the year. But isn't it My Choice whether I do this or not? Why should One Group's ideals/morals be able to dictate something that is available to me or my family? Shouldn't they just continue to regulate what goes into their children's hands and be done with it? Shouldn't they just accept today for what it is? An unique blend of lifestyles and beliefs? What happened to censorship starting at home? Why do we have to do it for them?
One Example: Harry Potter and all like books have been unofficially banned at some of the local school libraries (elementary-high school.) Why? Because all of these *Creatures* are works of the Devil. I totally respect that some people believe that, whether I agree with it or not, but why should my child have to be herded into the same category as these other children?
Look, I'm not hating. My 5 year old can sing along to most of these songs, and more. I don't make my child turn his head at the sight of two guys kissing. And I sure as heck don't throw my hands over my sons ears if there is a naughty word spilled. I also don't wear turtle necks and jeans during all seasons of the year. But isn't it My Choice whether I do this or not? Why should One Group's ideals/morals be able to dictate something that is available to me or my family? Shouldn't they just continue to regulate what goes into their children's hands and be done with it? Shouldn't they just accept today for what it is? An unique blend of lifestyles and beliefs? What happened to censorship starting at home? Why do we have to do it for them?
One Example: Harry Potter and all like books have been unofficially banned at some of the local school libraries (elementary-high school.) Why? Because all of these *Creatures* are works of the Devil. I totally respect that some people believe that, whether I agree with it or not, but why should my child have to be herded into the same category as these other children?
[THE SHORT OF IT:] I truly feel most of these banning reasons are nothing more then personal beliefs. If they don't approve of these books then why not encourage their children to steer clear of them? Isn't that what people do with television, music, and lifestyle types?
I also think if people are going to target books perhaps they should target the bigger of the evils, the stuff that is touched by more people. Television and Music.
BUT don't misread that. I said IF people are going to... Not me.
BUT don't misread that. I said IF people are going to... Not me.
Do You think Books are targeted because it is easier to go after the smaller of the *evils* rather then go up against television stations and record labels?
Want to see a 2009-2010 List of Banned or Challenged Books and see WHY they were banned? Just click the link.
Want to see a 2009-2010 List of Banned or Challenged Books and see WHY they were banned? Just click the link.
Why don't we just ban LIFE seeing as apparently Bella's virtue was too racy and therefore needed to be banned ;-)
I kid, I kid!
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Have a suggestion for my Whatcha Think 'Bout Wednesday Post?
SUBMIT SUGGESTION HERE
This can be anonymous or credited :-)
Have a suggestion for my Whatcha Think 'Bout Wednesday Post?
SUBMIT SUGGESTION HERE
This can be anonymous or credited :-)
I agree with it being a personal choice. No one should tell someone they can or can not read a book. When it comes to children's reading preferences: it should be the PARENT who controls that. I think parents these days are too quick to blame the media & what not for why their child has suddenly picked up bad behavior. I'm sorry, but isn't it YOUR job as the parent to TEACH your child right from wrong?! It isn't society's job to do that! As for banning books - it seriously disgusts me. No one, EVER should be deprived of reading. Just because the material is explicit or whatever - then that is when the power lies in the hands of the parent. Simply don't let your child read it.
ReplyDeleteGreat discussion topic!
I agree! My son and daughter sing right along with the popular songs on the radio and of course the lyrics are horrible for a 3 & 4 year old to be singing to. And the funny thing is, my son actually is the one who tells me I shouldn't be saying cuss words. A 2 year old I babysit for on a regular basis, his father, is super paranoid about anything he thinks is gay. So if his son comes to my house and picks up anything pink or plays with a doll of my daughters he has a heart attack...I don't understand it. Tv and movies have more sex, drugs, and whatever else than most books do. I don't think it's wrong to have your kids exposed to certain things, they just need to understand what things are right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteThanks for replying!
ReplyDeleteSo we are all in agreement it should be the parents to filter this :-) Go me!
I have to say my son is one of the most down to earth 5 year olds you would meet. Everyone calls him the *cool* kid. He isn't sheltered by any means but he doesn't make a big deal about these things people are banning books for. IF you make a big deal about it then yeah, so are your children.
To each their own, I guess. I just wish people who do the censoring at home and stop picking on books.
I agree that books shouldn't be banned. I understand if parents don't think their kids should read a certain book or types of books but isn't it their choice and not someone else's. I agree that it seem books get prosecuted more than T.V. or radio. I mean there are some many parental controls on a T.V. but again it's the parents choice. I think most of the reasons that books get banned too are ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I do like about Banned Books is that it often gets people's curiosity up and makes them read want to read them. I think it's funny that the people who are banning the books are just making more people want to read them.