"Banned Books Week"

Sometimes things freak me out a little bit when it comes to government control. Like our right to free speech and freedom of thought! The Libraries here in Avondale, AZ are participating in the American Library Association's, "Banned Books Week". I commend the Libraries for attempting to bring it to everyone's attention. I was shocked to learn that some of the classics were on the banned list! What happened to the First Amendment? When I went into the library with my son, it made me think of what happened in Nazi Germany or Communist societies. I realized this is happening right here in the USA! The website has a plethora of information. I was most surprised to learn that parents are leading the way in getting books banned or challenged.

The “10 Most Challenged Books of 2005” reflect a range of themes. The books are: “It's Perfectly Normal” for homosexuality, nudity, sex education, religious viewpoint, abortion and being unsuited to age group; “Forever” by Judy Blume for sexual content and offensive language; “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger for sexual content, offensive language and being unsuited to age group; “The Chocolate War” by Robert Cormier for sexual content and offensive language; “Whale Talk” by Chris Crutcher for racism and offensive language; “Detour for Emmy” by Marilyn Reynolds for sexual content; “What My Mother Doesn't Know” by Sonya Sones for sexual content and being unsuited to age group; Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey for anti-family content, being unsuited to age group and violence; “Crazy Lady!” by Jane Leslie Conly for offensive language; and “It's So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families” by Robie H. Harris for sex education and sexual content. Off the list this year, but on for several years past, are the Alice series of books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. "Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us."—Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas," The One Un-American Act." Nieman Reports, vol. 7, no. 1 (Jan. 1953): p. 20.

Sometimes I just shake my head in amazement and say WTF? BTW parents, we should have a law for you: Change the channel, restrict access, or how about if you just STFU! Can we please elect some sane officials and stop the basic infringement on our constitutional rights!

Vote Democratic!!

Seven of Six, crossposted at Low and Left