A Response To Banned Books

Censorship seems to be a common conversation, especially when it comes to children's literature. It is perfectly understandable for parents and teachers to protect their children from reading inappropriate content. Most parents would probably not want their third grader reading a story with a graphic sex scene. However, there is a point in which protection steps over the line and becomes unnecessary censorship of literature and art. Some of the reasons given for the banning of a book from libraries and school curriculum are at least understandable, but some are simply ridiculous. The Forbidden Library has listed many of the most popular banned books and the reasons why they were banned. I am going to give my response to some of these reasons.

Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl has, on more than one occasion, been challenged for its sexual content. This particular concern of many parents is understandable (though I wonder if the parents who worry have actually read the book). However, in 1983, the Alabama State Textbook Committee wanted it removed because the book was a "real downer." To this I say, "Yes, it is a downer--along with most everything associated with Nazi Germany!" The book is a Jewish girl's story as she and her family have to hide from Nazis. Do you really expect it to have a good ending? However, removing this book poses a danger to the children who won't be allowed to read it. Anne Frank's diary gives a very personal twist to WWII and shows the results of extreme racism gone out of control. Why would parents want their children to miss out on learning this valuble lesson? No, this book is not appropriate for all ages. But, it is an important book in terms of the history of the world that should not be missed.

Surprising, C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was challenged in 1990 in Howard County, MD for "graphic violence, mysticism, and gore." Yes, the book does have a battle scene, but it hardly can be described as graphic. The parent who does not want their child to read this book is denying them of the world of imagination, the world where good does triumph, and the world that is many people's favorite book. Although, I once heard of a tribe of people who valued deceit as a desirable quality, and so I can understand why these parents would not like the book. But for Americans in general, that doesn't seem to apply. It is understandable that the possibility would arise that some parents would be opposed to the Christian imagery and themes. However, if they are that worried about the book, maybe they should take the time to read the book with their children and discuss it instead of pitching a fit to the school board. Good literature is good literature with or without religeious beliefs.

You might be surprised to find Where's Waldo on the list. Apparently, someone found a woman who was missing her bikini top. I wonder who would even notice that? There are so many people drawn in that book that the chances of finding that woman by accident must be astronomical. I looked at that book for hours as a kid, and I definitely did not see her, as did neither of my four siblings. If one of them had found it, I would have at least heard about it. Do you remember the page of Waldo look-a-likes? If she had been on that page, she would have stuck out like a sore thumb. However, on any other page, she would probably blend right in.

Number 22 on the Top 100 most banned books is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Apparently there are two main reasons that parents seem to struggle with when it comes to this book. The first is that it "promotes witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons." First of all, there aren't any demon-like characters in the book at all (they don't show up until A Wind in the Door). Second, the particular parent who thought that the book promoted witchcraft and the use of crystal balls must have literally only read one page out of the entire book and does not have any grasp of the idea of context. Yes, a crystal ball was used by the Happy Medium, but the book was not promoting its use at all. The other reason that some parents have trouble with this book is that it lists Jesus along side of artists, writers, and composers as the type of people who were fighting to save the world from evil. Once again, the problem here is context. I highly doubt that L'Engle was saying that these people were equal to Jesus, especially since she was a Christian herself. What I think she was saying (and what the parent missed) was that everytime someone creates something beautiful, it reflects God and, therefore, reduces the evil (no matter how small the amount) in the world.

The books that get banned from schools and libraries often surprise me, which is why I am glad that many of the people I know celebrate Banned Books Week. Yes, children should be protected. Yes, material that is not appropriate for children should be kept out of school curriculums. However, downright censorship is a whole other story. It goes against our constitutional right of free speech. In addition, censoship of great literature denies our children the wealth and beauty of other worlds. It limits their imaginations, But, most importantly, it sends the message that anything that is not understood or "normal" should be feared. That message is much more dangerous than any of these books.