Censorship: Irrational Book Banning in Schools

The Associated Press recently published an article about parents trying to ban specific books from the school system in Charleston West Virgina. The Author in question was Pat Conroy for his books "Beach Music" and "The Prince of Tides." Apparently the books contain graphic depicitons of violence, suicide, and sexual assault. These two books are in the midst of a long and frustrating First Amendment debate which has parents going up against school students in court.

Many books throughout the years have been banned for different things. But the First Amendment states free speech for all right? Apparently not. It seems these days that if merely one person finds something offensive they don't want their children to read it. This trend is sad, frightening and rather frequent in the times we live in. How long will it be before all books that are deemed offensive are banned and we are only allowed to read what is chosen for us?

These questions have been asked by many people and is now being asked by students nationwide. Apparently there are hundreds of books reported to the American Library Association every year with requests to have materials removed from schools and libraries. Included in that list are the popular and highly acclaimed Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, which some Christians believe promote witchcraft.

So of all the books that people are wanting banned, the question remains. Have the people who wish these books to be banned even read them? Classic books like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Catcher in the Rye bye J.D. Salinger, and Forever by Judy Blume to name a few have at one time or another been banned, challenged and persecuted for having, violence, profanity, and sexual content and other offensive material. And while books such as these are being banned for these things, the newspapers print stories about such things daily. The video game industry is also making quite the profit as well.

The interesting thing in the school system is when a book comes into question, it causes students to want to read it. There are students who have banded together to form a coalistion against censorship, and are prepared to go to court when the school sides with parents over books to be banned. The Teacher may have lists of suggested reading, but the teacher isn't forcing the students to read these books. The students are choosing to read these things. Who are we to take that choice away. When a book gets banned from a school, they are giving even more reason for people to want to read the book that gets banned.

And it is not only schools in which books have been banned. Apparently there are numerous books that have been banned from the United States as well. What kind of nation are we to preach about the First Amendment when the government itself is banning books from library and store shelves. So once again if the censorship of books is taking place, how long before there won't be any books left to read? How long before our right to choose is taken from us? So I say, look up a list of banned books, find one and read it today, for they may all be gone tomorrow.

Artical Mentioned written by Associated Press
West Virginia parents try to ban Pat Conroy books from school; author calls them 'idiots'
Posted on www.news.bostonherald.com