Explore Banned Book Week & Its Impact on Free Speech

[gleem]

I did not know that September 18th to the 22nd has been "Banned Book Week" since 1982. It is interesting that a country that has such a devotion to and legally protects free speech should need such an event. It is also curious that a country that permits yellow journalism prominently sold in public places with little concern should have an increasing constituency that is deciding that certain books or publications are unacceptable even though they are tucked away in libraries.

Of course, I am reminded of the novel "Farhenheit 451". It should be noted that some form of censorship existed even by publishers and movie executives to ensure that their works were acceptable to their customers. Interestingly Ballentine Books which published Farhenheit 451 edited the high school edition in 1967 to remove the words hell, damn, and abortion. When I was attending high school in the late fifties such language and worse was common among students. I once encountered a second grader from a nearby elementary school who swore a blue streak. Who did such censorship protect?

What kid today does not know as much or more than many adults about the real world? My kids have told me a few things they knew of when they were young. It was scary and I am sure they did not read it. All I could say is that I didn't want to know anymore. When they leave the house they do not need a book or a library to be "corrupted".

Banning books seem ridiculous considering the internet and social media that are in common use or movies and TV for that matter.

 

[fresh_42]

I once bought a book only because some attorney indexed it!

 

[russ_watters]

While I appreciate the sentiment, this is politics and can't be discussed here.