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Now, just about anyone can tell you that we (the United States) have freedom of press (in theory, at least). But do we have freedom to read? We can write whatever we want, yes, but can people be allowed to read it?

It would seem to me that the two go hand in hand. If you're going to let me write something, why would you not let people read it?

I ask this because of people who try to ban books. As far as I can see, it is technically constitutional to let people do this. (And I'm talking in a public setting, such as a public library or school. In a private school, the people in charge can do whatever they want.) And I think this is wrong. I do not think that what books are available should be limited. I do not think that anyone has the right to tell me what books can and cannot be in my library, be it the county library I often frequent, or the library at my school.

The books that people want banned range from the almost expected, the usual hit list-Harry Potter, Lord of the Flies, Farenheit 451 (and I find the irony in banning that last one endlessly amusing)-to the extreme-Dune (teaches the worshipping of "false idols"), Les Miserables (promotes rising up against authority figures you disagree with), 1984 (take a wild guess), and even random books that no one's heard of, like How I Live Now, because it "promotes incest". There's even a series about witches (think Charmed), and people wanted it banned for that reason. It has witches in it.

Now, I think that this is bullshit, and it's scary. You're right-I have no right to read what I want. But I should.

Discuss
>Book Banning

Edit: I'd like to throw in that my school district also has at least six copies of the Bible in their library system, but no sacred texts of any other religions.

And that they've gone so far as to say "These books aren't allowed in the Library, and aren't allowed in the school. If you're caught with them, they'll be confiscated and you'll be suspended, and we'll return the book to you when we see fit." (Their contraband book policy in a single sentence.)

It's ridiculous. If you don't agree with a book or like it or whatever, don't read it. Don't prevent others from reading it. People ban things like Huck Finn all the time. Why? I don't really see the point in banning books. It's just censorship for the sake of censorship.

I believe Oak Harbor, where I live, got onto national news over book banning. They were trying to ban the Chronicles of Narnia and the town was literally split in half. Those for banning it, and those against. Families were torn apart and things like that. I wish I had lived here for it.

I don;t get the point of book banning,as if they could never get a copy of the book anyplace ele,and since this creates a sort of 'mystique' about the book,it just makes people want to read it.
Thus defeating the purpouse. in certain cases yes,and outrageously offensive book should;nt be give free access to kids.I would'nt put "the two babylons" IN a christian school,and I wouldn't put "Mein kampf" in a jewish school.

My school does this intriqueing thing around April. They set up a big table at the front of the library, with all these books in brown lunch bags. Outside the bags is a card with the title, author and reason the book is banned in other places. They also leave a big list of more banned/censored books and where to find them in the library.

Brilliant.

Banning and censoring books, to "protect" children leaves us in a horrible predicament for the future. We raise our children to be simple, and unquestioning about society. Children who, when they don't know what something is, rather than ask what it is, they guess and assume. This makes for an unsavory close-minded individual one day.

If we don't let children explore different identities, while reading, how can they grow to be a tolerant, open minded person? They will not see how lives so different can have these small, significant similarities.

Alot of childrens books come with questions in them(especially in schools) that ask how the life portrayed in the book was similar to their own. Another brilliant idea.