Banned Book Week
We are in the middle of Banned Book Week 2010. It's amazing to me, and saddening, that we actually need to have an event such as this to remind people of the fundamental rights of expression and reading.
Alas however, looking at the map of book challenges across these United States it seems that folks do indeed need a reminder of our most fundamental of freedoms.
I was pleased to see that Washington State is no hotbed of censorship, with only one school giving in to the statists who think they know best what other peoples children should be able to read.
The statist culprit? Leavenworth.
The attacked books? Alice On Her Way and Harris & Me
Unfortunately, as the map shows, would be book burners are prevalent throughout the United States, most states faring much worse than my Washington State. Oregon was especially surprising with a large number of book challenges.
What can we do? Buy a book. Any book. Cherish the right to read.
Comments
Dear Milliscent,
We agree 100% with you.
Yes, we must cherish the right to read.
This right does not exist, or no longer exists in so many places ....
We must not forget that everywhere in the world, books are what dictators and religion fundamentalists destroy in first. Because they represent a danger to them, they convey the freedom of thought.
They represent the culture, evasion, links between people ...
Yes, books are important and indispensable.
Warm regards to You and every one here.
Posted by: Christine & georgette | September 30, 2010 9:33 AM
Christine & georgette,
Indeed you are correct, the rights to speech, broadly defined are the very bedrock of free societies.
It is sad that those who profess to be patriots so often seek to remove those very rights.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | September 30, 2010 11:12 AM