Reader poll
Do you agree with the state's list of banned and challenged books?
- Yes
- No
- Some, not others
1 total votes.
Our View: Every citizen has the right to read — say “no” to banning books.
“Brave New World” by Aldous Huxley. “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. All are easily labeled as literary classics, and many schools consider each essential toa student’s education. They are all also on the list of most frequently banned books.
This week is Banned Books Week, a national celebration of the freedom to read. Since 1990, more than 10,000 book challenges have been recorded by the American Library Association, including 348 in 2010. A challenge to a book is a formal complaint asking that a book be removed from circulation or curriculum. Challenges are made to public schools and their libraries, as well as to public libraries.
Oklahoma saw three documented challenges in 2010 alone — one, against “The Bermudez Triangle” by Maureen Johnson, was successful. But fewer than 25 percent of challenges are reported and recorded, according to the American Library Association.
Of course, some of these books do contain disturbing themes, sexual content, vulgar language, gay and lesbian themes or racial tension — the features that most frequently inspire a challenge to a title. But how else can an author deal with serious cultural and historical issues? Outside of these titles, how are students supposed to learn about these very real (and yes, sometimes disturbing) facets of American life? We cannot imagine a better way for students to understand racial conflicts than by reading “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Great books aren’t meant to be easy and harmless. The best books challenge. They force readers to look at the world in a new way, they expose readers to different ways of life and they teach essential truths about what it means to be human.
So no, not every book is right for every reader. But it is a parent’s job to decide that — for their child, not every child. Banning a book limits the access of the entire community. This kind of censorship denies the freedom of individuals to choose for themselves, implying an “I know what’s best for you” attitude that the U.S. cannot afford to tolerate.
Not every book that is banned has literary merit, of course — also on this year’s most-banned list are the “Twilight” saga by Stephenie Meyers and the “Captain Underpants” books by Dav Pilkey. But the same principle applies. Parents have a right to control how their child is raised. But everyone else has a right to read. To help fight censorship, donate here or exercise your right to read a banned book today.
Oklahoma’s banned or challenged books:
“Catcher in the Rye,” J.D. Salinger
“Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck
“ttfn,” Lauren Myracle
“Montana 1948,” Larry Watson
“Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution,” David Carter
“Prophet: The Life of Bayard Rustin,” John D’emilio
“The Bermudez Triangle,” Maureen Johnson
“Brave New World,” Aldous Huxley
“Glass,” Ellen Hopkins
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kdbp1213 8 months ago
how do we have time to read a book when we are living in a virtual (electronic) world rather than the real world. we are blogging, video-gaming, texting, webinaring, e-mailing, watching inane & scripted reality-based televison shows, and skyping. Kids are raised to interact with inanimate objects such cell phones, blackberries, and laptops rather than their human peers. we're shifting to a paperless society with credit and debit cards. we rudely talk on our cell phones while we wait in the grocery line, unsafely drive our cars, lazily perform the hottest exercise at houston-huffman, smugly shop for the latest fashions, dine out at the hippest restaurants, sip the latest coffee-based & calorie-ladened drink, etc.
books? who has time to read a book? oklahoma daily editorial board, what century do you live in????
mythman 8 months ago
I really don't understand what you mean by, "Do you agree with the state's list of banned and challenged books?"
What is this list, is it a list of books officially banned by the state of Oklahoma, or a list of books that happened to be challenged or banned by local schools/libraries? Are you asking if I agree that the list is correct, or if I agree whether the books should be banned? Please clarify.
dregstudios 7 months, 4 weeks ago
I was introduced to Huxley's work through my High School teacher in a very rural town. It was controversial for her to teach such works as A Brave New World but these are very powerful and insightful works. Such literature is very important to society along with books like 1984 and A Clockwork Orange which are frequently banned. See my visual commentary and portrait of Huxley on my artist's blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2010/07/aldous-huxley-rolls-in-his-grave.html
briareus 7 months, 4 weeks ago
I think the word "ban" is being abused here. To "ban" a book ought to mean to make it's publication, possession, or reading illegal. Schools have to choose books for their curriculum, and parents should have input into that process. Similarly, the school has to choose what books to stock its library with. I doubt, for example, if anyone would object to the school librarian not choosing to stock explicit pornographic magazines. The editorial here states that a book titled "The Bermudez Triangle" was successfully "challenged" -- whatever that means. I have not read this book, so I can't comment on the wisdom of this. But most people would agree that there has to be a process of choice.
owlafaye 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Banning the Bible would advance the cause of civilization tremendously.