Comments on: NPR Spotlights Banned Books Week

By: Meghan

Meghan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:25:57 +0000

That is interesting and I think very correct. I definitely think the ideas are a bigger threat than the actual content in many of these books. I’m not a parent, but I have known parents and older people who were very afraid to let their kids or any kids think for themselves – God forbid the child form his or her own opinion!

I’m just glad my parents aren’t that way; they’re not pleased that I’ve turned out liberal when both of them are conservative, but they know it’s my own choice to make. And they always let me read whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted!

By: Dan Kleinman

Dan Kleinman — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:16:44 +0000

Re BBW, see also http://preview.tinyurl.com/sowell” for another view.

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:34:46 +0000

I had to go into work right after that statement so I didn’t get to hear the full story.

But yes, I agree with her statement. There’s always a contradiction though. I worked with someone who would not let his kids read any of the Harry Potter books. In his (and his wife’s view) because they dealt with magic, spells, witches and wizards that they were the work of the devil.

If his kids aren’t carbon copies of him I can imagine him stating that they are a disappointment and he doesn’t know where he went wrong in raising them.

By: Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog

Rebecca @ The Book Lady's Blog — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:34:42 +0000

I comletely agree with the quote and think that most people who want to ban books want to do so because they are afraid of they ideas the books present and are worried about how those ideas, that differ from their own, might change or open people’s minds to a new way of looking at things. Banning books is a reactionary move made by those who either want to stay in power or want to gain power by removing their competition or making their own ideas appear to be the only ones that exist or are acceptable.

My feelings about reading freedom are pretty similar to my feelings about everything else. To paraphrase a popular bumper sticker: Keep your laws out of my library.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:41:22 +0000

I think people want books banned because they’re afraid that the ideas the books present will show the world how narrow-minded they really are. They want their children to swallow their ideas and values without question. Books with different ideas and perspectives are wonderful for starting dialogue with children (or other adults).

By: Nari

Nari — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:40:31 +0000

I agree with Judith Krug’s statement. I think most people do not like to be made aware of their faults through these books. I think it really says something when books of that nature (the fowl language, sex, racism etc) are banned, yet its still allowed and celebrated in movie-format and in TV shows. Does one format make the ideas any less threatening?