Project Post: #003 - *facepalm*
Sometimes people reach new levels of stupid that really make me weep for the future.
I found this article on the Top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2009. By "challenged", I mean some parent had a problem with the books and filed a complaint with the library/school/whatever to try to get the book taken off the shelves. I have a problem with this anyway, seeing as the people who can actually handle the material in a mature way are deprived of it, but looking at this list made me even angrier. To be fair, I haven't read most of the books on this list, but some of these books are aimed and young adults. Y'know, teenagers. We see violence, sex and swearing practically on a daily basis through our televisions and in real life. Parents trying to make everything all sunshine and rainbows isn't helping anything.
But I digress. Like I said, I haven't read most of what's on the list, but the ones I did read infuriated me. Especially this one, and this is directly pulled from the page.
4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
Really. The biggest issue people have with this book, which I had to read for school and greatly enjoyed, is racism.
Talk about completely missing the point. It set in Alabama in the 1930s, people. It's the driving force behind the trial. It's the reason why Tom is found guilty even though there's overwhelming proof of his innocence. It's a very compelling piece of literature and I'm glad our teacher assigned it to us in the seventh grade (or eighth, I don't really remember).
And people want to ban it.
How stupid can you get?
Here's the link for those of you who are interested.
I found this article on the Top 10 most frequently challenged books of 2009. By "challenged", I mean some parent had a problem with the books and filed a complaint with the library/school/whatever to try to get the book taken off the shelves. I have a problem with this anyway, seeing as the people who can actually handle the material in a mature way are deprived of it, but looking at this list made me even angrier. To be fair, I haven't read most of the books on this list, but some of these books are aimed and young adults. Y'know, teenagers. We see violence, sex and swearing practically on a daily basis through our televisions and in real life. Parents trying to make everything all sunshine and rainbows isn't helping anything.
But I digress. Like I said, I haven't read most of what's on the list, but the ones I did read infuriated me. Especially this one, and this is directly pulled from the page.
4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group
Really. The biggest issue people have with this book, which I had to read for school and greatly enjoyed, is racism.
Talk about completely missing the point. It set in Alabama in the 1930s, people. It's the driving force behind the trial. It's the reason why Tom is found guilty even though there's overwhelming proof of his innocence. It's a very compelling piece of literature and I'm glad our teacher assigned it to us in the seventh grade (or eighth, I don't really remember).
And people want to ban it.
How stupid can you get?
Here's the link for those of you who are interested.