Another book being banned...
...this time over a single word. I'm curious if anyone else has heard about this, and what your thoughts might be? One of the top news stories on my net browser this morning was talking about the latest Newbery Medal winner, The Highest Power of Lucky, written by Susan Patron. Apparently it uses the word "scrotum" on the very first page. And that is what's causing all of the hullabaloo. The report goes on to say that libraries in several states have already banned the book and even more are considering it. Whenever I hear about another book being banned - anywhere - it just breaks my heart and makes me worry about the direction some communities are headed. Don't they realize that by trying to ban a book, they are giving it even more power? How many people picked up a copy of the first Harry Potter book when the whole censorship thing started over that, just to see what all the fuss was about?
People trying to censor these books always wail on and on that they're thinking only of "the children" and how they have to protect "the children" and blah blah blah. Those children have parents. They need to be involved in what their kids are reading. McDonald's argues that their food shouldn't be illegal because people have the choice over whether or not to eat their food. Why can't the same rule apply to books? This just has me riled up right now. I've included a link below to the story for you to read if you'd like.
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/childrens-book-stirs-battle-with-single/20070217193109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
People trying to censor these books always wail on and on that they're thinking only of "the children" and how they have to protect "the children" and blah blah blah. Those children have parents. They need to be involved in what their kids are reading. McDonald's argues that their food shouldn't be illegal because people have the choice over whether or not to eat their food. Why can't the same rule apply to books? This just has me riled up right now. I've included a link below to the story for you to read if you'd like.
http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/childrens-book-stirs-battle-with-single/20070217193109990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001