Image courtesy ALA. Click through for source.
I would like to personally welcome you to the beginning of Banned Books Week.
The focus of Banned Books week is to celebrate the freedom to read, and to hopefully have a discussion about why certain books have been banned or challenged throughout the years. This week is not about forcing someone into a set of ideas, or taking away people’s rights to voice their opinion about a book. It’s about bringing to light the harm that censorship can do to people of all ages, races, religions….well, all people.
I believe that ALA’s website defines and describes banned and challenged books the best by saying challenges are “an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group” and continues with “challenges do not simply involve a person expressing a point of view; rather, they are an attempt to remove material from the curriculum or library, thereby restricting the access of others.”
I wanted this post to be informational to those who have not heard of Banned Books Week before, or those who have but weren’t quite sure what the big deal was, because I’m sure there will be plenty of posts/blogs/articles/podcasts/information about all the books that have been banned or challenged. Therefore, welcome to a passionate and intense week of book discussions and their value to the readers.
-Abbey
Eleventh Stack 
Just goes to that some folks are way too sensitive – Dr. Seuss’ Hop on Pop promoting patricidal violence, really? Good post, Abbey.
Should have been “Just goes to show that…” Sorry, way too hasty!
Coming up Wednesday…the local event to celebrate your freedom to read!
http://www.aclupa.org/takeaction/events/2015freadom/
Okay, here is a story: I’m a foreigner in Germany, and it was indeed awkward to see a woman at a restaurant at the table next to us pull out Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” from her purse after she heard us speaking a language that wasn’t German. Not that I’d have the book banned, I’d have NO books banned. But making a point like that … I’m very curious to know what you guys would have banned, if it were your call? How about we make a list. And then try to see whom those books might prove interesting to. To start with this example – “Mein Kampf” – I’d say probably traning shrinks. It’s a great glimpse into the mind of a mass murderer. First hand. My two cents. Looking forward to yours.
I honestly don’t think I could ban a book, myself. It just wouldn’t sit well with me. I’d much rather be prepared with alternatives, so I could say, “I’m sorry this book isn’t for you – have you tried X, Y, or Z that might be more your style?” I think the fear behind a book banning is, “There are no books that reflect me and MY tastes here.” And I love to be able to show we have something for everybody…
–Leigh Anne
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