You Can’t Read That!

I am world weary. Weary from the 3-digit heat that has blasted the south all summer. Weary from the discord and prejudice that has become the norm. W.E.A.R.Y.

My personal goal as a writer is to bring hope. I want to be a source of positivity in our world. While noble in desire, it may come with a price if I want to be “real” with my readers. Real in the sense that if I want to grow into the writer I know I can become, I must be true to myself and my own personal fundamental beliefs.

 It’s ludicrous to think everyone is going to agree with me, but that is the beauty of the First Amendment. It allows for each of us to have freedom of speech, which includes books and media, religion, the right to assemble, etc. Which brings me to why I am writing about this particular topic. Censorship.

Something happened in my small southern town over the course of the last month. It makes me upset, angry, and sad. I have been hesitant to write about it because, 1. As mentioned, I want to be a source of hope, and 2. I do not want to set myself up to be a target for anyone who will disagree with my views and/or start an argument. Feels cowardly, even as I type it.

Our local library has been under attack regarding a series of books for junior high-high school reading levels. A parent discovered one of the books on the shelf and took issue with it. Instead of placing the book back on the shelf and moving along, or quietly sharing her concerns with the library staff, she decided to go to the Board of Supervisors, the local press, and Facebook to share her thoughts. 

The library, trying to keep the peace, removed the book from the shelf to their office. The Board of Supervisors was asked to review the book. The parent had stated the series contained pornographic content. The Board of Supervisors deemed it did not, and they would be correct. Nothing that the library tried to do was satisfactory. Last word, there was a public meeting last Friday afternoon. Not only was this series on the chopping block but other titles as well. I do not know the titles of those books, just that there was a longer list. They want any book that mentions sex, death, suicide, or LBGTQ removed from the teen section. They next plan to move on to the adult section.

My issue here is not the subject of the books, but that censorship is being imposed. As a writer, I am not for banning any books. Yet I know, books have been banned forever and will continue to be.

Using my favorite pal, Google, here is a small list of books that were banned at one time or another over the last 100 years. Some may surprise you:

– Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck

– Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain

– To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee

– The Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

– The Color Purple – Alice Walker

– Brave New World – Aldous Huxley

– The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald

– The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck

– Ulysses – James Joyce

– The Lord of the Flies – William Golding

I have most of these titles on my own bookshelves. I bet many of you do as well. So why have these books caused such issues that censorship was imposed?

Topics like sex, profanity, violence, and racism were frequently cited as the cause.  Fair enough; I get that a parent may not want a young child to read about these topics before they are mature enough to understand the implications. Simple fix – do not check them out!  If you have a teenager, explain to them why you prefer them not to read the book, as in a real conversation about why you feel the way you do.  

But here is the rub in this local situation – there was nothing our library could do, short of removing the series completely that was going to be good enough. This parent was not interested in a compromise due to her personal beliefs on the topic.  I know from responses on FB others agree with her. It is their right based on the First Amendment.

What then of the rights of those who have a different opinion?  Many people disagree based on censorship alone. By the time a kid is in junior high and high school, a parent should be able to sit down and have a more grown-up discussion about life. Knowledge is power and the more knowledge you are equipped with, the better chances of you making healthy life choices for yourself. Further, I suspect much of the opposition is because these topics evoke fear. A fearful person does not like to be questioned or entertained by a compromise because it may challenge their belief system.

Bottom line, I do not need someone to decide what me or my grandchild can and cannot read. I never had children of my own, but I do have a beautiful granddaughter who I am collecting books for already. Me and her parents can make the determination of what is appropriate for our family. It’s our job as parents and grandparents to educate our children the best we can. I want Eloise to understand the world around her – the good and the ugly. I want her equipped to navigate life in the best way possible. This means having real conversations when she is mature enough to comprehend them. She needs to understand things like sex, death, and suicide. I hate that is the case, but I never want her to be in a position where she does not feel that she can come to her mom or dad, or me and my husband to talk about the hard things.

I do not know this parent, but I am sure she loves her child and wants the best for him/her. I would love to tell her to stop and reconsider what she is demanding. Not to change her mind about the topic, but to change her thought process to include others who may not have the same worldview. To also consider the message she is sending to her child. Is her message one of love or hate?

Why do you want to hide life from your child? By the time they are in high school, trust me, they are already dealing with adult issues. Wouldn’t you rather have a conversation to prepare them? Explain to them why you feel the way you do? I think you are highly underestimating your child if you think he/she cannot handle the truth of life situations. I also think they can read something without participating in what is being described. I have read many books in my time, even as a teen, that talked about suicide, but never once have I ever thought I’d like to attempt it. Give your children some credit. Allow them to think for themselves.

I’d also like to ask this parent if her child has a cell phone and a television. Has she not considered that her child has far more exposure through those channels than one random book at the local library? Teens are committing suicide, teens are killing one another, and yes, teens are having sex. Banning books is not going to stop any of that from happening. However, the messages within those books may resonate with a young person; it may address questions they have or help them learn to have a different perception. Why does her choice have to be everyone’s choice? Why does she get to decide for other people?

I’ve been worried about the stress the library staff has been placed under. They have even been worried they may lose their jobs just for doing their jobs. Libraries are meant to be a neutral place. At least they once were. This whole situation could have been avoided and certainly handled in a different way.

I’m sure this series will be removed, and probably others. What a shame. There may be a kid that series would have helped. Made to feel a little less alone. You can remove the books from the shelves people, but the subject, regardless of what it is, is not going away. Personally, I cannot imagine not getting to read “To Kill a Mockingbird” or “The Color Purple.” Lessons are there to be learned, folks.

I’m sure these parents are praying for all of us who disagree and have spoken up. Likewise, I am praying their heart will awaken to the knowledge that love, understanding, and compassion is the answer, not censorship.