For The L♥ve of Reading discussion

The First Amendment found in our Bill of Rights was written for our protection of the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

As Americans we hold the right to these freedoms. However, many books are being banned and challenged still to this day. How do you feel about this?

Everyone is entitled to their view point. I am seeing much in the way of opposing certain view points based on political views or faith. I would want to know the view point of government and why they feel the way we do. On the opposite end I don't like feeling pushed into certain views just because they are popular at the time.

I also believe that everyone is entitled to their own view. Having an opinion makes you a who you are. Some people press their view upon others and that is where I feel they are crossing this line. I don't like others telling me what I cannot read. Of course, that makes me want to read it more.

http://www.salon.com/books/feature/20...

This online article is about a book that people not only want to have banned from their public library but to have it publicly burned.

This is only 90 minutes away from where I live.

I don't think people should ban books; just because they don't like it or what it talks about doesn't mean that others won't. People should be able to read what they want. Like Elyssa, telling me I can't read something only makes me wnat to read it more.

I think it's stupid that people don't realize (or realize and don't care) that they're infringing the 1st Amendment :P

If they realize and don't care they should move somewhere else where there is no Bill of Rights. I wonder how they would feel when they have most if not all of their freedoms taken away. Maybe then they will realize who they are infringing on others.

I feel that banning books infringes on the first amendment also. I think it is getting really ridiculous that a group of people would want to burn a book publicly. It is bad enough they want to ban the book, but burn it? Come on! I just thank my lucky stars for the librarians of this country for allowing the book to stay on the shelves.

I just hope the group of people that want the book to be banned don't take matters into their own hands. I can just picture the book magically walking out of the library. Not good. Especially when they are messing with others rights to read the book.

Legal so far they wouldn't be able to ban a book but economically they can limit it like preventing a School or Public Library from purchasing it.

Hopefully there will always be a way to access the content that you may choose to read. I've heard of ACTA Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement that would allow governments more control over Counterfeiting. Now with that said whose to say that a Book isn't possible counterfeit and would need to be blocked.

Hopefully I'm just paranoid but 1984 has come and gone and we are in a growing digital age.

Digital age is a good point, We will probably now and forever be able to get their hands or computer on a banned book if really want to. Lucky for us.

❤ ☠ Elyssa ☠ ❤ wrote: "I just hope the group of people that want the book to be banned don't take matters into their own hands. I can just picture the book magically walking out of the library. Not good. Especially wh..."


That happened already: here and here.

Now, I have read the first two volumes of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Black Dossier is the third, I think) and let me tell you, I probably wouldn't want an 11 year old daughter of mine reading them. They're violent and have plenty of sex in them, some non-consentual. They also tell amazingly cool stories about characters from classic Literature with interesting plot twists and facinating character development. The movie is a travesty, so if that's the only thing you know about these books, track down the first one and give it a look-see.

Whether my hypothetical daughter gets to read them or not, that's my choice, not yours. And if she's smart and mature enough to know she needs to hide them from me and manage to do so, she's probably going to be ok.

Neil Gaiman phrases it best when it comes to defending speech we don't agree with: Because if you don't stand up for the stuff you don't like, when they come for the stuff you do like, you've already lost.

That is a good phrase to stand by.

I have not picked up those books yet but I plan on it.

I hope I didn't sound like I said it was my choice on what your children read. I was stating that it is a freedom that as Americans we can enjoy. Many countries you can not enjoy such freedom. I've lived over seas and have lived in a area where some of my choices were not mine. It isn't very nice... back to the subject. It is defiantly a parental choice when it comes to books, just like it is for movies and video games along with other issues. It is nice to see parents stand up for their kids because seems it is not done enough. On a personal note, I don't like that other parents/adults feel they can tell me what my kids can read or not. Like you said, that is my choice.

For me I know my kids are smarter then I was at that age and it seems that is the way of life now. Kids learn so many things earlier then normal. My oldest is in 3rd. I took out a college worksheet for my anatomy class and he could name some tissues found within the body. I have people in that class wanting to be nurses and couldn't name the tissues. Anyway, that was smart. or at least I was impressed. For me, I seem more liberal in my ideas as a young mother. If my boys pick it up and read it, I'm just happy they are reading instead of experiencing it on the streets. Then it also gives me a door to open up discussions. Although, at 8 we already had the sex talk and I don't keep much from them. I believe that it is my duty as a parent to talk to them about such things instead of relying on the education system and the sex ed that doesn't explain things until after they already found out on their own. I took it into my own hands.

BTW thanks for posting the articles for the magically disappearing books.

Basically you think america is becoming more of a dystopian country everyday, mabey the things in the book Farenheit 451 will probally come true.
mahahahahaha

Oh, that's a pleasant thought, Joeanne. Not.

I have not read that one yet. Although, now I might have to. It sounds like it might relate to some of the changes that are happening.