I make it a point to re-read a book that was banned…it is a little protest but one that is important in any society.

Thanks for the opportunity to bring it up each year Lauren!

Let me school you, since you lack social skills – this is my blog. I won’t stop you from spouting your silliness, unless you continue to be rude. People from your perspective are usually silly and rude, it’s the same kind of thing we see on the nightly news. It’s boring and not very clever.

It is not an injustice that you and your friends don’t get to decide what other children read. It’s not your right and it’s not your job. For libraries to highlight small minded people who spend their time trying to ban things most of them haven’t even bothered to read is not an injustice. What *is* an injustice is that you all seem to believe it’s your duty to decide what others can see or read.

*I* am best suited to decide what is appropriate for my child. Just as *you* are best suited to make those choices for your household. It’s certainly NOT “an injustice” when you can’t censor my children’s reading material.

As far as I can tell, from all your links, you are not being shut out at all, though I do find it laughable and sadly ironic that those who call to censor complain of being censored.

I believe children SHOULD read Bless Me Ultima, I believe they should read Harry Potter, The Dark Materials books, I believe they should read Heather has Two Mommies. I believe censors should keep their religion in their home instead of mine and stop whining when they can’t control what everyone else thinks.

I do think, Dan, you should try it sometime as well. Read a book, I hear they’re good for you.

I’ll be more specific. First, clear your mind of preconceived notions you may have about me. My concerns are relatively accurately reflected in the AFP article I linked. Read that. Then, know that I support authors to write anything they please. See “SafeLibraries Loves Authors and Opposes Censorship; Please Visit Brent Hartinger’s New Fantasy Venture: TheTorchOnline.com.

The problem is solely with the Office for Intellectual Freedom within the ALA. It misleads people about a number of issues, then works to muzzle any possible independent thinking by local communities. You may or may not agree with that, but certainly you are not also politely suggesting that I shut up, are you?

Ms. Dane, do you think in a situation where inappropriate material may be legally kept from children that misinformation should be used to convince people to ignore those legal means? Do you think people like me who evidence that very injustice should be shut out of discussion on the issue?

Think.

Why not actually present your opinion as a post instead of giving links? Just say you think censorship is awesome like a big boy.

“American Library Association Shamed,” by Nat Hentoff, Laurel Leader-Call, 2 March 2007.

“Banned Books Week and the ALA,” by Dennis Ingolfsland, The Recliner Commentaries, 4 August 2009.

“‘Censors’ Are So Scary,” by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 6 October 2008.

“Finding Censorship Where There Is None,” by Mitchell Muncy, Wall Street Journal, 24 September 2009, p.W13.

“National Hogwash Week,” as coined by Thomas Sowell. And this resource has a long, updated list of BBW-related articles.

“US Libraries Hit Back Over Challenges to Kids Books,” by Sara Hussein, Agence France-Presse [AFP], 6 September 2009.