All across the world, literature continues to be censored each and every day; people deciding what books are "good" and which ones are far too inappropriate for anyone in the world to read. This is not a recent problem, it actually dates back many years. Only now, we have finally realized the true damage that this is causing.
In the United States, we talk about our freedom of speech, yet when we are confronted with something that makes us uncomfortable, we want to immediately make it disappear. We continue to forget that in order for us to have freedom, we must allow others to enjoy that same freedom. Engaging in reading is already hard enough for some people without having others telling them what they can or cannot read. The beauty of books is that you make the decision to read the story. You do not have to agree with what the author is saying, but it is also not fair for you to take this story away from someone that might really relate to it.
Research done by the Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Public Information Office shows that the number one initiators for book banning are the parents. Although parents have the right to decide what is appropriate for their children and whether or not they are ready for certain subject matters, they do not have the right to prevent other children from getting exposure to stories that will challenge the way they think. Reading from so many different points of views helps a person develop their critical thinking skills and, ultimately, creates a society where understanding prevails.
According to a study done by the American Library Association, the main reasons for banning books include sexually explicit content, offensive language and an overall idea that it is unsuitable for a certain age group. While I think that these are sensitive topics for a younger audience, teenagers in this age are exposed to so much more than this on the television that they watch. The majority of the book banning occurs in high schools, where teenagers are continuously shown these ideas through video games, films, and their own peers. Yet, books like "The Great Gatsby" are being banned because of the language and the slight mention of sex.
The following map shows cases around the world where books have been challenged and the reasoning behind them.
"This map is drawn from cases documented by ALA and the Kids' Right to Read Project, a collaboration of the National Coalition Against Censorship and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression."
So, next time you decide to pick up a book, take a look at this list: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/top-100-bannedchallenged... You may find that your favorite book is on there. Take a look at number one; Dolores Umbridge has to be behind that. Take a stand. Read a banned book.
