Opinion: As the media buzz around the topic dies down, it’s vital to be aware of censorship
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As a kid, my week was always punctuated by a visit to the closest branch of my local public library. My parents and I would zigzag our way there, avoiding the busy streets, and it was so routine that I could’ve walked there in my sleep. I mastered the self-checkout machines at an early age, scanning books in stacks of four at lightning speed, and I always walked out of the doors with a comically large pile that pushed the limits of what I could carry. In other words, I was a huge bookworm.
One day, I noticed they were giving away free pins at one of their new displays. They read, “I read banned books,” and I snatched one up immediately without a second thought. Who doesn’t like free things? I didn’t really know what it meant, but I was only about 10, after all.
As an adult, though, I’m proud to wear the pin now that I know its meaning. I’m still a constant library supporter, and I plan to become a librarian someday, but I’ve noticed a disturbing trend: support for book bans has only ramped up as I’ve grown older.
It seems that we were having the right conversations about this topic when book bans in Florida gained national media attention, especially the efforts led by Moms for Liberty. Unfortunately, the issue was never really resolved, and the country lost interest. We need to keep up our awareness.
When and how did we decide to stop engaging with perspectives that differ from our own? If I’m reading something by an author I disagree with, should I assume that there’s absolutely nothing I can learn from the book? The idea that you should restrict yourself to reading only things you agree with is entirely absurd. It’s how you get trapped in an ideological bubble without ever realizing there’s another option.
I recently read an article by a bookstore employee upset to be shelving copies of “Mein Kampf.” I’ll say it: I hate Hitler. I’m really not a fan of the guy, believe it or not. I’m not crazy about the idea of neonazis buying it just to salivate over either. But does that mean no one should ever read it? There’s a saying that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it, and censoring our reading material in this manner won’t lead us to anything good.
Of course, a private individual who owns a bookstore obviously has the right to be picky with what they stock according to their personal preferences. Still, a library (in or out of school) should be a place where all information is accessible. Who does any politician think they are to tell students what they can and can’t read?
Sure, some topics might be a bit mature for elementary school kids to handle or comprehend. But you know what? Ordinarily, no second grader is going to reach for a Toni Morrison book on the top shelf at their school library when the entire Magic Tree House series is right in front of their face. It’s just not going to happen. But guess what happens when you tell a kid they can’t do something – that it’s “too dangerous,” or even better, forbidden for some secret reason? They won’t stop thinking about it until they can do it. “Banning” books just makes them even more tempting.
And that’s just focusing on books banned for violent content. What about books banned for social justice issues, like their coverage of race- and LGBTQ-related stories? I can’t think of a fair argument for why these books should be restricted. If kids are experiencing identity-based discrimination in their day-to-day lives, there’s no reason they shouldn’t have the opportunity to read about it as well.
The bottom line is that you should always question why someone is trying to prevent you from reading a certain book. What are they so afraid of? We’ve gotten so used to getting spoon-fed information that we sometimes forget to seek it out for ourselves, but we all need to take a more active approach to our education. Don’t hesitate to expose yourself to new ideas. Read banned books! Who knows? You just might learn something for a change. Ooo, scary.