Banned Books Discussion

AP Language. Thu, Sep 11th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

Themes: , ,

Trying something a bit different this time.  Black text paraphrased or "quoted" from the articles you brought in, blue text is your words.  (Please comment below if you feel I’ve misrepresented what you stated, or if you would like to clarify something.)

I missed the title of the first article (if you presented, please fill us in), but here is a link to the second, "Are these books Really ‘Required Reading?’" and the last "Golden Compass: Athiesm for Tots."

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We will continue this discussion tomorrow.

7 Responses to “Banned Books Discussion”

  1. Okie says:

    I haven’t looked at many censorship Web sites, but are these the best of the lot?

    I’m against censorship. But surely they have more intelligent arguments out there for their cause.

  2. memorablename says:

    Y’know, E, I don’t think they do have better arguments. Censorship is just a nasty wind blown around the world by the lungs of irresponsibility. At its core, it is an ironically self-deprecating idea that says “we are too incompetent to reinforce soundness of mind among the sound of mind”.

    Censorship is a stupid idea, and most have known as much for years. Briefly, it’s an idea rivaled in glory and rightness only by the Time Cube. Actually, the Time Cube actually has some thought behind it (albeit schizophrenic), so…
    – Saxon
    [and yes, it seems that more “non-students” are posting here.]

  3. JStallings says:

    Holy blast from the past!

    The class seemed to be hovering around the stance that “Books should not be banned; however, children should be protected from ‘mature’ topics in school, etc. Because they are forced to be there.”

    Let me know if I’m not reading your statement correctly, but it seems that they are arguing along the same lines. They are basically claiming that children are not mature (read: of sound mind) yet, and are too impressionable to choose ‘what’s right for themselves’ etc., so parents should have the right to prevent access.

    Glad to see someone is poeting.

  4. Miriam says:

    Censorship just makes things so much more complicated.

  5. memorablename says:

    Essentially, yeah. The thing about censorship though is that it so frequently extends beyond children. There are many, many things in the world that require great professionalism and responsibility (both of which frequently evade even adults), but reading surely isn't one of them, at least as far "social responsibility" is concerned.

    In the early days of the printing press, it made a little more sense to be scared as hell of words, because their novelty appeal and broad dissemination and was a weird variable. These days, you really have to twist arms to get people to read much of anything.

    Anyhow, I feel that it might be fruitless to recommend, but Penn & Teller did a pretty slick episode of Bull[COMMENT EDITED FOR CONTENT BY U.S. GOVT.] on censorship.

    Best of luck to all,
    Saxon

  6. Miriam says:

    Thanks haha

  7. Okie says:

    Parents can censor. Schools should not.