If there are any two words at the beginning of a sentence which tick off Americans these are them: “You can’t ……..” We don’t like to be told we can’t do something. As a child, for example, being told we couldn’t go out and play in the rain, or as an adult being told we can’t read something. Which is why free-thinkers, liberal oriented people and a few true conservatives, will observe Banned Books Week, September 23-30. 2006.The BBW, observed since 1982, serves to remind Americans not to take this precious freedom to read what we want, when we want, too lightly least it be taken away. The American Library Association has recorded at least 8,700 attempts to ban books since 1990, when it began to keep an electronic count. Not surprisingly, “offensive language” and “sexually explicit” lead the pack of challenges of what should be on the shelves in public libraries and schools and even bookstores. Political and religious viewpoints also generate attempts at censorship.
Recently we had a parallel attempt at censorship of a film to be shown on network TV dealing with the events of 9/11 and the language of New York firemen. The firemen cussed and cursed as they went about their duties during this horrific event, and this some Bible-belt moralists said made it unsuitable for other Americans to hear. A guest on the Bill Maher show asked why the critics picked on the fireman, “There were 8 million people in New York on 9/11 and every one of them said, ‘what the f**k?’”.
Banned Books Week is a special time for all of us to be vigilant and to resist censorship wherever it rears its ugly head. We are Americans and we can make most of the decisions about our lives and what is good and bad, and all will still be well in the end.
