From tweets and Facebook comments, it seems to be “Banned Books Week”! What is Banned Books Week? Maybe it’s actually a commercial ploy to sell books. However, according to BannedBooksWeek.org:
Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read. It was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries.
…
During the last week of September every year, hundreds of libraries and bookstores around the country draw attention to the problem of censorship by mounting displays of challenged books and hosting a variety of events. The 2010 celebration of Banned Books Week will be held from September 25 through October 2.
The purpose of this Web site is to help the public join the celebration of our freedom to read.
What, as if censorship is always bad? As if the content and messages of certain books being challenged is bad in and of itself? Of course disputes will arise in any society full of people with different beliefs and values. That’s not a problem, and it’s not bad, as long as we can deal with it civilly.
But I don’t think anyone disagrees with me on that. So I guess Banned Books Weeks isn’t really about “the problem of censorship” or an attempt to stop books from ever being challenged. I think it’s just about getting people to talk about books and their moral issues.
What it turns into is more of a: “Hey! Pat yourself on the back for liking this book that some other group dared to say was bad! Can you believe it?! Some people! Hooray for freedom of speech at the level that most of us agree it should be at!”
I think it’s great to encourage people to think for themselves, and not accept censorship blindly.
But I think if we need a “Banned Books Week” to remind ourselves of that, then we’re awfully stupid.
Hmmm… Banned Comics Week anyone?
0 Comments