why do they ban books? If they don't want to read them, don't. Don't tell me I can't! What do you think?

Question

They have tried to ban Harry Potter, Mary Poppins, and many others. I think it's wrong to take away the right to read for something stupid like claiming Harry Potter is "wicked" and "evil". If they don't want their children reading it, then don't let them. If I want to read it, I should be allowed to. These people protesting H.P. are the same ones saying Lord of the Flies is "good literature". Wtf?

Answer 1

I agree with you. America was built on freedom of speech, so trying to keep people from reading something infringes on one of our basic freedoms. People need to remember that the Nazis burned books and communism kept its people from access to certain books. Do we really want to be like that?

Answer 2

What happens is that a couple of people get offended, then they starting making a lot of noise, and then a bunch of uneducated people jump on the bandwagon without making a decision for themselves. Like that lady in Georgia who is fighting tooth and nail to ban Harry Potter in Georgia schools. She admits that she has NOT EVEN READ THEM, because they are too long. What educated person says that she won't read a children's book because they are too long???

What is ironic about this case is that the Harry Potter books are actually full of Christian imagery! If this lady were educated, she would go to a site like the one below, and realize what a dingbat she looks like.

When I look at some of the crap that kids read in their literature classes in high school, I wish that they were reading Harry Potter instead.

I didn't really answer your question yet... I agree that it is up to parents to keep an eye on what their kids are reading. Freedom of speech is important. Even though some really bad ideas get published, if we start banning things just because a few people disagree with them, then eventually everything except the instructions on how to use your new toaster will be banned from print!

Answer 3

It's just moronic. I am a writer and a long time English student, and we even joke that if the first few novels don't become best sellers, just write one that will get banned by the Catholic church--instant best seller. Usually people who want books banned think it's a moral thing, but it is always counter-productive. Like the Da Vinci Code. It was a really mediocre book with mediocre writing that did have a lot of mistruths labeled as truth, but banning it just got another 40 million people to buy it and believe it. Such is life.

Answer 4

yeah, its realy annoying and makes no sense. I suppose there are some books that should be banned such as "how to make a nuclear bomb" (no i dont think its a book... work with me here) But what "evil" can we learn from harry potter? its not like we have magic powers- not much evil can we learn. As for religion, well, there are lots of religions and blah blah blah out there if you dont agree with something religious wise in the book, thats your problem! not the books! but i guess the big picture here would be that the only reason books are banned is that the higher authority has/ uses their power to hide information from us. wich makes no sense... half the time it makes the books even more popular!

Answer 5

I believe they're trying to ban them from public school libraries. While I disagree with that, it's not banned in the sense that you can't read them. Buy the book with your allowance or go the library in your city. There are no banned books there.

I think banning books is wrong, but our public schools have a bigger problems in my opinion. I'd buy my kid Harry Potter. I love Harry and we own them all.

Answer 6

Some groups about 60 years ago not only banned books but burned them as well! Actually.... there's numerous things in our society today which reflect such things of the past! Just because something is banned in one area, doesn't mean it's banned everywhere, especially with the internet now available! Most likely, not too far off in the near future, many governments will start tattooing its citizens with ID numbers to keep track of them.... sound familiar???? Prepare yourself.

;) Keep reading and read whatever you wish!!! ;)

Answer 7

I don't know why, in this day and age, people still try to ban books. I completely agree with you - it does not make sense to ban books about wizardry or magic while at the same time allowing a book about what can happen when several young boys are shipwrecked on an island...reading in general gets people to think about things, and I don't think it's anybody's place to ban books.

Answer 8

Here is the problem. Some people find a book is not to their liking and offends them on some level. They think 'this is a bad book'. Ego steps in...

Then they think - everyone else is too stupid, ignorant and downright clueless to EVER interpret a work of fiction as fiction. They insist the book be banned to protect you from your own stupidy, ignorance and clulessness. They are the superior product and so are fit to judge.

It somehow fails to occur to them that you also have a brain. The truth is, they have been taken in by their own high opinions of themselves. This, and their failure to recognize that other people can think too, shows they are the stupid, ignorant and clueless wonders of the world.

This is a war between the ignorance (them) and the free (the rest of us).

Answer 9

We should ban bans and protest protesters. When someone walks around in circles with thier signs we should form a circle around them and go the opposite direction. Pointless but funny.

Answer 10

The thing that gets me is that some people crusade for banning certain items (depending upon the cause dujour) because they think they are doing it for the good of the people.
Well folks, as one of "The People" I thank you for your concern but I am perfectly capable of making up my own mind on any subject!