"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." --Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
I can't believe I almost forgot. I wear a "I read banned books" button on my purse.
You can get one of your own here for all of a buck. I get a lot of compliments on it. :) Thank goodness there are still people who not only read, but realize how valuable our literature is and how we have not only a right, but an obligation to uphold our liberties - including our freedom of speech via the written word.
So go out and read a banned or challenged book this week and embrace your rights. Here's some for starters:
The following books were the most frequently challenged in 2002:
1. Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, for its focus on wizardry and magic.
2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, for being sexually explicit, using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.
3. "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier (the "Most Challenged" book of 1998), for using offensive language and being unsuited to age group.
4. "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, for sexual content, racism, offensive language, violence and being unsuited to age group.
5. "Taming the Star Runner" by S.E. Hinton, for offensive language.
6. "Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey, for insensitivity and being unsuited to age group, as well as encouraging children to disobey authority.
7. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, for racism, insensitivity and offensive language.
8. "Bridge to Terabithia" by Katherine Paterson, for offensive language, sexual content and Occult/Satanism.
9. "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor, for insensitivity, racism and offensive language.
10. "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George, for sexual content, offensive language, violence and being unsuited to age group.
~ flowers bloom near Memory and Dream
at 9/23/2003 09:14:49 PM ~
~
