You could almost draw a parallel between the abstinence movement (anti-birth control) and book banning, they fear sex and information so much that just the potential of being exposed to either is simply too great.

…you know… that last analogy sounds stupider than it did in my head. Meh.

And of course, Catcher in the Rye.

Can’t figure out why a tame mystery like Silver Pigs by Lindsay David is on the list.

except for the spelling errors, it could be him…

Please note that I’m not saying a book should be removed from the assignment sheet simply because a parent complains. What I am saying is that the ALA considers the registering of a complaint–whether successful or not–to be the moral equivalent of burning every available copy of the book in the school parking lot.

I think this is a mistake, as it opens the group up to very valid criticism from scum like the AFA. It is also intellectually dishonest, as it makes a mockery of one of the essential principles of librarianship, which is listening to your community in order to satisfy your particular community’s needs.

“Listening to your community” doesn’t mean you have to do what they say, but it does mean you can’t call them monsters when they say something you don’t like. The current conception of BBW is contemptuous toward anyone who disagrees with the decision of an authority figure, and I think that stinks.

One might think parents should learn to deal with material they don’t like in books their children are requested to read not by forbidding ANYONE to read said book but by talking to the teachers and administrators to try to work out an acceptable alternative. You know, by being responsible adults and stuff.

I am a librarian, and I am a far-left liberal, but I despise Banned Books Week for largely the same reason as the despicable Mr. Dobson. The problem is that Mr. Cushman, quoted by Dobson, is absolutely right: the ALA has way overstepped its remit and is loudly and proudly in opposition in opposing parents’ involvement in what their children are required to read.

Check out the 2007 Banned and Challenged Shortlist if you don’t believe me. I haven’t counted it up, but a quick eyeballing suggests that the number of challenges related to required reading lists and classroom presentations equals or exceeds the number of books challenged in library collections.

Sadly, the issue here really is that the ALA is, intentionally or not, taking a stand against parental involvement in their children’s education. BBW goes way, way beyond whether a book is available to an interested reader, insisting that parents should have no voice in determining what their children should be forced to read. I am very disappointed in the organization.

grrrrrrooowwwllllll

one filthy cum sofa

Nobody is stopping you from putting good wholesome books in the library. It’s just you’re not allowed to take away our evil porn books from the library. Both should be available, and the children will decide what is better.

Perhaps you failed to follow the good Dr. Dobson’s childrearing advice, and you didn’t shower with your son so he can look at your penis.
…and…
But when you try to get a book removed from a library, you are then telling everyone’s children what they can and cannot read.

Well, the solution to this one is pretty obvious: to cut down on fundie parental angst, “papa” should shower with all teh neighborhood children, so they can check-out his wiener.

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…what?

P.S. Good luck, g. Take care of yourselves, and don’t get trapped and roasted!