Censorship

Censorship is the use of state or group power to control freedom of expression. In a modern sense censorship consists of any attempt to suppress information, points of view, or method of expression such as art, or profanity. Censorship is commonly used by social groups, organized religions, corporations and governments. However, there are also numerous groups which oppose censorship. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship)

In my opinion as long as humans have sought to communicate, others have sought to prevent them. Every day someone tries to restrict or control what can be said, written, sung, or broadcast. Almost every idea ever thought has proved objectionable to one person or another, and almost everyone has sometimes felt the world would be a better place if only "so and so" would go away. Perhaps because of their ubiquity, books, especially public and school library books are among the most visible targets. Books are hardly the only target of would-be censors, however. Free expression is constantly challenged in the arts, in broadcast media, and on the Internet. (http://georgesuttle.com/censorship/censors-all.shtml)

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As a society we want our young people to be literate, thoughtful, and caring human beings; but we also attempt to control what they read, think, and care about. We feel the need to "protect" children from dangerous or disturbing ideas and information. Of course, what is dangerous or disturbing to one person or segment of society may be exciting and innovative to others and perhaps just "the truth" to still others. This combination of multiplicity of values and concern for young people keeps censorship alive in school and public libraries. (http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~kvander/censorship.html)

Most would-be book banners act with what they consider to be the highest motives protecting themselves, their families and communities from perceived injustices and evil and preserving the values and ideals they would have the entire society embrace. The result, however, is always and ever the denial of another's right to read. This Web page is offered in support of our basic right to read guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

The message of Banned Books Week is more than the freedom to choose, the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox

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