Banned Books Week

Banning books is wrong, not to mention unconstitutional. The First Amendment says:

CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF; OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE, AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.

September 29th to October 6th is Banned Books Week. I'm going to try and post something everyday to celebrate. I did a project about banned books sophomore year, and ever since it's been something I've been really interested in.

Quick Facts:

• Banned Books Week has been recognized annually since 1982. It's a time to celebrate our freedom to read.
• Typically books are challenged (this means somebody attempted to remove materials from curriculum or library), not banned (books actually are removed). Only a small percentage have actually been restricted thanks to the commitment of librarians, teachers, and booksellers.
• Books usually are challenged with the intentions to protect others, especially children, from difficult ideas. "Inappropriate" sexual content or offensive language tends to serve as a target for overprotective parents everywhere.
• Book burnings have been practiced since before 213 BC, when all Confusion books were burned except for one copy.

I found all this information on the banned books page of the American Library Association's website. It's a pretty cool site. I'm expecting to refer to it quite a bit over the next week.