Do you realize the number of books that are challenged, and/or banned every year? Or even more so, does anyone care?
Censorship is a problem, a major problem, it prevents people from communicating, talking, and bringing opposing view points to the foreground. Yes, sometimes the debates that stem from the opposing views go to far, but without the ability to bring two sides together there is no chance in solving problems.
But the biggest issue with Censorship is simply that someone doesn’t want you to see something. I admit, I cherry picked this list, but almost every list of censored books have a similar story. Almost every story was banned or challenged because someone didn’t want someone to see something.
Often, it is due to being “Not Suitable for Children”, ”Too Offensive”, or “Obscene”. But isn’t one persons Obscene, another persons “Porn”?
Yes, I believe there are books out there that I won’t read. And I agree we don’t need a picture book explaining how to build a nuclear bomb. But the same book that describes how to build a nuclear bomb, can be used to build a nuclear reactor. (The major difference is simply in add moderating material/rods that prevent the reactor from going out of control and exploding).
But no one is saying that you must read Alice’s adventures in Wonderland, or any other book.
Here’s some examples:
| Title | Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass |
| Author | Lewis Carroll |
| Type of Literature | Children’s Novel/Adventure |
| Reason | Banned in the province of Hunan, China, beginning in 1931 for its portrayal of anthropomorphized animals acting on the same level of complexity as human beings. Yes, the very popular Children’s book by Lewis Carroll has been banned for over 90 years, because Animals can talk in it… |
| Title | Black Beauty (Unabridged Classics) |
| Author | Anna Sewell |
| Type of Literature | Fiction |
| Reason | Chances are this wasn’t even read before being banned. South Africa in 1948 to 1994 was banned due to the title, White National Party leaders mistakenly thought the book was about a black woman. Chances are they didn’t even see the cover of the book… |
| Title | The Satanic Verses: A Novel |
| Author | Salman Rushdie |
| Type of Literature | Novel |
| Reason | Banned in the following countries for alleged blasphemy against Islam: Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, Kuwait, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand. Not to mention, the Death Threats, and other small issues, for a Fictional novel… The summary of the novel (See Wikipedia) doesn’t interest me, but really. Do we need to threaten people over a book? |
| Title | Ulysses |
| Author | James Joyce |
| Type of Literature | Novel |
| Reason | Banned in the UK during the 1930s and in Australia during the 1930s and 1940s. Challenged and temporarily banned in the US for “sexual content”. In the 1933s the ban was overturned. Yes, I seem to recall reading this in High School… |
| Title | United States-Vietnam Relations: 1945-1967 |
| Author | Robert McNamara & US Department of Defense |
| Type of Literature | Government Study |
| Reason | Also known as the Pentagon Papers. US President Nixon attempted to suspend publication of classified information. The restraint was lifted by the US Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision. |