I simply cannot believe that people who actually read these books got such a different message than I (and most of the world) did. For example:
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien was burned in Alamagordo, NM (2001) outside Christ Community Church along with other Tolkien novels as satanic. Satanic? I've read these books, I don't know, four or five times all the way through. I've read the Hobbit at least that many times. I've seen the movies twice that many times. Do you remember how many times I remember mention of Satan? Zero.
In fairness, Tolkien was a devout Catholic (and was primarily responsible for introducing C.S. Lewis to Christianity- though Lewis joined a different sect) and his religious viewpoints certainly color his writings. If you look close enough, you can see metaphors for creationism, the Atonement, resurrection and prophecy. And yes, there are shadows of Satan's adversarialism in the story as well. But guess what? In order for there to be a Satan-type character, there must also be a Christ-type character. And there is.
Not that our friends at Christ Community Church in New Mexico would know, though, as I'm quite certain that anyone who thought the main theme of this story was "satanism" did not read this series. Pity. They are considered to be the first great epic fantasy novels of the modern era, and Tolkien himself is often referred to as the grandfather of modern fantasy.
Not to mention they turned into some kick-butt movies.
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| wallpaperbase.com |
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
This is great. Twilight has been banned in different places for different reasons. In 2009, and Australian public school system banned the entire Twilight series. All four books. They even went so far as to prohibit students from bringing their own copies or discussing them while on school property. Their reason? It's too racy.
Now, let's skip over to various school districts and libraries in the U.S., where Meyer's series has been challenged because it is religious propaganda. They claim that Meyer's chaste and virginal characters choosing to reserve sex for marriage was a strictly conservative Christian- and more specifically, Mormon- notion and that these books were being used to brainwash teenagers into not having premarital sex.
Which is it, book banners? Too sexy or too chaste? It can't be both. I happen to think it's neither. Again, these are books that I've read probably a half dozen times, cover to cover. These characters (who are either legally adults or immortal for 3 of the 4 books) are in love, but they do refrain from premarital sex entirely. As with Tolkien, Meyer's religious viewpoints color her writing. If you want, you can see Mormon doctrines of eternal life, eternal marriage and bodily health in several forms. But you have to really, really be wanting to see it.
The bottom line is, however, that the camp who thinks the books are too racy obviously has not read them. The sex between consenting, married adults is all "off screen". The camp who thinks the books are propaganda could not have read them either... there simply isn't enough "message" to find these to be brainwashing in any way.
The movies were a little less kick-butt. Maybe, kick-knee. Or kick-ankle.
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| movies.msn.com |
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
A parent in Georgia challenged the entire Harry Potter series based on the fact that the books "promote the Wiccan religion."
OK, so I guess this one could be categorized as either "I don't think you really read that" or "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." Although, I think it's both.
Wicca is a religion (which, last I checked, we all have the right to practice however we choose) that bears about as much resemblance to Harry Potter as a kiwi does to a watermelon. Sure, you could find a few points of unimportant similarity, but in reality, nobody would ever confuse one for the other.
These books are also listed as some of the most banned books of the last two decades, with "satanism and occultism" listed as the main reason for the challenges. Satan? Other than the mention of Christmas and Easter, and a graveyard next to a church, there is no religion of any kind in these books. I should know. I've read all three thousand or so pages probably 10 times. The movies are in heavy, heavy rotation in our house, thanks to my son's obsession. He recently told me "I love Harry Potter movies, but I also love Harry Potter books." Me too, kid. Me too.
As for the movies, they alternate between kick-butt and kick-knee. Seriously, who else is totally and completely dying to see Deathly Hallows?
Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
This book about how statistics can be distorted and misused (basically) was challenged and nearly banned in 2006 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The book does talk about some of the less-than-savory aspects of life, but it's presented in a watered-down documentary form, and I cannot think for the life of me why this would be so offensive as to have a school board try to have it removed.
I do KNOW for a fact that the woman who tried to have this book banned did not read it. She said so. She read a few excerpts on the internet and decided to crusade to have it removed from all public school shelves.
Lovely.
The best example I can find, though, is this: In 2005, the Wilsona school district in California presented a list of books they "recommended" to the elementary school children in their district. The parent-teacher committee requested that 23 of the books be removed. For some, they listed (weak) reasons for removal. Others were requested for removal because "they were books the members of the committee were unfamiliar with and didn't know whether they promoted good character or conflicted with textbooks."
Yup. The school district requested to remove books from the recommended list (not the required list, even) because they, personally, were not familiar with them. "We haven't read these, and we just don't trust the teachers, parents, former students, book store workers, book store owners, authors and critics who say these are good books."
I mean, honestly, isn't THIS the goal here, people:
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| guardian.co.uk |
For more information about challenged and banned books, please visit the American Library Association. For more information about Banned Books Week, please visit BannedBooksWeek.org.
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| Think for yourself and let others to do the same. - ALA |
