tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post6431598694834244312..comments2008-05-09T09:01:29.640-05:00Pariahjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659204046693465182noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-48068368405926392242008-05-09T09:01:00.000-05:002008-05-09T09:01:00.000-05:00"Of course no one wants to live in a censored society. But you Yanks have come to think of freedom of speech as an inaliable right"<BR/><BR/>Freedom of Speech IS an inalienable right. You 'non-Yanks' seem to be very willing to legislate and push your sense of appropriateness around on people, and yet you fail to read the document that (was, should still be) the moral compass for our country, the Constitution and its amendments.<BR/><BR/>To quote the First Amendment: "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." As all lawmaking authority comes from Congress, the banning of a book violates the first amendment. If you don't want your children reading a book, then be a good parent.<BR/><BR/>And, to quote one of the founders that you conservatives are so fond of when you take away our liberties, "Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither." - Benjamin Franklin. Or heres another one (not quite a founder though): "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - Voltaire.<BR/><BR/>What is the point of freedom of speech if everyone doesn't have it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-30557739357382803982008-05-09T08:39:00.000-05:002008-05-09T08:39:00.000-05:00Anonymous said... <BR/>I think you Americans should feel lucky your books attacking Christianity are banned... In many other countries around the world, if you attack the State-mandated religion, you get KILLED.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Anon - Christianity is not a state-mandated religion in the US. We are supposed to be a secular country but the religious right decided to throw their weight around.Pariahjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659204046693465182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-23962866927817983962008-05-09T08:38:00.000-05:002008-05-09T08:38:00.000-05:00I like the way that Mark Twain tackled racism but most people kind of miss the point and assume that HE is a racist. The fact is that Huck Finn takes racism to task and it should be discussed because there was (and is) a time when that kind of thinking was acceptable. After all, wasn't that Mark Twain's intention in some ways?<BR/><BR/>Forgive me if I'm incorrect - I haven't read Huck Finn in at least a decade.Pariahjanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659204046693465182noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-45727838702444301432008-05-09T08:26:00.000-05:002008-05-09T08:26:00.000-05:00I think you Americans should feel lucky your books attacking Christianity are banned... In many other countries around the world, if you attack the State-mandated religion, you get KILLED.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-62472670001946709112008-05-09T08:18:00.000-05:002008-05-09T08:18:00.000-05:00Yah, well duh.<BR/><BR/>Of course no one wants to live in a censored society. But you Yanks have come to think of freedom of speech as an inaliable right, and that skews your thinking away from the rest of the world, history and occasionally common sense.<BR/><BR/>Ideas sometimes have to be banned. We all of us agree that material promoting illegal activities (think rape or terrorism if you need emotive prompts) shouldn't be widely available lest more impressionable members of society (idiots as well as children)take those ideas on board. And that's why we do censor those activities, and why if I email bomb making instructions over to some of my radical mates I'm in line for a shoeing. It makes no difference whether I email them or publish my tips in book form for all to see.<BR/><BR/>The reflex response of agreeing with any statement that has liberal undertones is fine - it's a reaction to mistakes that our societies have made and continue to make. But don't take these sentiments to illogical conclusions like 'censorship of everything is bad'. (or pacifiscm...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-7642786034038285142008-05-09T02:37:00.000-05:002008-05-09T02:37:00.000-05:00No mention of The Handmaid's Tale? A post-apocolyptic classic, one of the most popular for english courses - and also one of the most challenged, as it features a dystopian society in which Christianity is used as a tool of oppression. Any book which mentions Christianity in a negative way is going to be challenged in the US - people like to believe that their religion is the ideal and infallable moral guide and incapable of doing wrong, and any opposing suggestion or event must be erased. The Dark Materials trilogy is challenged for a similar reason - it's villains are an alternate universe version of a Catholic-like church, using their religion to justify some otherwise quite unethical actions.Suricou Ravenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00322441818160817387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-73853453727555420032008-05-09T01:28:00.000-05:002008-05-09T01:28:00.000-05:00Like Susan said, how anyone can ban 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'is beyond me, and hell yeah, banning books today will only result in greater popularity/buying. People want to know what all the whining and moaning is about.Morghushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06015236225079257009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-51778508059444471242008-05-09T00:32:00.000-05:002008-05-09T00:32:00.000-05:00This is an excellent example of why people should educate themselves on a matter before acting. I would be willing to be that most of the protesters of this book haven't actually read it, they just head that the little penguin has two fathers and jumped to conclusions. Phobias are like that, funny - kinda. People today, generally speaking, are entirely too closed minded about things and want everyone to come to their side of the fence ... it's not everyone that's like that, just the ones that are crazy enough not to care what ripple effects their actions will have on the lives of others.<BR/><BR/>*sigh* Why must the ignorant masses run things into the ground ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-31217607906491891492008-05-08T21:40:00.000-05:002008-05-08T21:40:00.000-05:00i am tired of keeping this thought to myself. our country is laced with racism. which is why people want to ban books. the neo con right, and all the sheep that follow them is all about racism. they dont like ANYTHING that isnt like them. therefore they judge and condemn. clearly, there is a morality that is important to follow, but whether you are black, jew, hispanic, catholic, homo, whatever, people judge and are racist. lets not rule out sexist either. STOP THE MADNESS. we are all people. and we are DIFFERENT. be kind to others and be productive in society. STOP THE MADNESS......Curtishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04076812379114552121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-13011463235657859682008-05-08T21:30:00.000-05:002008-05-08T21:30:00.000-05:00Also, it seems like a lot of books when banned are banned because of blatant misunderstandings.<BR/><BR/>Huck Finn: Racist? Hardly. Mark Twain thought racism was stupid and intended the book to parody what he considered a foolish attitude.<BR/><BR/>The Catcher in the Rye: There really is nothing wrong with this book. Seriously.<BR/><BR/>Ender's Game: Because it portrays what some consider to be child abuse. One of Card's many points is that children are more intelligent than we give them credit for, and that they have thoughts of their own and don't need adults to always protect them, even if they adults really should.<BR/><BR/>To Kill a Mocking Bird: Because it discusses racism? Oh no. Recognizing our country has a tainted past. The point of the book is to confront that past and be the bigger person.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-43109569262466789262008-05-08T19:26:00.000-05:002008-05-08T19:26:00.000-05:00How <I>anyone</I> can wish to ban Maya Angelou is beyond me.<BR/><BR/>Besides, when a book is banned, it makes me want to read it all the more!Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09021909049143054989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873589110076248426.post-27715826204860813992008-05-08T13:34:00.000-05:002008-05-08T13:34:00.000-05:00I am a man of strong opinions, and I freely admit that not all are as fact based as they could be... suffice to say that I'm working on it, heh. However, I do not and cannot agree to the banning of books, simply because I disagree with it's subject material.<BR/><BR/>It comes down to freedom of speech for me, and our right to believe as we see fit. If I want to continue believing XYZ, then I have a moral obligation to allow others to believe as <I>they</I> see fit, irregardless of my opinion of it. If I were to start telling people that they can't believe something, then when the time comes, I will be subject to the same strictures, should my opinions be contrary to popular thought.<BR/><BR/>As you said, it is up to each parent to educate their child to the best of their ability, and as they grow up, trust that they will make sound decisions for themselves.<BR/><BR/>Good article<BR/><BR/>Cheers, MarcMarchttp://www.incurable-romantic.comnoreply@blogger.com