Think for Yourself!

September 25, 2010

"A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to."  --  Laurence Peter

Banning books is nothing new. Books were burned during the Inquisition, the Nazi regime in Europe, and most recently, in the middle east. Ray Bradbury wrote a novel, Farenheit 451, about what may happen when books are banned and burned. Ironically, Bradbury's book was banned.

Recently, Stockton, Missouri has been in the national limelight because Stockton's school board upheld a ban on Sherman Alexie's novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. 

Now, the school district of Republic, Missouri is getting attention because it is considering banning three books:

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson,
• Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

September 25-October 2, 2010 is "Banned Books Week",  and the theme is"Think for Yourself and Let Others do the Same". You can find out more about the banned books at the American Library Association website. 

As Voltaire said, "I disagree with what you say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it".  Check out a banned book this week, and think for yourself!

Beverly D.
Riverside Branch