We are nearing the end of this years Banned Books Week, sponsored by, amongst others, the American Library Association and the American Booksellers Association, all as part of the effort to bring attention to those who would ban books.Of course there has always been those that would ban books. The Catholic Church had its Index. The Nazis staged public book burnings. Ulysses was banned for US import until 1934. Both Lady Chatterly's Lover and Naked Lunch were banned in Boston. Mayor Palin, almost immediately after assuming office, wanted to know how to go about banning books in her hometown burg. It makes one wonder why.
Books can be dangerous. Many contain ideas. Sometimes unpopular ideas. Ideas that may make one think. Ideas that engage and transform us. Ideas that set off our imaginations. Ideas that can change the way we see the world. Ideas that may make decide to help change the world for the better. Clearly books can be subversive. And we can't have that! An informed and imaginative people could do incredible things.
The blogosphere has done a good job this week of alerting us to this week. The General linked activities revolving around Banned Books week in Second Life here. Crooks and Liars has covered it well, too. I'm sure I'm missing others. What is your favorite Banned Book? Do you have any stories about censorship and the banning of books in your locality?
In the meantime, enjoy this favorite tune of démocommié™™™™™©®ç au courant.
This book report was brought to you by the soon to be resurrected Jackson Street Books
top photo: thnx boingboing.
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We'll try dumping haloscan and see how it works.