censorship

The latest in censorship news is a challenge to John Green's Looking for Alaska.

As John (sorry for the informality - I've never met him, but I have trouble calling anyone under age 40 "mister") explains in his vlog post "Looking for Alaska" Is Not Pornography, certain parents at a Buffalo, New York, high school are incensed that high school juniors should be asked to read the book in their English class. It should be noted that reading this particular book is optional, and parental permission is required for students who wish to read it for the class.

Book challenges always majorly tick me off. Some people argue that it's great press for a book, and sure, "any publicity is good publicity." But the sentiment behind book challenges is ugly. It's about controlling what other people can think and do. It's about making your personal opinion the law of the land. In other words, it's totally counter to the First Amendment.

Then add in the fact that many (maybe even most) book challengers have not read the book they're seeking to pull off shelves, out of classrooms, etc. They base their opinion on hearsay, or on small passages taken out of context. Then they jump around and scream and get all their hyperactive neighbors (who haven't read the book either) to band together and march on the schools and libraries until they get their way.

Fortunately, often they don't get their way, thanks to stick-to-their-guns librarians and teachers, and school and library boards, that uphold the libraries' selection policies and recognize that (a) the book is more than the allegedly objectionable passage and (b) one outspoken person shouldn't control everyone else's life.

Outspoken authors such as the members of AS IF! (Authors Support Intellectual Freedom) are invaluable as well. If book challengers can get all their pals together to throw a tantrum, IF-supporters can join up to fight back with reason and compassion.

For the record, I've read Looking for Alaska, and while the passage in question isn't appropriate for everyone, it's definitely not pornography and it also isn't anything that a high school junior (with their parents' permission, too!) can't handle.

I also owe John Green and Looking for Alaska a debt of thanks. The book's impending publication was what finally got me serious about writing. I'll be the first to admit the green-eyed monster was involved. "He's my age? He's publishing a book and getting all this press?" That is when I realized that while I might never write a book as awesome as Looking for Alaska, I would never write any book whatsoever unless I started, y'know, WRITING. Just one more reason not to pull Looking for Alaska off the shelf: it inspires readers to greatness.