Discussion #1: Banning Books

[Alisa Cooper]

Books are often challenged or banned due to an individual or group of individuals considering the book to be controversial, immoral, inappropriate, sexually explicit, divisive, corrupt, vulgar, violent, or even wicked. These books deal with issues of gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, and political perspective. Do you agree with banning of books for certain groups of people when dealing with some of these issues? In which situations would you agree with banning a book? Or in which situations do find it unacceptable to ban a book? What do you think about Lawrence's Lady Chatterly's Lover? Was it justified to ban this book?

Read: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/rananim/lawrence/lcl.html

[Renee Stein]

I personally can understand banning certain books from being read by children but not from the general public. I don't think any of the issues in the banned books is a good reason in this time to ban a book. So far I enjoy reading Lady Chatterly's Lover. At the time it was written I can understand it being banned. But with the way things have changed I do not see any reason for it to be banned today.

[Hana Izuka]

I agree with your opinion, Renee. I can understand how Lady Chatterly's Lover was banned during its time, but today's generation doesn't really find it that bad. Worse things could be found on MTV and VH1. I am a high school student and I even asked my English teachers about this book. My Junior English teacher read the book and enjoyed it. He wishes that everyone in our class could read a book that's as educational as Lady Chatterly's Lover. I think that banning books dulls the mind of lots of teenagers because the books that make us form an opinion are all banned.

[Hana Izuka]

I for one do not agree with banning books. Sure, parents want to protect their children from reading these books, but think about it: you can't shield them forever. If you yourself don't want to read a book because you think it tries to persuade you, then don't read it. Books that teachers want you to read mostly has to do with other's opinions and ideas. That does not mean you have to follow it. I think that books should not be banned because of any religious beliefs, moral ethics, and any person's sense of evil. Books are written by very different people with very different personalities. When it comes to books, you read them and learn to understand them. No one said you had to agree with them. Personally, I don't think Lady Chatterly's Lover is a bad book. Sure, it does have some sort of sexually explicit details, but in our society, they don't seem that bad. Yet, why is it still banned? We have become a more desensitized generation, but still, writing is the author's and no one elses. It was not justified to ban a book that someone probably worked really hard on. But one thing I can vouch for about banned books: I enjoy reading books from the banned book list because it makes me feel like I'm going against the law and the books on the banned books list are just far more interesting.

[Julie]

"I think that books should not be banned because of any religious beliefs, moral ethics, and any person's sense of evil. Books are written by very different people with very different personalities. When it comes to books, you read them and learn to understand them." I like how you put that. I think it is important to recognize that since people are so diverse, you shouldn't take things so personally.

[Jacquie Kemper]

I agree with you, Hana, the banned books do tend to be an entertaining read. The fact that we have this opportunity, to read a banned book, in itself says something about how far society has come. At least we have some access to it, whether online or through a bookstore. When Lady Chatterly was first published, it was mostly bootleg copies. I wonder how much all those unscrupulous bootleg book printers edited the books content themselves. Or did they respect the integrity of Lawrence and print the book in it's original content?

[Jake Lough]

I think that’s a good question/point. I wonder how many authors are pissed of because some publisher added our took away major ideas from a story. I also wonder how many Lawrence’s of our time have written crowd pleasing material that had no value so they could make a $. I ultimately believe most writers write to make money and if companies our groups don’t approve the writer changes the book to please them. That’s why I believe this book is timeless it went against the current and is still controversial to some people years after it was written.

[Hana Izuka]

I agree with your thought about the authors like Lawrence. A book is someone's ideas and visions put onto paper. If someone had the intuitiveness to be able to paint a picture with their words, then I consider this as an art. How do you change art? There is a reason that there is only one Mona Lisa and many copies. I, for one, am very angry when I write a paper for a contest, and my teacher thinks he or she can make some changes to it, thinking that it would make it better.

[Mary Sladek]

I don't really agree what you say here Hana about the reference to parents shielding their children. Sure thaey can't shield them forever, but during the time that they are under age they are still responsible for them. But it is a parents duty to do as much as they possibly can. No one is perfect, even parents. After all they are only human. What the point here is though, is that there are age appropriate books, movies, internet, t.v., whatever, and it is a parents responsibility to raise the children the best way they can and when those children are adults then they will have their own responsibilities.
I do agree with you that, so far, I don't feel the book should have been banned, but still I understand the age that it was written in was quite different than where we're at now.

[Jake Lough]

I agree with Mary that ultimately us as people are responsible for our selves first and our children second. I’m a father and I don’t want anyone to tell me that I’m hiding my son our shielding him from something he might not be at a state to comprehend totally. There is a big difference between a boy who is 14 and a boy who is 18yrs when it comes to sex. There are stages in a mans life and without the proper information our tools when it comes to sex can cause very negative results. All things are learned and if you were at the zoo with your kid and two elephants were having sex would you try to explain it to your two year old our just walk away????????? There is a time and place for everything.

[Caitlin]

I absolutely agree with you. Reading is knowledge regardless of whether it is fiction, non-fiction or anything else. It's like meeting new people and sharing life stories. You don't have to understand why they acted the way they did or made the choices they made, and you defiantly don't have to go out and do as they did. You just take it all in and learn from it. If you are sheltered from life experiences and knowledge such as books, you really are at a disadvantage to the rest of the world. Sure there is a certain time and place for everything but do we really get to pick when life happens to us? Anything can happen at any age and personally I'd much rather be prepared. I really believe that no books should be banned or changed from the way they were written. To fix grammar mistakes of course make those changes, but that’s it. The moral and everything the author expresses absolutely not. Just like Hana said that is a work of art. Also, how easy is it to get access to the internet today? Very easy and if a kid wants to find out more about something they will. You can put up any videos and writings you have on the internet, so it’s not hard to find. I know myself and I know when I put my mind to something my parents weren't and aren't stopping. The more they tried the more I wanted to rebel. If I hear about a banned book list those are the first books I want to read! =)

[Carole]

Exactly Caitlin, the more one tries to hide something from someone the more it is sought after. If I were an author I would find it somewhat flattering if my book was on a list of banned books and in reality I'm thinking it would only help the bottom line books sales, so go ahead, "try to ban me".... Humans are so funny, yes we all have rights but don't force your rights on the entire population. just don't pick up the book or watch the movie if you don't want to participate. I think some people just have too much time on their hands.

I know the world has changed but even in the days of Lady Chatterly, people were having sex and sometimes with partners there than their spouse. It is funny how people were really not honest with life or themselves in this time period, the "bad" girls, situations and affairs were kept pretty quiet or were they?
Have you ever thought of Lawrence as the father of reality shows in book format? He sure motivated thoughtful provoking conversions among the people of his time!

No book should be banned, but banning does help promote it, I'm looking at the list right now to see what I just have to get my hands on!

[Caitlin]

That is very interesting I hadn't thought about it like that. He sure did stir up some debates back in the day. ha. I'm glad I'm not the only one with that rebel mentality!