Discussion #2: Factors for Banning

[Alisa Cooper]

Identify and explain factors that motivate people and organizations to challenge and/or ban books. Do you agree or disagree with these factors? Explain your position. Or explain and exemplify uses of censorship by a dominant culture to suppress minority voices.

These are two separate discussion topics. You can choose to discuss one or both, but keep them separate (i.e. don't post responses to both topics in the same post.)

[jessica]

I believe most of the time when books were challenged or banned was when it was in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century. I think someone mentioned in class that alot of banned books had to deal with the writers being woman who had not much rights in the first place let alone publish a book. I don't really hear of african american published books in those time maybe because they were banned also. They probably didn't have much of a choice in the first place due to slavery. I agree with Carole how it makes her sad because no one should be prohibited from doing what they love such as the art of literature.

[Carole]

Hi Jessica I agree with you too and I think the banned book trend is running rampid in the 21st century as well. I really did not realize it until I took this class. The list of banned books on Amazon for 2008 surprized me. The lists Dr. Cooper gave us with the kids books is another surprise. It really seems if you slightly object to anything in a book it can be challenged especially in school districts who are afraid of getting sued. What is with people? It seems all of the activists, rights groups and the banned book promotors seem to have too much time on their hands. Let me make my own choice, please.

[laura]

I was also thinking of, the uses of censorship by a dominant culture to suppress minority voices, as for the schools. Because since you were a young kid you read the books that were in the curriculum. Even if seen good or bad there is control everywhere even if America is a free country there are the limits. And if I say I want to read or do something that is banned who should stop me. There have been so many protests on so many issues I would understand why someone would just sit back and just not do anything on their part to help or change the current situation. Even if you’re the only one why not it starts there’s so many people that it’s sure to have the same thought of yourself.

[Ruth]

I think that in most cases either in books or in any form of media , theres anything the they're no telling us, even in the news, they might report a story but it's not the whole truth or it's disrepresented in same way. The factor for censorship of any kinda is to keep people in the dark. So "they" can keep the order of the people. If we actually knew that real truth behind our governments , organizations and churches; we could be shocked to know that half of wha8t "they" tell us is a lie.

[Latiesha]

So far from what I've read from others in class, there seems to be a consenus. a group in one shape or another that is powerful make things such as banning and challenging possible. more often than not, they are large groups or groups with influence. the main factor for this, in my opininon, is close-mindedness. somethings that fuel that could be fueling this close-mindedness might be fear, tradition and inexperience. some of these people are fearful that they may lose their power or influence, that these materials in question go against everything they as individuals stand for (but they happen to find people who agree with them), and these different ideas or beliefs they hold so strongly have been indoctrinated into them since childhood and they know no other way than what they know, and lastly, they're too scared to actually think and act as they wish and only rely on their "beliefs" because thats all they have in this world. its all they've ever known. all of these things i've stated are ridiculous but most likely not too far from the truth.

[Renee Stein]

I completely agree with you Latiesha. It just just a consenue of close-minded people who decide to ban a book. It is completely ridiculous that they inforce their beliefs on every one else. Reading is a way to expand thoughts and knowledge so the banning of books by these people shows a lake of wilingness to grow as a person.

[Caitlin]

I defiantly agree with you as well. The groups must have a very big influence to have the books banned. I didn't really think about how some people brought up in at certain culture with certain beliefs would take some books so offensive. They have been censored their whole lives to anything that goes against there beliefs. So it is understandable that someone would find some books against their beliefs offensive and fight strongly to have them banned.

[Jake Lough]

I can agree with all three of you. Groups go over board with dissmissing things they dont understand our that go against there beliefs. But are we all so diffrent do we ban groups of people we dont undertand our go against what we believe. We might not be stopping some one from putting there ideas and beliefs on paper but we do try to stop certain groups from being who they are. I dont think we have changed our advanced in any way as a people.