Arugumentative Essay: Banned Books

For years, the controversial topic of banning books from public access has been a fascination of mine. I was raised in America, Land of the Free; Home of the Brave. In our very Constitution is stated the rights of our citizens, including those of freedom of speech and of the press. Which is the very reason such a topic has dominated my attention for so long. I read through out my childhood, most of these books I now find are extremely controversial; such as the Harry Potter series. Most of this controversy is due to religious contradictions. If the press is truly free in this country, and the separation of church and state still stands in our nation today, I ask why some of our favorite books are in danger of disappearing from library shelves across the United States?

One reason I would like to support my inquiry with is maturity. I must say that while it does seem reasonable to ban certain books for explicit material in grammar schools, and even intermediate schools, the upper grade levels- high school students and so on; should not be forced to suffer such consequences. I feel that at my 11th year grade level, students should be mature enough to accept certain material such as sexual activity or political satires in books. Furthermore, being we are under our parent’s rule until the age of eighteen, a note may be sent home to notify parents of presentation of mentioned controversial novels or classics in our lessons. The parent may be able to sign a form or send in a note if they feel their child is not mature enough, or if such reading goes against specific personal beliefs of the family. The student may be given an alternative assignment if above mentioned form or note is returned with a denial of permission to study the book....

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...f my existence. I still search to this day, three years after first opening the cover. Since then, I have been a god, a tribute, and a witch. I have been divergent, a rock-star, a time traveler and a hero. I have travelled more in my books; across worlds fantastical and beautiful and terrifying all at once, more than I ever could hope to travel in this world.

In my passionate stand against the banning of books, I close my essay with a question. Why should we doubt the morals of our authors, our creators and our poets? Or should we take these books as an opportunity to hold ourselves, our true selves, to a mirror and take a good look at who we are and how far (now ‘banned’) books have taken us. I state my opinion with an iron fist and blunt force. I will take a stand for my books, even if no one else will stand with me.

I will protect the only things I truly love.