The Pros And Cons Of Banning Books

503 Words2 Pages

Banning Books Or Banning Freedom?
How would it feel to be told a certain book can’t be read? Believe it or not, book banning is a real thing. A real, horrible thing. There are many reasons why this censorship should not be allowed. Banning books interferes with constitutional rights, children’s education, and parental control.
By banning books, the basic human rights are being violated. In the article “Censorship Is Unconstitutional”, it says " ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech.’” Those are the exact words of the first amendment in our constitution. Because of this law, it is illegal for the government to censor or regulate speech.” The act of censorship is the suppression of certain things such as books, movies, articles, etc., that are said to be controversial or objectionable. Because the constitution states there should be no censorship, the government is not allowed to pick and choose what is written or read by anyone. If somebody finds a certain book offensive, they should simply put the book down. Just because someone agrees with something, it does not mean that everyone else will. Therefore, there is simply no reason to take it away for everyone. The lack of freedom to read the writing of personal choice is deprivation of first …show more content…

In the same article, Caporaletti writes that books are banned before young minds even have the chance to formulate an opinion about it. Children are being deprived of the opportunity to have their own views due to this unruly censorship. It is being stolen away from them before they even know about it! This also takes away the individuality of the future society. For example, if everyone is walking around with the same views, there will be no uniqueness amongst people. This is why we should be exposed to anything and everything that we wish to be. Book banning greatly alters the mind of

Show More
Related

  • Vonnegut's Argument Against Banning Books

    580 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Even though books may influence young minds with negative thinking, society shouldn’t ban books because it prohibits learning and it violates the First Amendment in the Constitution. Banning books takes away the author’s right, some books can be very educational, and it takes away the children’s choice of what they get to read.

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 Quote Analysis

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    The government believes it is much easier to control a society full of dumb people, so they put up an law to restrict books from the public. “We must all be alike. Not everyone born free and equal, as the constitution says, but everyone made equal... A book is a loaded gun in the house next door. Burn it. Take the shot from the weapon. Breach man’s mind”. Books are dangerous, not because they physically are, but because of the knowledge they contain can bring about any opponent. Ideas and knowledge makes people question how things are, and allows them to see all the problems within this corrupted

    Read More

  • Pros And Bannings Of The Catcher In The Rye

    1731 Words  | 4 Pages

    First off, banning a book violates the Freedom of Speech, which is a part of the First Amendment. The First Amendment allows the people to have their thoughts and speech to be protected. If a book is banned, you are essentially prohibiting the exercise of free speech, which strangely contradicts the First Amendment. In The Catcher in the Rye, we the readers can see that J.D. Salinger supports the idea of Freedom of Speech with the statement, "And if the boy digresses at all, you 're supposed to yell 'Digression! ' at him as fast as you can. It just about drove me crazy. I got an F in it" (98). Utilizing the Freedom of Speech, the boy can say no to the teacher that forced him to read out loud in class. By banning the book, you are also violating the ideals for Freedom of Expression, which is also a part of the First Amendment. According to the Bill of Rights, the main concept of Freedom of Expression is that we individuals have the right to hold our own opinions without the consent of others (Bill Of Rights of the United States of America). J.D. Salinger also supports the ideals for Freedom of Expression with the quote, "In the first place, I

    Read More

  • Book Banning and First Amendment Right

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    People ban or challenge books because they don't want other to read them because of their content, even thought we see most of it in our everyday life. To stop book banning and to keep books on the shelves; if a book has inappropriate content and someone wants to buy it or get it from the library or store they have to get the parents consent. This will also keep parents informed on what their child is reading.

    Read More

  • The Tyranny of Banned Books

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    By forbidding the reading of certain books, the first amendment rights of every American citizen are violated. The first amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states that all citizens have freedom of speech as well as freedom of press (Book Banning 1). By banning a book and making it so that no one can read it, the government is keeping the author from expressing their thoughts and opinions through press. The freedom of choice is also violated due to the inability of reading that particular book as an option. Not only the first amendment rights are violated, but also the academic freedom and diversity of thought guaranteed and protected by the constitution (Teachers 1). History will show that Americans do not take the violation of their rights lightly, and are more than likely to protest. Sometimes, in more extreme cases, they will rebel.

    Read More

  • Why Is Flowers For Algernon Banned

    971 Words  | 2 Pages

    Banning a book takes a person’s rights away that have already banned guaranteed by the First Amendment. Congress can not make any laws that interfere with an individual’s rights. The First Amendment “protects an individual’s

    Read More

  • The Banning of Books in American Schools

    1054 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the American Library Association notes, books are usually banned "with the best intention…to protect others, frequently children, from difficult ideas and information." (Brunner). If a book has frightening or controversial ideas in them, adults willing often censor that book from children. From 2000 to 2009, of the 5,099 challenges that were reported, 1,639 of these challenges were in school libraries and 30 challenges in academic libraries. (Frequently Challenged Books). At various times in American history, even some of the tamest books have been banned. Harriet the Spy, was banned because it supposedly taught children to "lie, spy, back-talk, and curse." Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl was banned for being too depressing. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein, was banned because it might encourage kids to break dishes so they won't have to dry them. (Frequently Challenged Books). While some of these excuses are more reasonable than other excuses, the banning of these books prevents the children from empathizing...

    Read More

  • Banning Books

    4607 Words  | 10 Pages

    Banning Books “It’s not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written, the books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers” (Blume 1999). Judy Blume can not explain the problem of book censorship any clearer.

    Read More

  • Banning Books Essay

    944 Words  | 2 Pages

    Books are banned for many reasons but more times than not it is because of the sensitive information found within the novel that agitates the reader. As long as people have been able to develop their own opinions, others have sought to prevent them from sharing. At some point in time, every idea has ultimately become objectionable to someone. The most frequently challenged and most visible targets of such objection are the very books found in classrooms and public libraries. These controversial novels teach lessons that sometimes can be very sensitive to some but there is much more to challenged books than a controversial topic. What lies within these pages is a wealth of knowledge, such as new perspectives for readers, twisting plots, and expressions that are found nowhere else. For example, To Kill A Mockingbird, contains references to rape, racial content, and profanity that have caused many to challenge the novel in the first place. The book was banned from countless

    Read More

  • Banning Books in Schools

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    School boards and teachers have a responsibility for protecting the minds of their students and covering age appropriate material. However, does this responsibility cover the extreme act of banning books from school classrooms? Does not the teacher have a duty to introduce to their students world issues in order to better the students ability to cope with problems in the world? How does a school decide which books should be banned from the classroom, and should it be left up to the teacher to decide what is decided in his/her classroom. By banning books from the classroom, we prevent our students from learning about controversial topics in a safe environment, and we also encroach upon the student’s freedom of reading what they want in school.

    Read More

  • Banned Books

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    Book banning in the United States and anywhere else in the world I feel should be abolished. Books are published and written for a reason. The reason is to expand the mind to new things. Sure some books are better than others but there is no reason to challenge or ban books.

    Read More

  • The Argumentative Essay Of Banning Books

    948 Words  | 2 Pages

    Some people may argue that students should have a right to read what they prefer because we are denying them of their first amendment freedoms of the press and freedom of speech. No book should be banned due to improper themes in them. Books are a gift in which authors can express their opinion and beliefs and we can read about them. Kids should be able to be open minded to all books, banning books won’t affect you but it’ll affect children, which is what many

    Read More

  • The Controversy Around Banning Books

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    The subject of censorship is a very controversial one, especially the banning of books. Many people believe they must protect themselves and others from the "evils" of many classic books and works of art because they can be deemed "indecent" in one way or another. Many believe that this is absurd and censorship in its current form is a violation of our First Amendment right to free speech. Personally, I align myself with the latter, however I do feel there are occasions where censorship is justifiable.

    Read More

  • Censorship In Schools Essay

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most debatable and controversial form of censorship today is the banning of books in school libraries. Banning books that educate students is wrong and selfish. Censorship of books in school libraries is neither uncommon nor an issue of the past. Books with artistic and cultural worth are still challenged constantly by those who want to control what others read. The roots of bigotry and illiteracy that fuel efforts to censor books and free expression are unacceptable and unconditional. Censoring school books in libraries can often lead to censorship of our basic freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. In some cases, a minority ends up dictating the majority in censorship cases. To be told what is permissible reading material and what is not is a direct violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    3744 Words  | 8 Pages

    Retrieved December 2, 2002 from Lexis-Nexis/Academic database. This article addresses some of the reasons that censors attempt to remove books from the curriculum: Many censors feel that works are not age appropriate for students. Staff, Wire Reports. (2002 October 3). Book banning spans the globe.

    Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Banning Books

Open Document