Cease Censorship
May 27, 2013 Assumptions 0 comment KLavallee13
Between books, movies, television, and the internet, every nation has dealt with censorship at one point or another. Censorship is described as restrictions decided by the government or public, on material that is considered offensive or harmful to the general people of a nation. Regarding censorship of books, there is a wide range of reasons for the bans, and punishments, if such bands are broken. Censorship causes many more problems than it solves, and the on-going problem could be easily solved.
Censorship has been extremely present in nearly every society at one point or another in history. Although not very publicized, every state in the United States receives challenges, every year (Philadelphia Inquirer). The reasoning for these challenges range from matters of race and religion to violence and sex. Statistically, the average amount of bans and challenges throughout a year in the United States is between four-hundred and five-hundred (Goldberg). Although this may appear to be a small number, the number of censored books builds up after a few years. It has also been estimated that seventy to eighty percent of challenges are never reported (Peterson). This is due to the compromise of librarian and teacher’s jobs, as well as errs in an administrator not taking a challenge of a book in a serious manner. Of course this number isn’t even including all of the books which are banned and challenged worldwide.
Censorship affects everybody in one way or another with the limitation of availability of books, and is an important issue, necessary to consider. The limitation of a book not only effects one person or family, but an entire community. Decisions on what books should be read is a personal decision, not one made by an individual for others.
Works Cited:
Goldberg, Jonah. “Banned Books Week: What a bunch of hype.” USA Today 6 Sept. 2011: 11A. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011.
Peterson, Chris. “Mapping Censorship.” Banned Books Week. National Coalition Against Censorship , 2011. Web. 27 Dec. 2011.
Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia, PA] 29 Sept. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 27 Dec. 2011.
