Last week, I read about a number of books being banned or challenged by adults who it seems, had not even read the books. In a world where we let people walk around with guns, where we think there is nothing we can do to curb violence, I have to ask:
What are you so afraid of?
Ideas? Freedom? A couple of curse words?
Do you really think that a book can do harm? Are you worried your kids will be offended? And if they are?
Books ask kids to think. They ask kids to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. They let kids enter worlds that they cannot enter any other way.
The other day, I heard a gun advocate remind someone who wanted gun control, “The vast majority of gun owners are law abiding people.”
Well, let’s apply that logic to the vast majority of librarians and teachers.
It’s time to trust these people who have dedicated themselves to the welfare of kids.
Let them read. Let them give kids the books they need.
Again, what are you so afraid of?