On censorship

Dear Michelle,

It is possible that, as you go through high school, you will find that there are certain books and poems and other pieces of literature or other art that are denied to you. Just a couple examples of books that have been removed from school libraries and reading lists include the Harry Potter series, The Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, and Nineteen Eighty Four.

It is my firm belief that no book should ever be banned, or in any way restricted from public access. But there are many people who do not like what some books say. In the examples I've given above, the Harry Potter books are seen as anti-Christian, while The Catcher in the Rye contains discussion of a sexual nature. Brave New World was seen as overly negative and has been challenged for its themes of drugs, sex, and suicide. Nineteen Eighty Four was seen as pro-communism (despite the fact that the book was very much a criticism of Joseph Stalin).

But the people who are offended by these books are not content to simply avoid reading them; they feel that they should be eradicated so that NO ONE can read them. Part of this is because they think that the world would be better if "unpleasant" topics did not exist, but partly it's because they don't know how to deal with unpleasantries.

However, the sad fact is that the world can often be an unpleasant place. As you go through life, you will occasionally encounter people who disagree with you, or who say things that bother you, or do things that offend you. It's inevitable; the world does not go out of its way to make you happy. Wouldn't it be better to learn to handle offensive subjects in a mature and rational manner than to try to hide behind censorship and self-delusion?

If is for this reason that I will never hide "questionable" or "objectional" materials from you, and in fact, will sometimes encourage you to read such books. And if you ever encounter censorship yourself, I hope that you will fight against it. Because no matter how bad the book may be, banning it is always worse.