Thursday, September 29, 2016

Banned Book Week Day 4: Which book would you go to jail defending?

In honor of Banned Books Week (September 26 through October 1, 2016), GHPALS members are reporting their answers to five prompts suggested by the Banned Book Week coalition.(See our post Banned Books Week.)

Today the prompt is Which book would you go to jail defending?

Our members' answers:
  • The Harry Potter books because they introduced so many children to the joys of reading. They've been challenged in a lot of countries because they involve magic and witchcraft.
  • Mein Kampf I know this choice will offend some people, but isn't that the point? Hitler's book was highly influential.
  • The Koran, The Bible, The Talmud and any other sacred religious text. Freedom of religion, the right to worship whatever way we choose, is another fundamental American right that must be protected.
  • Lady Chatterly's Lover because they couldn't keep me in jail over it. I think the only publication you can be arrested for possessing is child pornography. I'm OK with banning that.
  • The Junior Woodchuck Guidebook If you've ever read Don Rosa's Guardians of the Lost Library you'd know all the world's knowledge throughout history is distilled in it.
  • Are you serious? This is America! I can't be thrown in jail over a book anymore. 
  • What a hard question. Why would I be jailed? For possessing a copy? I'm not a publisher or writer. Could they toss me in jail for reading it? They can't wipe my memory yet, thank God. I have to really think about this one because I want to defend them all.
  • I can't answer that question. It's too hard. I know if I was arrested one some censorship-related charge, I'd call the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund immediately. They'd help me out.
The Banned Books Coalition developed prompts to stimulate discussion during Banned Books Week. Tomorrow we'll post the answer to Who in your life has most influenced your love of books and your right to read?

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