Libraries in Canada have been going through a stage
called challenged books. This means “… understanding the complaint against a
book, gathering reviews, and locating additional information specific to the
complaint or the book (pg.1)”. In other words, they are trying to censor books
that use “objectionable language, sexuality, and violence” because it is not
appropriate material for young children or even adults to be reading,
especially on our library shelves.
The languages being used in books by authors are usually
referred as vulgarity (such as swear words). This is definitely not good for
kids to read because parents are constantly stopping their children to stop
swearing out in public. The concern of vulgar language leads to censorship, but
authors use such foul languages in books because it shows the realism of
characters in the world. Sometimes people cannot control their swear words and
do not have a chance of “sugar coating them”. For example, “we want our young people to imagine a scene,
understand a character, and enjoy a plot; we cannot expect them to believe that
a contemporary character would say "rats" instead of
"shit!"
Censorship also
plays a huge role when it comes down to talking about sexuality in books and
violent scenes. Books can be censored because they might talk about abortion,
bisexuals, lesbians and even stories with sexual desires. Sometimes “young
people have thoughts, questions, and feelings about sex (pg.2)”. They are growing
up and need answers but the information is being censored. Do you think books
based on sexuality should be banned for teenagers though? In my opinion, no
because they go through phases and might want to be more knowledgeable about it
by reading the issues in the books. Those issues and concerns in the books can
help them out in reality. “Characters
in books are humiliated, get physically attacked, and sometimes are killed.
Adults are corrupt, peers are cruel, and parents abuse (pg.3)”. Is it really bad if young kids read books
that contain such violence in them, especially in today’s society? Not really, kids
play video games with so much violence in them and have learned about the wars
being taken place in our world that contain so much violence.
The author writes things to convey a certain message but
without the three aspects (sexuality, objective language, violence) there is no
plot or story with details. I personally, find the stage of challenging books
based on the three aspects is a good thing for the safety of younger children,
but I do not find it necessary. It depends on how much a person can take and
how open minded or comfortable they are to certain topics. Some parents might
not mind their children reading such material on violence, sexuality or objectionable
language at such a young age because it happens in reality and it is better to
let them learn now then later in life. But some parents do mind and that leads
to censorship, which is because younger kids intend to experience things they
might have read in a book. For example, if someone swears in a book, they might
use that term at school. Books can also consist racism that lead to being banned.
I think it depends on how deep a book talks about the topics that lead to
censorship. There is no need to
challenge books and censor them because it can simply be found on the internet
somehow by younger children, especially in today’s society.
Do you
find it necessary to censor books that contain vulgar language, sexuality and
violence into our Canadian libraries?
REFERENCE
Bringelson, Carin. "On Intellectual Freedom." School
Libraries In Canada (17108535) 24.4 (2005): 57-59. Canadian Reference
Centre. Web. 09 Oct. 2012
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