Reading Banned Books Makes You Smarter

Well, my opinion is that some books need to be marked as "Adult Content" to encompass, sexuality, language, theme, etc. I can't see banning a book. Although, I do think that books should fit the age group. It's not a good idea to give kids something they aren't ready to understand or comprehend yet.

Some of the books that have been on that list are classics and I can't imagine never having read them, because they were banned. Some of the books on the list don't appeal to me, like Gossip Girl, but that is just my preference. Not that I would go out and say that it should be banned because it's not my taste.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

I'm proud to have have read a number of the books. The mention of banned books always takes me to the horrifying book and movie, Fareheit 451 (I think I have the title right) where all books were burned.

I have read a few, "To Kill a Mockingbird" being one of my favorites.

I too have read quite a few of the books. I don't think any book, no matter how horrifying, how much violence, how terrible the subject matter, or how much sex in it should ever be banned. If you don't like the subject or what's in the book, don't read it.

When I was 8 years old the book "Exodus" was published and my mom was reading it. I picked up the book since I loved books even at that age. My mother's friend saw me reading it and asked my mom why she allowed me to look at it. My mother said that the book was too old for me and I would probably not understand it. If there was something I wanted to know about the book I would ask her and she would talk with me about it. My mother was right, I didn't understand the book even though I did read it all. It wasn't until years later when I reread it did I understand what "Exodus" was about.

I think everyone should be able to read whatever they want. I don't need the "book police" telling me what is appropriate for me. If I don't like a book I put it down and start another.

I also believe that children should read what they want, although I do agree that parents should restrict books if they feel it isn't right for their child. I wouldn't stop my child from reading anything but I would make sure that I would be there for them if they needed to talk about something in a book. I would think that parents would do that for any of their children no matter how old they were.

As a parent, I can see perhaps, a rating system

Definitely, absolutely have a rating system for books at the very least! Too often I've seen kids with books they certainly shouldn't hold in their hands. That way, parents and librarians will be able to monitor what kids are exposed to without having to read the whole thing to know.

That is, I'm guessing, the most to reasonably ask of a culture that's come to accept graphic sexuality and violence as part of their entertainment.

banned books should be banned

maybe I didn't say that right - no book should be banned

Much of the impetus for book-banning comes from ideologues who want to perpetuate conditions of inequality and injustice.

Racist idiots want to ban "To Kill a Mockingbird" because it vividly and truthfully portrays the institutional racism that permeated small-town life in America.

Others object to books that honestly discuss issues related to sex, like the wonderful stories by JudyBlume, under the ignorant assumption that teen-agers who don't read about sex will never think about sex!

Other narrow-minded folks believe that if one bans any discussion of sexual identitiy, then no kid will ever discover that she or he is gay or lesbian.

The desire to stiffle discussin, to make subjects "out of bounds" is always a mistake.

the truth always comes out in the end, and the book-banners always look stupid and ridiculous, and lose whatever "cultural war" they thought they could fight through ignorance.

Banning books is a stupid and ineffective way to change opinions or public debate.