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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Green Knight" data-source="post: 1132817" data-attributes="member: 2723">Big difference between not wanting certain books in elementary school libraries, and actual banning. Actual banning is when, by force of law, a book is made illegal (I.E. The possession and distribution of Harry Potter books is punishable by prosecution resulting in fines and/or jail time). A few of those I can see not wanting in the school library of my kids elementary school. Taking one of the most glaring examples...    Should 8-year-olds have ready access to something like that? Now, public libraries, book stores, etc, are a whole different matter. Who cares about that? If you're old enough to walk in and sign up for a library card or go get the book on your own without needing your parents to give you a ride, then you're old enough to get it. But who argues against those kinds of outlets having whatever books they like? But frankly a couple of these shouldn't be sitting in the libraries of elementary schools, and in a few cases, in middle school.  There's a BIG difference between that and going up to the State Legislature, Congress, or whatever, and asking that the book actually be made illegal. Has ANYONE ever argued for that? I don't think I've heard it.  Now, it's ridiculous that some of these books are even on the list, as some of them are worthwhile reading to even elementary age children, or are utterly harmless, like "Where's Waldo". But a community should have a right to determine what it is that's readily available to children in public schools. And if their reasoning is stupid? Well, they have the right to raise their children as they see fit. So they should have the ability to affect what goes on in their childs school, since they can't physically be there and personally keep an eye on their children. When those children grow up, and they decide they want to read those books, then their not being in their elementary school library wouldn't stop them from reading them. Likewise, if you're a parent who wants his children to be exposed to books which aren't available at the local school library, that option's still open to you. But who wants to be the parent of the 7-year-old who comes home from school toting "The New Joy of Gay Sex" and then having to explain it to the kid? If you want to, fine. Go check it out at your local public library or buy it at a bookstore or online. Not like the book's illegal. But if a community decides that it doesn't want it sitting in the school library, then it shouldn't be there. Big difference between not wanting a specific book sitting in your elementary school aged kids school library, and not wanting the book to exist ANYWHERE, and working towards enacting laws which make the possession, sale, and distribution of said book illegal. The first is a parents right, the second is censorship.  As for a REAL case of banning books (I.E. Criminal prosecution which can be caused as a result of your owning a particular book), you'll find one if you just take a look north.</blockquote>

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