Slate recently ran a piece with the hyperbolic title Banned Books Week Is a Crock. While it seems pretty obvious that the author is trying to get some attention by whacking a hornets nest, it is also pretty obvious that she is missing the point.
I feel blessed to live in a country where there are the freedoms to challenge censorship and challenge the books themselves. The freedom is the in the dialog. We can have discussions as a society on what is appropriate. As a parent there are books I held back from my children until they grew older, this is not about mommy bashing.
Censorship is about banning communication and ideas. It is the start of shutting down a society and condemning thinking and ideas. Censorship is about being told what we can think and talk about. There are still many places in the world with different levels of censorship. Some ban a book or two, others tell you what you are allowed to think.
Celebrating Banned Book Week keeps us on our toes. It sends a signal that there are still places where independent thought is still rejoiced in. It reminds of what could be and for us to keep ever vigilante. It also starts a dialog, which is completely the point.
Read a banned book. Read a previously banned book. Read any book. Use your voice.