“Don't join the book burners. Don't think you're going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don't be afraid to go in your library and read every book,” President Dwight Eisenhower, June 14, 1953.
“I think we should throw those books in a fire.” Rabih “Rob” Abuismail, Spotsylvania, Virginia school board member, Nov. 8, 2021.
The American right is afraid of a lot of things. Mythical caravans coming from the south to invade us. Black and brown people voting unimpeded. Becoming targets of Donald Trump’s rage. But what they’re most afraid of is anyone having ideas that contradict the fantasy narrative they have been creating.
Because of this fear, Republicans in several states, including Virginia, have started attacking school libraries. They claim these libraries contain books whose ideas will destroy America. Book banning is nothing new. It’s been happening in America since 1637, and it’s always been a sign of fear.
Libraries began celebrating Banned Books Week in the 1980s, showcasing books which have been banned, making people aware of what others have tried to keep from them. For those who applaud the concept of preventing children from reading anything they deem harmful, here are a few books which have been banned in the past. See if you think they are dangerous.
“Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” Harriet Beecher Stowe. “Black Beauty,” Anna Sewell. “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck. “Of Mice and Men,” John Steinbeck. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Harper Lee. “Brave New World,” Aldous Huxley. “1984,” George Orwell. “Animal Farm,” George Orwell. “Fahrenheit 451,” Ray Bradbury. “Diary of a Young Girl,” Anne Frank. “The Giver,” Lois Lowry. The Holy Bible.
These books, now considered classics, have been condemned because of the ideas they contain, or because they portray violence or sex in a way some consider unsuitable. (That’s why the Bible has been banned). But our world would be much poorer if these books were unavailable to us. That’s the problem with a small group of people deciding what is appropriate for all the rest of us to read.
I have a master’s degree in library science. I’ve been a public library children’s librarian and a school librarian at elementary, middle school and high school levels. I was the head librarian at a middle school in another district for 10 years.
As part of our library procedures, we had a written book selection policy explaining our standards for choosing books and a printed form for anyone wishing to remove a specific book from our collection. These were available to everyone.
I had very few complaints about our collection, but one mother did come in and want a certain book removed from the shelves. Her daughter was a sixth grader; we served sixth-eighth grades. I explained that a book that might be inappropriate for a sixth grader could be perfect for an eighth grader.
I also explained about the form she could fill out, explaining what she objected to. The form would be sent to the school board and they would make the decision. She was very civil and polite. She finally decided that her best move was just to tell her daughter not to read books by that author, and she left satisfied.
I was not the parent of my students. My job was to create a well-rounded library collection that supported the curriculum needs of the school and also gave students plenty of choices for recreational reading. Our library was very well used.
Right-wingers complain about “cancel culture” but they’re the ones who are literally trying to cancel free thought and expression. They know their ideas are weak, with little merit.
They are cowards who want to prevent their children from discovering other points of view. They’re terrified about any idea that challenges their beliefs.
They are also afraid to speak openly and honestly to their children about why they don’t want them reading certain books. They want schools to take on that parental responsibility, just as they seem to want schools to teach their children about God and prayer. Maybe they’re just plain lazy.
Fortunately, the Virginia school board referenced above came to its senses after their district lawyer told them their plan to remove books was unconstitutional. We can hope other school districts come to the same conclusion, but we can’t take anything for granted. We must stay alert to every threat against our First Amendment rights, the freedom to read and think as we please. If we lose that, our democracy is lost.
Jeanette Strong, whose column appears every other week, is a Nevada Press Association award-winning columnist. She may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com.
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