Okay, just one more thought about Sarah Palin. According to TIME magazine, former Wasilla mayor John Stein said, "[Palin] asked the library how she could go about banning books. The librarian was aghast." That woman, Mary Ellen Baker, couldn't be reached for comment, but news reports from the time show that Palin had threatened to fire Baker for not giving "full support" to the mayor. This book-banning thing is worrisome.
But why? What's the problem with banning books?
Well, the obvious answer is that we should be able to decide for ourselves what we should or shouldn't read. Politicians like Sarah Palin should not be deciding what books we have access to.
Often books are banned because they present a view of the world that is "abnormal" in some way. Some of last year's controversial children's books include one about a child whose father is in prison, another about a schizophrenic homeless woman, another that has the word "scrotum" (in a description of a dog).
The article "The Outsiders: Kids need controversial books like The Higher Power of Lucky," by Lisa Carver during the "scrotum" scandal, eloquently explains why it's such hubris to assume that just by having only books about "normal" families, you'll bring such a thing about. No matter where or how you grow up, you face complicated situations, confusing questions and powerful feelings and a book that acknowledges some part of your experience can make you feel less alone. She writes:
Not mentioning in children's books so-called controversial subjects (they're not, really; they're just life) in order to protect children is the same as how, in the 50s, blacks or Jews or single parents weren't part of stories. Not because they didn't exist back then, but because everyone somehow tacitly agreed to pretend they didn't. There is no Other. There's just us, and we're a motley crew.
We still don't know what books Palin wanted off the shelves, but it's nerve-wracking that she thought she should have the power to choose whose voices could be heard.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 6)
76. each time there been a burn booking it's been gone by individual group on the be half of the general public. enwhich they usualy fail to ask and the titles selected are usually the ones they alone found offensive and most of the time never took the trouble to read. since it might add a little sun light into they're narrow minds. students have been cheated out of the pleasure of more then a few classic because a group decided them offensive and had them removed and banned. it's only because they made the most noise most of the time such groups can get they way and the librares and school boards cave in. viva knowedge
shoofly at 3:41PM on Sep 15th 2008
77. Why do people bring us such inane stories? Palin's weakness is foreign policy and experience just like Obama. I guess that's too boring.
darkman at 12:01PM on Sep 14th 2008
xx
For my part, I react because first, it's unconstitutional, and second, I remember when republicans did this before, when Arthur Summerfield was postmaster general. I don't go for burning books, or witches either, for that matter. For those of you voting for the bush spokesmodel and Mel O'noma, fire bad!
Clif Kuplen at 4:24PM on Sep 15th 2008
78. Does Christianity Dumb You Down?
http://saintbrianthegodless.blogspot.com/2008/09/does-christianity-dumb-you-down.html
My new blog. Hate to spam, but since these AOL blogs are going away soon, I figured, what the heck?
Saint Brian the Godless at 9:51PM on Sep 15th 2008
79. 53. Ada, Governor Palin never asked for any books to be banned. Please stop spreading lefty lies. Thank you.
CherDee at 10:59PM on Sep 14th 2008
xx
Everyone involved in the case said she did, and then fired the librarian for not being cooperative, but was forced to rehire the second day when a terrific public outcry ensued.
There's no dispute of that story anywhere, and yes, there was a list of books that she wanted banned.
The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, confirms the story as well, and said the list was what the spokesmodel thought was 'appropriate' for a library that size.
So, like Bush, apparently the spokesmodel for 4 more years of bush also thinks the constitution is just a goddam piece of paper.
So the new republican name for the truth is 'lefty lies?'
Come ON!! You freakin' KNEW you were lying and did it anyway! That's what we hate about hard core republicans. They lie when the truth suits them better.
Case in point: now there's a troopergate coverup.
she's not cooperating, so the entire crap about openness or change from mccain is now in the toilet along with the maverick crap - they're 100% bush neocon.
She's pulling a nixon, or maybe a cheney or a bush or a rove ignoring subpoenas.
Same bush crime family alright. The Troopergate was republican instigated, incidentally, by members of the Alaskan legislature, and saying it was the democratic party is another mcsame lie. an obvious one since troopergate goes way back Obama got the nomination.
Jeez, when even karl rove says you're taking it too far, do you have any sense that you're going to alienate a lot of people who have better than equivalency educations, or internet diplomas or don't have open head wounds?
Clif Kuplen at 11:43PM on Sep 15th 2008
80. "Jeez, when even karl rove says you're taking it too far, do you have any sense that you're going to alienate a lot of people who have better than equivalency educations, or internet diplomas or don't have open head wounds?"
It's already starting in Virginia. The lies coupled with the Economy will start to give Obama the landslide victory. As far as Foreign Policy, just ask the troops who they want. 80% favor Obama.
We as Americans at least the majority can't be this stupid. We just can't be. If Obama was White, he'd be up in the polls by 30 points.
Botts at 1:14AM on Sep 16th 2008
81. Ada,
Would you mind banning a book that you don't agree with? You have a double standard.
Columbus, Ohio had a news story about the uproar over the 2005 book, "The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Freedom," by David Kupelian.
Ada, are you against banning any book, or just against banning books that you do not agree with?
Liberals are more judgmental and willing to censor out opposing viewpoints than conservatives.
VOTE
FOR
SARAH
Rev 3:16 at 7:56AM on Sep 18th 2008
82. I still ask this very OBVIOUS question to those who say book banning is a good idea:
If letting your child read , or reading to your child from a book 'plants' ideas in their head , such as the book is to blame now for ruinign ypur child...
HOW IS IT THAT SO MANY READ A CERTAIN BOOK DAILY AND LIVE BASED ON THOSE TEACHINGS, YET IT IS FULL OF EVIL, DEATH, INCEST, MURDER, SIN, AND ALL THE VERY ILLS THAT THE MOST SELF-RIGHTEOUS CHOOSE TO RUN FROM?
So my confusion lies in this: if teaching, reading or documenting all the evils of man in a book, then allowing your child to read it is a bad thing... why is the bible still in print and not banned by the very folks whose concept of "book equals permission to do' dictates a banning of subjects not morally accepted...
the bible is the biggest seller and teacher of the ills of mankind, and the more you seem to know aboput it, the more some folks seem tothink they are above the rest of those who choose not to read it??
just curious
Ray at 3:16PM on Sep 18th 2008
83. I guess that Ada knows by now that Palin didn't actually intend to ban any books from the Wasilla library. Rather, Palin simply posed the question about the process for banning books to the librarian because (as mayor) she wanted to know exactly how the process of banning books meshed with city policy.
So, here we have a Republican mayor trying her level best to get a full understanding of an issue that impacted her administration, and the liberals regard her efforts to learn more as something to disdain in a politician.
Sheesh...what the hell is wrong with you people?
Paul at 7:07PM on Sep 18th 2008