Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson: Banned Books Week begins September 18th. It began in 1982 in response to the literary challenges found in libraries, schools and bookstores.
Mark Hiser is a lifelong book lover. When he was a sophomore in high school, his English teacher opened his eyes to the beauty and power of the written word. His early love for literature led him to his 45-year career teaching English at the high school and college level. Now Mark is retired, but he participates in several book groups and writes a monthly newsletter about books.
Earlier this year, the American Library Association reported a record number of book challenges.
Freedom to read has been particularly under attack this year.
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I am a retired high school English teacher and adjunct university professor of writing, with nearly 45 years of literature teaching experience.
Across the country, organized groups are silencing and silencing the voices and lived experiences of those who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+.
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They challenge and ban books in school libraries and take such challenges to public libraries, courts and Congress.
Books contain the thoughts, ideas and experiences of mankind across time and space.
To censor and ban books is to erase all parts of humanity and further establish those in power as the only legitimate people. It is to create a country of people who are not. It is destroying democracy.
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We understand that the library has a wide range of reading material that reflects the lives and experiences of many Americans. I understand that parents should “parent” their children. In fact, if a parent doesn’t want their child to read a certain book, I understand and support that decision.
But I don’t support my parents making decisions for me and my family. I do not support that parent being the parent of all people.
The late astronomer Carl Sagan once said:
Former Republican President Dwight Eisenhower said, “America’s libraries must remain home to free and inquisitive people. To them, our citizens are of all ages and races, all It must have the creed and creed of , and be able to face it with the clear confidence that it is free to seek the whole truth without being swayed by fashion or compromised by expediency.”
Today we are being tested and must admit that unless we actively support the freedom to read, our civilization has a poor prognosis.
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We must actively oppose attempts to silence and silence the voices and lives of millions of Americans. We must work tirelessly to preserve American democracy.
We must recall the prophetic words of the German poet Heinrich Heine in his 1821 play Almanthor.
Mark Hiser is a lifelong book lover. When he was a sophomore in high school, his English teacher opened his eyes to the beauty and power of the written word. His early love for literature led him to his 45-year career teaching English at the high school and college level. Now Mark is retired, but he participates in several book groups and writes a monthly newsletter about books.
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