What Happens for a Book to Be Censored?

The process of attempting to censor a book is one with many stops in the road. When it is all said and done, there are many long term effects which will outlive the parents’ constant complaining. Controversy will have the ability to place a book on a platform of constant criticism. Even some may consider these criticism levels as a sign of influence that protrudes the test of the time. “Libraries say that Catcher in the Rye has been most subjected to keep kids from reading than every other Post War American novel (Whitfield 2).” The constant exposure of its content and objection throughout the years has put a damper in book sales in the long run either. Rye has remained a constant seller year in and year out and always in peoples’ hands. “Catcher in the Rye is never out of print and passes 250,000 copies sold yearly (Whitfield 2).” The author’s family and publishers would not object to the censorship attention themselves when they are laughing all the way to the bank.

An absence of books from reading lists that deal with important topics in life such as racism, diversity and slavery can have a huge effect on children where these books may end up being the only place where they could learn about these subjects. Stripping these books from lists will leave kids who live protected and sheltered lives high and dry. “When literature is missing from the states’ list of goals for students, it is likely that many will graduate from high school without having any acquaintance with our nation’s cultural heritage. The worlds cultural heritage only appear in Massachusetts’ English Language Arts Standards (Ravitch 126).” Parents of these kids also do not want these kids to branch out on their own because they think their parental views are is the right way to think. These parents are doing nothing more than acting vicariously through their kids because they were maybe not allowed to read a certain book as a kid. According to author Walter Dean Myers, “It is fear on the part of those parents who do not want their children to know or to think (Author unknown 6).” Parents should take into consideration that their children should be allowed to overcome the parental fear of a book as a potential discussing point to talk about a book with their kids and analyze exactly what maybe the controversial points that the parents may be up in arms about. Kids, take your parents to the library, get a book that they deem controversial and read the book together and break down the barriers and get right down to the controversies.

During the proves of censoring a book, officials with the power and authority to do so may endure last effects both emotionally and mentally. Clearly people need to realize that people of this high stature and authority do actually possess feelings and opinions. They are just not tools and puppets of the government. One way to state this is: “People believe that government agents are neutral acting and do what they are exactly told. Personal ideas and executions refute this. Things such as low moral, resistance and no feeling of accomplishment appear when individual input falls by the wayside (Author unknown 2).” People in the higher echelon who see themselves as the ones who have the divine right to judge a book are sometimes on the wrong platform for spilling their views. They do not think about the notion that some people out there may want to actually read the book. The consideration of the amount of impact that comes about when they go public with something wrong in a book is lost. “The self-anointed objecting people make negative impacts on our rights whom we would leave alone if they did the equal (smiley 2).” I ponder if the thought of simply staying away from a book and reading a more suitable book popped into the mind.

With all the negative effects good and plenty, there is a ray of hope in the positive effects department. The exposure of books going under the objection knife will get some individuals to stand up and read this book to see what all the hoopla is about. Therefore, exposing the book can have positive effects in the long run. “People benefited themselves and communities by reading and exposing the book and giving their takes on the content and putting it against the institutional support such as accolades and literature staple status it receives (Smiley 2).” The general public puts these accolades to the test by buying the book, reading it and deciding whether the book is a masterpiece or simply a pile of crap. The author, publishing company and public can all benefit from a good book. The author and publishing company make out from this with hearty paychecks in their pockets and the public succeeds with a book that they feel is good and enjoy reading. The author also wins with getting positive accolades to his possession. Go out there and read a book! Also, do not always listen to people who object to a book. Your views and theirs may differ. You are the one reading the book there and then, not them. Off to the library posthaste!