Banning books reads as censorship

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "The Color Purple," "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." One might think I am listing literary classics, which is true, but these are also just a few of the works most frequently called to be banned in 2007. Last week was Banned Books Week, a yearly event organized by the American Library Association, which celebrates our right to intellectual freedom and the right to write and read as we choose. Of course, there are those who do not take this view and feel the books they disapprove of should be banned before they corrupt America's youth. Before a book can actually be banned from a school or public library, a challenge must be made by a concerned party. This can include a wide range of groups but according to the ALA website, most book challenges come from parents. While I respect the rights of parents to control what their child reads, their censorship should not extend past their children. The Birmingham News recounts the story of a 10th grader who checked out a book from the school library and refused to return it because she found it offensive. One of her relatives called for the book to be banned but fortunately the library was legally prohibited from removing the book. What one person finds offensive is not universal and if a library only consisted of books with material which no one could possibly find offensive, it would be pretty slim pickings. Controversial works are very important not only for adults but for children as well. "To Kill a Mockingbird" has been banned from libraries and curriculums for its depiction of racism, but this book is meant to show the injustices that arise from racism. Should students not be exposed to a work of literature just because it accurately depicts an ugly part of society? Another favorite of book ban enthusiasts: Harry Potter. The immensely popular series made readers out of children who previously were uninterested in stories that could not be told to them through television. However, it also brought advocate groups and parents in droves criticizing the use of "evil" subjects such as wizardry and magic. The book is at the top of the "Most Challenged Books of the 21st century." It used to be the point of books to allow children to use their imaginations, but now there seems to be concern that children cannot separate fantasy from reality. So should we just ban all fiction we don't want our kids to emulate? Parents have the right to keep their child from reading things they deem inappropriate, however, to impose their beliefs on others is censorship. You cannot dictate what those around you should be reading, and you should not be allowed to take materials away from others. According to the ALA, 420 challenges are recorded each year and up to four times as many are not documented. Fortunately, it is getting more difficult for them to pass. Everyone has different beliefs and experiences and there needs to be a great variety of literature to accommodate that. Libraries filled with safe, risk-free books might be non-controversial, but it would be incredibly boring.