Should Challenged Books Be Banned?

Should Challenged Books Be Banned? 

   Across the world, school boards are debating whether to ban certain books. The banning of certain 

books is called censorship. “Censorship is the removal, suppression or restricted circulation of 

literature” writes Henry  Reichman. Many to all of the deal with what parents say “mature topics”. 

Some topics include rape, romance/sexuality, drugs, addiction, religion, children challenging 

parent(s)/ authorities, etc. One example of a book trying to be censored is 13 Reasons Why by Jay 

Asher. This particular book deals with rape, underage drinking, bullying and suicide. Some people 

say the book should be banned, however it can teach valuable things to readers such a cause-and-

effect; therefore, it shouldn’t be banned.

     Some parents have been saying that book makes “the reader feel nakedly uncomfortable” because 

it deals with rape. “The harsh reality is that many students... act on those feelings of despair.” after 

being raped. A person just can’t take the feeling anymore. Although suicide, which Hannah 

committed may not be the right choice, it can teach kids or just people in general to get help. Overall, 

the book may deal with a mature topic, but it can help people cope and be “comforting” to know 

others are going through what you may be going through. 

    When someone bullies someone, the victim will typically put on an I don’t care face. But their 

hurting inside, because they can’t seem to get what the bully said out of his/her mind. In the book the 

main character commits suicide, because all of the actions people thought didn’t effect her really did. 

“People [need] to realize that every action-or-inaction has consequences.” This is very true, although 

this may just be a fiction book things like suicide happens every day. One recent example is a 14-

year old student, David Q. Phan. Phan committed suicide in front of his school and classmates. He 

“condemned the bullying...” 

    Lastly censorship of books goes against the U.S constitution. The constitutions first amendment is 

about “Freedom of expression”. Literature is a form of expression, and if people take that away, it’s 

saying you shouldn’t express yourself. Totally wrong! People need a voice, to be heard. Books are 

banned because people “disagreed with the ideas contained in the book.” Honestly this isn’t fair to 

all the people who want to read the book. It’s your choice. 

    In conclusion, although the censorship of books is taking place, banning books won’t help. In fact 

books like 13 Reasons Why can help, and teach lessons. Small things you don’t think effect people 

may. You don’t know their personal life. It’s just a matter of time before the actions people make set 

the person of. There are many things we can’t change, but if everyone works together the censorship 

of books will be one less thing to worry about. 

Bibliography 

Asher, Jay. Thirteen Reasons Why: A Novel. New York: Razorbill, 2007. Print.

"Banned Books Awareness:." Banned Books Awareness. Banned Books World, 26 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.

 Fillichio, Carl. "Banned Books Awareness:." Banned Books Awareness. Huffington Post, 26 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Dec. 2014.

 "First Amendment." First Amendment. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014.

"First Amendment Site." First Amendment Site. Lehigh University, n.d. Web. 17 Dec. 2014.

Social Awareness

                           Social Awareness                                                                                              

Table of contents

1. Short dramatic scene
2. Interview
3. Observing surroundings 

By: Lian Jones 810

“Seamus!” My mother yelled “Dinner!”

I race downstairs to find a cross with Jesus on it. 

“Dang. What’s that for?” I ask, pointing at the cross with Jesus on it. 

“Your father and I have decided that it’s time to go to church.”

“Um... Okay?” 

My eyes move from the cross to the chocolate cake sitting on the dinning room table. My mother never, and I mean never made sweets. She said it was only for special occasions. 

Smiling my mother replied “Your Uncle finally divorced that Theo guy.” 

“And why is that good?” I knew the answer but asked anyways.

“Gays aren’t liked in some places, and where we live, well we don’t like them. On the better side your Uncle can come to family events. Your father is thrilled, you know how he always loved your Uncle.”

The church is fancy. As we go inside a old women handed my family and I a pamphlet that read Gays Go To Hell! 

Dang! Little kids could read this. 

“Ah some new faces,” A voice chimes. “ I’m Joe, the Priest. 

“John.” My father says.

“Trisha, and our son Seamus.” My mother says pointing toward me. 

“Whats with the title?” I ask pointing to the pamphlet. 

One minute the Priest is smiling, the next second his eyes are like stone. Hard, cold. 

“Homosexuals aren’t welcomed. They are a sin, all going to Hell. Why do you ask, are you one?”

Wait what? How did this turn on me?

I look at my parents for help, but they just stand there staring at me. 

“What? No. Just curious.” 

But I don’t know, I’ve never liked a girl like that. I’ve kissed a couple during the game spin the bottle, but felt nothing. The only time I felt someone who when a kissed a boy during the game. But that couldn’t make me gay... Could it?

The first thing that popped into my head when we were assigned the project was gay discrimination and feminism. With feminism already covered, I realized I wanted to write a short dramatic scene. I want the scene to make people think about how some societies treat homosexuals, even though there nothing wrong with them. 

The scene is about a 14 year old teenager named Seamus. The overall scene, again is about how some societies portrays homosexuals. The narrator, Seamus is trying to figure out his sexuality. However in his world, society shuns gays. It is just a sliver of his journey on finding out who he really is. 

Carmen Berkeley is a 17 year old student at high school Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts. She is also a camp counselor at Chimney Corners Camp for Girls (CCC). I am choosing to interview her because like many of the employees at CCC she definitely represents CCC and feminism. 

Why do you think women are portrayed as “weaker” then men?

“I think that people assume that women need help in order to succeed in life. Some people think that women and girls can’t handle tough situations. It may because of how we dress, or because some women were makeup or really anything.”

How are you supporting women’s rights? 

“I give $40 a month to “Global Fund for Women” Its an organization that wants women and girls to have everything and or opportunity that men have.”

How do you think Chimney Corners helps young women?

“Chimney, as you know is a all girls camp and I think that that really helps to show that girls don’t need to rely on a man. Also many young women feel pressured to look and act a certain way when around a guy, and because Chimney is a all girls camp they have the chance to be themselves and to not have anyone judge them. [At camp, in the morning] You can go out in sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt and no one is going to look at you a say “Ew”, because around half of the camp wears that.” 

Do you think that men and women are treated equal now? 

“No, but it definitely is better then it was say 30 years ago. Yes women still get paid less, but in the past 100 years women have gained a lot of power like voting.”

Have you ever experienced a situation were you were not being treated equal to a man?

 Not personally, but what I’ve noticed even though you and your friends or whole school I suppose is that if a guy dates more then one girl in a short period of time its considered cool, but when a girl dates more then one guy she’s considered a slut.” 

What I’ve noticed at school is that theres a lot of popularity. Whether is be in the classroom, entire grade or school in general. Theres a hierarchy in the school the “popular” people, semi- “populars”, “popular” wanna be’s and just plan not “popular” people. Although some may disagree with this assumption, I believe it is correct. Popular is defined as “liked,admired or enjoyed by many people or by a particular person”. However I think that people now think and popular and think everyone knows that group, or they’re so cool. 

I think that people think that “popular” people are care free and just got that way and that they’ll never live up to them. Which is wrong. First of all, everyone has something going on in their life that isn’t good. Secondly, although it may not seem like it but the “popular” people all had to make their way up there. I don’t think there really is a solution to it it’s kinda of engraved itself into school life.