Offensive parents at skewl! (#3)

Do you feel literature that could provoke strong reactions should be withheld or censored? What are your thoughts about SH5's potential to offend readers? You might also consider making connections to the other novels that we've read this year (also banned books at some point).


I believe books that provoke negative reactions and feedback should be censored or banned by those offended by the writing. The author of the book still has the freedom to express their ideas, beliefs, and emotions in their novels, but if a school or store wants to ban the distribution of the literature, they should be allowed to. Distributors of the novels would receive plenty of criticism from consumers who are offended or feel that the novel is inappropriate. Instead of hearing all the complaints, the easiest thing for these distributors to do would be to just ban the novel. Those who still want to buy the novel could look for other stores to buy it from. 


Another major issue is the banning of novels in schools. Some material, such as Slaughterhouse Five, contain sexually explicit or offensive language/ideas, so schools do not think it is worth the headache of listening to parents complaining about the text. Other novels could be chosen for students that are not as controversial, thus reducing parental interference with the curriculum and increasing productivity. 


People will argue (as many of my peers already have) that an author as a right to write whatever he pleases, and that the book should be put down if one is offended by it, however, those giving the public access to the writing also have a right to withhold the book from them. Sure, there are plenty of lessons to be learned and a whole new world to explore in the pages of a book, but books creating as much controversy as Slaughterhouse Five or Brave New World may not seem worth the trouble to school administrators, store owners, or even publishers. The public's backlash and negative reaction to a novel can affect sales of other novels from the same publisher or distributor, and since money is a priority in our world, the banning or withholding of the novel is logical and beneficial.