Literature has always been a way for people to express their inner thoughts, new discoveries, and opinions on life. Through books, one can be transported into new worlds or learn about the world they already live in. For many, books are a comfort, as it allows them to feel more connected to humanity.
There are countless stories of people who reported that books saved their lives in some way. For example, people who felt alienated because of their lifestyles were able to find validation through books written by those who share the same values. Books have also opened people’s eyes to truth, something that is not always easy to find. Books have led to secrets being revealed, and justice being served. Even fiction that mirrors reality can allow one to understand the world more clearly.
It's undeniable that literature has had an irreversible impact on history. When one expresses their thoughts through writing, their words have the potential to spread to millions of people, and these millions can all be changed by the books they are reading. This allows for more freedom in thought, and a wider net of ideas to be cast in the world.
Although books have benefitted countless lives, there are people who believe that some books should not be spread to the public. Some books, critics argue, have ideas that are so vile or so dangerous that they must be banned. However, the problem that arises with this mentality is the fact that everyone has different opinions on what is acceptable and what is not. A book that seems harmful to one may be the very book that saves another person’s life.
In the past few years, banning books has become a rising trend. PEN America, a non-profit dedicated to free speech, found that in 2022, there were over 1,500 unique book bans. The most widely banned book was Gender Queer: A Memoir, written by Maia Kobabe. This book was about Mais Kobabe’s experience with growing up while discovering her sexuality and gender identity. Individuals who go through the same phase of discovery could relate to this novel, and benefit from the author’s thoughts. However, because of the opinions of some, the book has been widely banned.
Book banning is a dangerous practice that can lead to important ideas being diminished or thrown away. Free speech is a vital part of any healthy society, and should be carefully protected. Thankfully, the rise of technology has made book bans harder to enforce. A book that is banned in one place may be easily accessible in another location, or even found online. Those who are unable to read a book because of a ban should try alternate routes in order to find it. If people are unable to freely create and consume literature, then free speech is threatened.
In 2023, Project Humanities hosted an event discussing the dangers of banning all forms of media, including books, and why the ability to access media about shared experiences is so important. Participants were able to share stories of their own concerning banned books, and many expressed how encouraging certain books were to them. If you would like to watch a recording of the event, click here!
Banning books, or any media at all, can harm a healthy society, and should be discouraged. Even if one disagrees with a book, it does not justify an outright ban of the writings. One never knows when a vital idea, an idea that could benefit millions, is located in a book.
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